iKEY Portable USB Recorder at DVinfo.net

John McManimie · March 22nd, 2006, 01:42 PM

iKEY Portable USB Recorder (http://www.ikey-audio.com/ikey.htm)

"Designed to record directly to any external USB storage device"

Records audio to uncompressed WAV format or MP3 format (w/ selectable bit rate, up to 256kbps).

At only $148 at The Sound Professionals it looks pretty interesting:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cg...KEY&type=store

Rich Morse · March 23rd, 2006, 09:50 AM

That does look interesting. I was wondering if there was an alternative to a minidisc recorder.

Seth Bloombaum · March 23rd, 2006, 10:54 AM

Cute.

No mic preamps, though. Bungie together a preamp, the i-Key, with a flash drive hanging out the end? Seems awkward.

However, if you're recording in an environment where signals are already at line level it might be a handy device.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · March 23rd, 2006, 11:08 AM

just imagine all the iRivers it could replace.

Chris Luker · March 23rd, 2006, 04:03 PM

Just ordered one from B&H for $99.
I've been looking for a reason to get a new iPod!

Matthew Weitz · April 7th, 2006, 07:51 AM

Do you know if that can record using a condensor microphone?

Seth Bloombaum · April 7th, 2006, 11:43 AM

No mic preamps means you have to get the signal to line level somehow. Nor would it supply phantom power for condensors.

But if you already have a mixer that provides preamps and phantom, the iKey *ought* to work fine.

Chris Luker · April 7th, 2006, 11:45 AM

You need a pretty hot preamp to drive the converters. I've noticed some low level noise from the way this buffers the signal with mp3s and with wavs. This is a great product for recording things with a high noise floor (like a concert, or anything outdoors). But, for critical, close up recordings, I'll still use the 442 and DAT (that cost ALOT more, so apples to oranges here).
I would have liked a way to hear back the recording, or even hear what's going to the hard drive (like a post converter out), but with an ipod that's easy... what you record just shows up in the playlist.
8.5 out of 10.

Francois Camoin · April 7th, 2006, 03:03 PM

John
Check out the review on CNet today. They say background clicks and lack of time stamp are a real problem.

March 22nd, 2006, 01:42 PM	#1
John McManimie Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 314	iKEY Portable USB Recorder iKEY Portable USB Recorder (http://www.ikey-audio.com/ikey.htm) "Designed to record directly to any external USB storage device" Records audio to uncompressed WAV format or MP3 format (w/ selectable bit rate, up to 256kbps). At only $148 at The Sound Professionals it looks pretty interesting: http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cg...KEY&type=store

March 23rd, 2006, 11:08 AM	#4
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	just imagine all the iRivers it could replace. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

April 7th, 2006, 03:03 PM	#9
Francois Camoin Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 29	iKey John Check out the review on CNet today. They say background clicks and lack of time stamp are a real problem.

March 23rd, 2006, 09:50 AM	#2
Rich Morse Tourist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, CT Posts: 1	That does look interesting. I was wondering if there was an alternative to a minidisc recorder.

March 23rd, 2006, 10:54 AM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Cute. No mic preamps, though. Bungie together a preamp, the i-Key, with a flash drive hanging out the end? Seems awkward. However, if you're recording in an environment where signals are already at line level it might be a handy device.

March 23rd, 2006, 04:03 PM	#5
Chris Luker Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Woods Cross, Utah Posts: 310	Just ordered one from B&H for $99. I've been looking for a reason to get a new iPod!

April 7th, 2006, 07:51 AM	#6
Matthew Weitz Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 42	Do you know if that can record using a condensor microphone?

April 7th, 2006, 11:43 AM	#7
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	No mic preamps means you have to get the signal to line level somehow. Nor would it supply phantom power for condensors. But if you already have a mixer that provides preamps and phantom, the iKey ought to work fine.

April 7th, 2006, 11:45 AM	#8
Chris Luker Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Woods Cross, Utah Posts: 310	You need a pretty hot preamp to drive the converters. I've noticed some low level noise from the way this buffers the signal with mp3s and with wavs. This is a great product for recording things with a high noise floor (like a concert, or anything outdoors). But, for critical, close up recordings, I'll still use the 442 and DAT (that cost ALOT more, so apples to oranges here). I would have liked a way to hear back the recording, or even hear what's going to the hard drive (like a post converter out), but with an ipod that's easy... what you record just shows up in the playlist. 8.5 out of 10.