O'Reilly posts iPod microphone shootout

Bob, it's great that you found a solution that works for you, but your comment reveals how little you know about audio. You say that the only thing that matters is the input because the digital bits are all the same, but that just isn't true. The recording device does matter. What is the sample rate? Can one set levels (clippping will ruin your recording). Sample rate is huge. A little more esoteric is the silicon. Which A/D conversion chips are being used? Then there are other considerations, such as phantom power.

You say that you're using a shure mixer, but at what point are you using so many accessories for your iPod that you might as well be using professional equipment? You might be dazzling your clients by using the iPod, but it's the iPod that's impressing them, not the quality of your work. If you want professional results, there are very reasonably priced professional tools available. Call me old school, but I prefer using the best tool and the right tool for the job. In a pinch, these iPod accessories might do the trick, but I wouldn't want to rely on them.

Also, I highly doubt that you were able to purchase both one of these iPod accessories and a decent Sennheiser for $50. How much did the Shure mixer run you?

JeffDM, once your recording has been made, by recording bits, it's made. it doesn't matter what device makes the recording, it matters about the input. Now givem the Zoom has XLR inputs. But I can use a mic that has an XLR, drop it down to the mini plug of any of these devices, and have just as good a recording. I've also used both the Belkin and Griffin device with a portable Shure mixer so that I can do location recording, with pro-level mics and output to the iPod and had results that sound as good as recording in a studio. So it has nothing to do with the 'pro'-ness of the deivice. It's all about the quality of the input. Plus, I can show video to clients right after a recording session, all with a device that fits in my pocket.

Bob, I'm pretty sure the iPod is not something to use for professional recording. Zoom is a different class of device.

I have the need to record several speeches that I am doing in a small room (about 100 attendees). Can I have one of these on the iPod and an external mic on the podium to record my 4 hours of talkin'? Are any of these better than the other for just simple voice?
Thanks!

I have the MicroMemo product, and I love it. No experience with the others, but I've used the MicroMemo to record podcasts and the quality is better than the internal mic on my MacBook Pro. Love it, love it, love it.

Belkin is what I have and it works AWESOME! I take it to all of the concerts I go to and record them. It works great. It's not perfect sound, but works great!

Check out my recordings here:
http://mycrazyblogspencer.blogspot.com/2007/05/kate-havnevik-live-at-fillmore-in.html

If the bass is too loud, then there is distortion, but works wonderful if there it isn't too loud.

Perfect for my interviews and other things.

Buy it - you won't be dissapointed.

does anyone have experience with line-level recording using their ipod? i have a 30g ipod video and woul love to be able to record wth that instead of my md recorder... thanks for tips!

Nik, how well does that Zoom play video? Or store your photos? Or your address book, and notes, and play back music, and...

Oh, wait. I see, it doesn't! So, for $50, I added a recorder, bought a Senheiser mic, and I have recordings just like from your Zoom. Man, I'm glad I didn't make the same mistake you did... ;-)

I sold my iPod and bought a Zoom H4

I've been using the Belkin for the last month or so and the sound quality is great, as is the fact that you can charge while recording as it tends to drain the battery at an alarming rate. However, I've been experiencing terrible skipping problems with it. I've tried all the different setting, high quality and low, but on all of them I get 4 or 5 second jumps every minute or so as it writes the recording to the harddrive. It's driving me nuts as I use it for interviews and I'm ending up with whole sections of coversation missing. I'm using it with a new 30G iPod using the current most upto date iPod software - it seems to be a common problem, reading all the various forums and there seems to be a theme that the issue started around the time of the last software up-date. Any ideas to solve the problem most welcome. According to posts I've read online it also affects the Griffin and Extreme Mac recorders with the 30G iPod, which would suggest it's an iPod issue, and as there aren't really any complaints with the 80G version, I'm guessing that it is a 30G software prob.