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May 6, 2003

Where's the iPod recorder?

One of the things that surprised me when I started to get more into digital creativity (making movies, creating musical slide shows) was that there was no good MP3 recorder for the Mac. Apple, you say you make tools for creative people, where's this one? I don't need an iPod to take with me to play music (I mostly listen to CDs in my car or iTunes at my desk). I need an iPod recorder to take with me to record my grandmother's memories, so I can make a digital collage with her voice. I need an iPod to take with me to my singing lesson, so I can send my mom a personal happy birthday song. I don't want your canned music for my photos, I want my own voice, my own commentary. And I shouldn't have to jump through technical hoops to get there.

Update:
An add-on available this spring: iTalk

Update March 1, 2004:
Belkin announced an
iPod microphone adapter.


Posted by elise on May 6, 2003 to Computers | Comments (10)

Comments

Actually, you'd be happy to discover that Apple DOES have plans to provide recording capabilities with the new 3rd Generation Ipods that were recently released. Upon some clever experimentation, some folks over at www.ipoding.com reported discovering some diagnostic settings that indicate "LINE-IN" and "RECORD" within the interface, but no clear way to get it to work. A few more days of experimentation brought this post:

Plug in earphones
Activate Diagnostic Mode - Reset (hold MENU and PLAY) and hold down PREVIOUS, NEXT and CENTER buttons at Apple logo - Release buttons and you'll hear a chirp and Diagnostic mode will appear
Use Next button to navigate to "J. RECORD"
Speak into Left earphone when "BEGIN..." appears
You'll get about 6 sec. of record time and then "DONE"
Press center button for playback
Press Play/Pause to return to list of tests This is just the mono record feature... as noted here there is also a stereo line-in but that is in the dock connector and activated by "F. LIN REC"


...I'm sure Apple will release a new Firmware update for the iPod shortly that will provide recording capability in full. Stay tuned.

-Vic

Posted by: Vic Zauderer at May 8, 2003 12:07 AM

So why can't you just record withthe left earphone under the new firmware instead of coughing up $50 for another thing to carry around

Posted by: Lev at October 20, 2003 1:26 PM

Good question. What I really want is not some add-on, but native to the iPod the ability to record MP3s - both voice and music. What's the hold up here? Why buy a third party add-on? Is is that a recording device needs more battery power? Is the quality available with a little mic just not up to Apple's snuff? Apple can't be afraid of being sued by Apple Records, because that's already happening.

Posted by: elise at October 20, 2003 1:46 PM

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=T7419LL/A

Posted by: Its Here at November 14, 2003 10:00 PM

Yes, that would be the add-on from Belkin. Good enough for talking, not good enough for singing. I want an MP3 recorder for my Mac to take to jam sessions with fellow musicians. Why can't this be part of the iPod?

Posted by: elise at November 14, 2003 11:19 PM

Make sure y'all go to the feedback section of apple's ipod site (http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html) to remind the apple crew how much we would like recording capability!

Posted by: firshe at November 24, 2003 10:50 AM

It maybe a dumb question. I just wanted to know if I could purchase an IPOD with recording capabilties and a MIC input to record live music. Would i get the same quality as recording on a mini disk?

Thanks

Larry

Posted by: larry at June 17, 2005 8:49 AM

Great question Larry. I have no idea. The Ipod itself doesn't have recording capabilities, but third party products allow the iPod to record. You might want to check out the websites of those products.

Posted by: Elise Author Profile Page at June 19, 2005 4:36 PM

holla!

http://ipod.hackaday.com/entry/1234000147025394/

Posted by: jared at July 6, 2005 2:18 PM

I would go out and buy an iPod tomorrow if it recorded at cd quality. If it could take a mic, or a line in. Just think of what you could do with that!

Posted by: Case at September 30, 2005 7:41 PM

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