Ipod based music recorder/mixer

[Jeff Miller]

This looks quite rad:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01...n_tune_studio/

Pretty slick for consumer kit. 44kHz for less then $200, it just records to the iPod that you probably have already. It's not a four-track recorder and it's missing a lot of pro-DV features, but what could you want for $800 less then a nice mixer and around $1000 less then a digital four track?

I'd want to try it out first, but it sure looks like a win-win for a cheap production that wants to do off camera sound.

[Chris Luker]

If it's anywhere near the "quality" of the iKey, then it will not be usable at all.
I hope this one delivers the sound quality!

[Guy Cochran]

I just ordred an XtremeMac MicroMemo to test. It has 3.5mm Line and Mic level input. I'm really, really hoping it's not a POS. http://www.xtrememac.com/audio/earph.../micromemo.php

I figure that this with a BeachTek DXA-10 XLR adapter/Preamp should be a nice little package. We'll see....(keeping fingers crossed)

[Raimo Repo]

I was wondering if there was any further news on this device?

[Guy Cochran]

THUMBS UP!

Take a listen to the WAV file http://dvcreators.net/media/micromemo.wav

Sennheiser ME66/K6 (via BeachTek MVU-1)

Audio Technica 4053A (via BeachTek MVU-1)

RODE Videomic (direct)

Sennheiser MKE-2 (via Sennheiser Evolution G2 Wireless)


One drawback - you can not monitor the Mic input live via the iPod itself. Otherwise, a killer product at a killer price. Especially if you use the lightweight iPod Nano version.

[Peter Rhalter]

Are there any meters displayed with this thing? If they exist, do they work with a line level signal? Thanks for any input.

Best wishes,
Peter
______________________
http://www.parkfilms.com

[Guy Cochran]

The Micromemo unit has a line/mic level switch. I did not get the Line level to work perfectly from the BeachTek DXA-10 pre amp. I'm sure I could of with more testing, but with no VU meters, it was kind of a pain to record then import and keep re-testing to get it perfect. In one pass it was way too hot, then the next it was too low.

The BeachTek MVU-1 XLR adapter has VU meters and was easier to work with. Kinda nice to work with a final production version...I helped invent it :)

The iPod with Micromemo does not have any VU meters and with no headphone output, it's a crapshoot unless you test everything from record to playback to build confidence.

Another thing to test is the $29.95 Omni "Memomic" maybe it'll give the Giant Squid a run for the money. http://www.xtrememac.com/audio/earph...rders/memomic/
Nice backup recording combo I must say. Though the built-in mic is WAY noisy - basically useless for anything besides dictation.

I have noticed there are great deals on eBay for the Micromemo if anyone is looking at getting one (I paid full $59 retail for our test unit).

But wow - 3 hour record time on a 2GB Nano!

Oh - one more thing, the Micromemo has one button on the front. You push the button and you are immediately taken to RECORD MODE. You now have TWO options - REC OR PAUSE. Very simple design...now who's going to make an XLR version!

[Meryem Ersoz]

the major issue with the MicroMemo is low battery time. it may be 3 hours on a nano, but don't expect that kind of battery time with other iPods. with my video ipod, i get maybe an hour of record time. and since the unit plugs into the dock, you can't recharge the battery while the unit is in use, which is a bummer. i guess for the price these days of a nano, it might be worth giving that combo a shot.

[Grant Harrington]

Originally Posted by Meryem Ersoz

the major issue with the MicroMemo is low battery time. it may be 3 hours on a nano, but don't expect that kind of battery time with other iPods. with my video ipod, i get maybe an hour of record time. and since the unit plugs into the dock, you can't recharge the battery while the unit is in use, which is a bummer. i guess for the price these days of a nano, it might be worth giving that combo a shot.

I just found out about this little marvel! I'm attending training seminars and used my 80 GB iPod, charged last night to full, and recorded 3+ hours at high-quality and still have over 50% showing in the battery indicator. I bought the lapel mic that MicroMemo sells and had that sitting on the auditorium desk so it wasn't even in the line of sight of the presenter, there were chair backs between the mic and the speaker, and the speaker was about 30 feet from me and it picked him up great. Yes, his voice was quieter than those of people directly around me asking questions, but I had no problems hearing every word and I can certainly use the audio to review with my notes I took. There were people in all corners of the room asking questions and I got everyone of them (some at a lower level than others), but when I asked questions, it sounded like pristine quality (about 3 feet from me). The room seated about 200 people.

I brought the audio into a timeline of a wedding I'm working on to see how the sound is compared to external camera mic and (other than the content was analytical chemistry) the quality blended very nicely with the audio from the camera, so I have no reason to not use it at my next wedding next month. I've never had problems with sound with my TRV 840's other than when the bride and groom spoke without mics. This way, I'll be able to get the vows with no issues.

01:17 minutes = 786 MB
00:52 minutes = 527 MB
1:11 minutes = 722 MB

16 bit integer (Little Endian), Stereo, 44.100 kHz.

My iPod is synced to my XP machine, but it's in disk mode and the files are in iPod->Recordings->file.wav

I hope to upload some samples, but it may not be for a few days.

Grant

[Grant Harrington]

Originally Posted by Grant Harrington

I hope to upload some samples, but it may not be for a few days.
Grant

Update: I've purchased a Sony VX2100 and filmed a confirmation service yesterday. I see I can't post attachments, how do I go about getting that enabled? Also, what type of attachments are acceptable? I've got a 1 min 30 second video clip showing the MicroMemo high quality setting audio synced with the FCP timeline. I've compressed it in Compressor for QT 7 downloadable file and is a few MB or less.

I was filming from the balcony of the church and the young person had the laviler mic on their shirt collar and a robe over the mic and carried the iPod (locked) in their pants pocket.

I was amazed with the results of the two audio tracks (A1A2 and A3A4), where the camera didn't get the student talking (A1A2), the MicroMemo (A3A4) did (and picked up the person standing a few feet away as well). There was no audio system in the church.

I would be happy to post results, if someone could let me know how to get posting privelages and what is accetable to post. I could post screen shots of the timeline and an audio only track if necessary.

Grant

[Steve House]

Originally Posted by Raimo Repo

I was wondering if there was any further news on this device?

Got your message but the reply email was invalid. Please send updated contact info

[Giroud Francois]

alesis is doing such product
http://www.alesis.com/
and you can find it for 300$ or less

[Doug Lange]

Looks interesting. When will it be available? This would be great for a home studio to record the band.

Oddly, though, is that I'm looking for equipment that will improve field audio aquisition beyond what I can get in my Canon XH A1. A $300 multitrack won't have better mic preamps than the adaquate mic preamps on my cam.

My best concert video is when I can get a CD master of the concert and lay those tracks along with the video. It's hard to beat $10K in mics and mic preamps!