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iPod touch Sound recording w. 3rd-party mic?

I know this isn't exactly what you are looking for, but I thought I would at least point this out as a possibility...

I use a Belkin TuneTalk to record class lectures and it works like a charm! It's not exactly a microphone that you can clip onto someone's shirt or anything, but it records lectures with ease and the volume is more than satisfactory. Of course, my experience is recording a professor in a classroom when there is relatively little other noise. If you have any questions about my experience, feel free to post them or PM me.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=277661
 
Stationmaster said:
I bought and have used the Lloyd microphone by INSIPIO on my 2 Gn. Touch. With iTalk & iSync all worked well. The neat thing is that the microphone can stay with the iPod and with a little bit of trimming, it fits and covers the charging port. Cost was about $15 at MacWorld.

See it at <http://www.myincipio.com/c=frOwoFoZukUeUv6a5ewg4amvU/product/IPOD_NANO_IP-309/Lloyd_Microphone_Adapter_for_iPod_nano_4G__Black.html#product_content>
Click to expand...

This seems like it would work ... but what do you mean "with a little trimming?"
 
Lloyd trimming

I guess that because the microphone was really designed for the Nano, they built in a little protrusion that would fit into the charging port and keep the microphone aligned. However, with the Touch, the protrusion is too far to the right .... just by a little. With a sharp utility knife I just cut or trimmed it back to fit. Now it is perfectly aligned. I tend to keep the microphone installed all the time...... ready to record whenever desired. One side advantage I find is that while in place, the Lloyd keeps dirt/lint/stuff out of the ports at the bottom of the Touch.

BTW: I have been in contact with INSIPIO and they are thinking/working on redesigning the Lloyd just for the Touch. Check with them at <insipiotech.com>
 
website doesn't work

How are you contacting Insipio? That web link doesn't work for me. Got an e-mail address? Also, is there any way you could post a photo(s) of this nano mic attached to your Touch so I can see the connection?
 
3215758369_3d8f12eae2_o.jpg


I will try to follow with a pic of how it looks on my Touch

BTW: I chose to buy the black one.
 
3216668648_b60b24c81d_m.jpg


Note: I do not usually keep the earphones plugged in, but it is nice to have the ability to do so if desired.

I like it because it is small, light and inexpensive ..... and records.
 
technically you can use mics that require phantom power, simply by hooking a mixer up to the iTouch via RCA to 1/8"
 
Using a mixer to get input to the touch works great. It's not portable though so my plan to is make a small mic preamp I can use to be able to attenuate the input volume of the mic. I already made a splitter so I can plug in a standard 1/8" mic plug without the extra ring for the mic input. I tried using an in line volume control between a mic and the touch but it didn't work. Well, it worked at the top of the trim but then the touch switched to playing my music library when I turned it down a little more. I think shorting the mic signal to ground is telling the ipod to do something by design (I'm not sure what) so I can't make it work that way and thus must have a preamp.

I have been searching for a small amp to use for recording on the touch and haven't really found any good options so I'm going the home made route for now... when I get around to it that is.

I wish other people were messing with this too because I haven't seen any discussion of it and it would be cool to see other people's ideas.
 
Hey guys!

Thanks for this thread it's very helpful. I am in college and am looking to buy an audio recorder for recording class lectures from 10-20 ft range. I have a 32gb 2 generation iPod Touch and was wondering if i could maybe use the griffin smart talk with my iPod to record these lectures.

I am just curious to know how well the audio quality is from the 10-20 feet range and if there is alot of background noise with this product. Also is there an application that could make this possible (one that offers unlimited recording times, and good quality)?

If anyone could help me with this it would be very helpful!

Thanks,
Pugpuppydude
 
I have a 1st gen Touch and I use the Macally iVoicePro mic to make calls via Fring+Skype. The annoying thing about this rig is that the recording apps in the App Store don't allow downloads/purchases to a 1st gen touch (They just don't know any better :rolleyes: ).
 
@pugpuppydude --- I have no doubt the Griffen mic. would be capable of recording on your Touch.... probably just as well as the Apple mic + earphones or any of the others mentioned in this thread. However, they will not be as compact as the one by INSIPIO. The INSIPIO mic is very good at 3m and understandable at 7m, but lots of extra noise does get in. Maybe you should sit in the front row?

While at Macworld Expo I saw a demonstration of the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen. <http://www.livescribe.com/> Were I in a position to take notes on anything, I'd have this unit in a heartbeat! The 2G pen can hold over 85 hours of high quality recording. It really works and shielded out the side ambient noise in the expo hall. Check it out!
 
Thanks!

Stationmaster:

I just wanted to thank you for your suggestions and taking time to post the photos. My Insipio mic arrived this afternoon, I trimmed it to fit better as you suggested, and it works perfectly with iTalk. Very crisp recording, much better than the cruddy tape recorders and cheap digital recorders I've used previously for interviews. This is opening up a whole new realm for me.

