Topic: iPhone/iPod touch recorder?

[ironbut]

Has anyone heard anything about configuration or any other details on this? They started beta testing at the beginning of Feb. and I was sure someone would've leaked some info by now! Has anyone seen one in the field yet? 

[sunjan]

Are we talking about future hardware that hasn't been launched yet?
Or some app/firmware upgrade that is being beta tested?

[flintstone]

There's the Belkin Tune Studio
http://www.belkin.com/tunestudio/

and the Go Studio
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=460128

There's the Alesis Protrack
http://www.alesis.com/protrack

and the Multiport
http://www.alesis.com/multiport

and the MultiMix 8 (aslo available with 16 channels)
http://www.alesis.com/imultimix8usb

The iPod is limited to 16/44.1 WAV file digitizing, which is an issue for some recordists.

For the cost of these iPod accessories, you could purchase a fine standalone recorder.

Flintstone

[sunjan]

They started beta testing at the beginning of Feb. and I was sure someone would've leaked some info by now! Has anyone seen one in the field yet? 

The add-ons have been known for a long time. But what is this beta testing about, that the OP mentioned???

[ironbut]

Totally forgot about that post I made,.. sorry.
No, Audiofile Engineering is beta testing recording program for the iPhone and iPod touch. I use Wave Editor and Spectre from them and love them (actually Spectre needs a little more development). I beta tested Wave Editor 1.3 but I don't have an iPhone or Touch. Anyway, if I were beta testing it I would have a non disclosure agreement hanging over my head. So far, this is all I've seen;
http://www.bigbluelounge.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=45478&sid=e8463d245ad009664dd82405ddab7703
I was just fishing for details or slip of the tongues if you know what I mean (BTW the touch is up to 32G so far)
I sure would be cool to be able to say "It's my phone man!" and be telling the truth.

[sunjan]

Audiofile Engineering is beta testing recording program for the iPhone and iPod touch.
...
I sure would be cool to be able to say "It's my phone man!" and be telling the truth.

I dropped a PM to the company and got this:

Hey, thanks for your interest. We're essentially done. It should be up for sale by the end of the week or early next week.
Matthew Foust
Audiofile Engineering

Sounds interesting, but you'd still need to hook up your iPhone/iPod Touch with external mics and pre.

AFAIK neither of the models have a 3,5mm line input jack, so you'd still be forced to go thru the dock connector, using one of the interfaces above...

[ironbut]

Like I said, I haven't got a clue about any of the particulars. I'm hoping it might be a great bit bucket. The 32g uses a SSD so power shouldn't be a problem. And if you're already carrying an iPhone around it seems like it might be a great choice (if higher bit rates can be used). I've already bugged Matt at Audiofile about being able to import and edit 1 bit files from a Korg and they said they'd look into it. That one of the great things about these guy,.. they listen.
Hey, wouldn't it be cool if you could upload your files to an online server in something like 96/24 flac between sets so you'd have a back up or just to make room for some other big ass file.
One can dream!

[rastasean]

Hey, wouldn't it be cool if you could upload your files to an online server in something like 96/24 flac between sets so you'd have a back up or just to make room for some other big ass file.
One can dream!

Just because it can be done doesn't mean it would be it practical. I'm of the opinion it needs to be kept simple (KISS). Use a recorder, pre-amp, cables, and microphones.
for instance, everyone wants a blu-ray player but the movies for blu-ray suck. why not concentrate on making a good movie and then worry about what format to put it on.
Ansel Adams was a world class photographer and he wasn't using digital equipment.
Are yall fans of Eddie Cramer like me? What about George Martin?


i know this is strictly opinion and there will be people who buy anything just to have it.

[sunjan]

I'm hoping it might be a great bit bucket. The 32g uses a SSD so power shouldn't be a problem.

In theory the ipod/iphone should be a great recorder with some unique features (like 3G and wifi capability that you mentioned).
But for the foreseeable future it'll be way inferior to a R09-HR or a D50. Why? Because you're limited to the dock connector!
As long as the "middleware" (Blue Mikey, Alesis Protrack) suffers from severe limitations, it doesn't matter which bit bucket you put behind.
Sad, but I won't hope for this to be a viable recorder until proven otherwise... 

[ironbut]

Good points sunjan. I just got a D50 so I'm not in the market right now but I thought it was something that might be interesting.

[sunjan]

The iPod is limited to 16/44.1 WAV file digitizing, which is an issue for some recordists.

I wonder if 16/44 is a hardware limitation, or self-imposed by the Ipod firmware?
IIRC, rockbox only records in 16/44, so I guess it's hardware related.

For those modern iPods/iPhone that don't take rockbox, I discovered another $1.99 recording app:
http://www.iprorecorder.com/

[sunjan]

No, Audiofile Engineering is beta testing recording program for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Here's a first test:
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/04/24/iphone-roundup-field-recording-dj-tools-odd-iinstruments-cinco-de-mayo/

It seems to be the most comprehensive recording app for the iphone on the market, but given the limitations the reviewer still suggests picking up a standalone recorder for any serious use.

[sunjan]

Two threads explaining why you can't control the gain from the iPhone/iPod Touch. Basically, Apple blocked access to microphone gain for developers:
http://www.audiofile-engineering.com/support/forums/read.php?10,3262
http://www.bigbluelounge.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=46148

I just realized that Belkin GoStudio is not compatible with iPhone/iPod Touch, so in reality, you're left to Alesis ProTrack or Blue Mikey to control the incoming level:
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-GoStudio-Recorder-iPod-Green/dp/product-description/B001B4GG02

On the same topic, I realized Rockbox only does recording up to Ipod 5G, and GoStudio from 5G:
http://www.rockbox.org/mail/archive/rockbox-archive-2007-06/0045.shtml

So if you want to use them together, they overlap on very few ipod models:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/consumer_electronics/index-ipod.html

Anyway, the GoStudio got thrashed when Cnet reviewed it, there are just too many factors speaking against this combo:
http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-player-accessories/belkin-gostudio/4505-6519_7-33226434.html

[sunjan]

No, Audiofile Engineering is beta testing recording program for the iPhone and iPod touch.

It seems to be the most comprehensive recording app for the iphone on the market, but given the limitations the reviewer still suggests picking up a standalone recorder for any serious use.

Another app, Rectools02, was just launched, giving Audiofile FiRe a run for their money:
http://www.yudo.jp/en/music/rectools/r02

The nice thing here is a built in wave editor, so you can track and split your files on the spot if you're on the road.
And the UI makes use of the large screen quite nicely, I think. The hardware limitations are still crippling this combo, but maybe some noobs will be able to wet their teeth and move on to more serious gear from this?

[restevezes]

what's the point on buy and carry all those connectors when you can have a much more reliable unit (h120) for less money, and more practical and easy?