Finally, after several threads and months searching, I have a solution!

I'll keep my eye on a mic specifically for the iPod Touch, and at $17 I'd probably get it and keep this one as a backup.

At last, I'm happy now.
 
Furthermore...

Today I covered an event for my publication, using this new Incipio mic and iTalk for the first time for interviews -- and it's outstanding! Exponentially better than the crappy mini-tape recorders I'd been using, for one (I did a test the other night, on "better" quality, just leaving iTalk recording for a few minutes at work. You could pick up everything the TV across the room was saying on low volume, the sharp whistles of my nasal breathing, and each hammer of the keyboard from my boss 10 feet away).

Also, I really like iTalk! I can name an interview immediately, then add in notes about the person I talked to. So if I go back to it later, without digging through paper/pen notes I can be reminded of the context.

I haven't had luck, unfortunately, with iTalk Sync yet. I downloaded it (it required also some serious Windows additional downloads I was sort of uncomfortable with), and my Wi-Fi is up and running, but I couldn't get it to "find" my iPod Touch. Hopefully I'll figure this out.

But like I said, this mic and iTalk are totally changing my job and making me consider a lot more field options. Now the versatility of the iPod Touch is really coming through for me.
 
Scrappledog, pl experiment with skype or some similar voip services. If we can turn touch in to a phone it would be great. I would have gotten an iPhone but didn't want to fork out additional $25 pm for data plan.
 
Sound recording with 3rd-party mic

Stationmaster and or Scrappledog,

I also need a mic for my ipod touch 2G for recording in the classroom. Sorry, but I need to ask some very basic questions. I am a senior citizen and not very familiar with tech.

I am assuming that the Lloyd mic will fit on the 2G touch without trimming it?

Do I need to download software into the ipod to make this work?

Does the italk software convert the sound to written text on a Mac running Leopard?
Can you erase the material later from the ipod?

Will all this be simple to use and install or would you suggest buying a simple recorder? If so can you suggest a low priced one with long battery
life?

Thank you.
 
thanks Stationmaster.

Stationmaster, I want to thank you for the info on the INCIPIO mic. It work grate with my 2g touch. :D

I would like to ask a quetion on the voice recorders from i tunes.

Could someone post the differneces (like and dislikes) on the various programs.

I currently use the free version of italk. (it does what i need, just quick notes to my self.) I would like to be able to hear, but i won't do that with mic in. do all aps work this way?

thanks

beater
 
Can you try fring or truphone with your new mic?
Txs,


beater said:
Stationmaster, I want to thank you for the info on the INCIPIO mic. It work grate with my 2g touch. :D

I would like to ask a quetion on the voice recorders from i tunes.

Could someone post the differneces (like and dislikes) on the various programs.

I currently use the free version of italk. (it does what i need, just quick notes to my self.) I would like to be able to hear, but i won't do that with mic in. do all aps work this way?

thanks

beater
Click to expand...
 
Good morning to one and all. Just checking in after a few days .......

@scrappledog: I only have iMacs and the iTalk Sync seems to work very easily. Maybe you should give their tech support people a call? Remember, this is all pretty new technology and different OSs probably have different needs.

@Doggie2: 1) No apologies for seniors ...... I'm 69 myself! 2) The Lloyd mic will fit and work without trimming, but will be twisted a few degrees. It is not hard to trim with a utility knife ...... just be careful! 3) Yes, you will need to download an app from the itunes store to be able to record. I use the iTalk .... it is FREE. Then go to the Griffin web site and also download/install the iTalk Sync. <http://www.italksync.com/> This will enable you to get your recordings to your Mac. 4) I have not tired to convert voice to text. Perhaps someone else can help here? 5) Yes, recordings can be erased from your iPod Touch. 6) "Simple" is a relative word ...... I find the Touch recording to be easy, quick, and simple .... with practice. It is also one less item to buy and carry around.

@beater: 1) Glad I could be of help. 2) I don't think you can "hear" as you are recording ..... with either the iPhone or the Touch. But, you can plug your earphones into the INSIPIO mic. and hear the playback. 3) I have no idea about the different quality of apps, but would also be interested to learn. That said, I like the iTalk ..... it works for me.
 
lozion said:
somebody do this!
Click to expand...

I just got the Macally Mic. I have tested it out with Fring and Sipphone apps. It does work, sort of. The problem with fring is you can't hear what the other person is saying because the speaker does not come on. In sipphone it kinda works. Sometimes you can get the speaker to work but sometimes it makes you sound like a serial killer.

I also have the sennheiser MM50's. They work pretty well. Not sure if anyone else has this problem but sometimes when I use it everything I hear gets distorted. Still trying to figure out what causes it.
 
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