Topic: Nokia N900 as a recorder?

[Aladar]

So, I just came across interesting thought - would it be possible to use N900, which has mic in, as a recorder? It came to me when I recalled the recent iPhone as a recorder debate..

What do you think?

[rastasean]

I think you should just buy an iphone and then an ipad followed by the ipod.

[Aladar]

I think you should just buy an iphone and then an ipad followed by the ipod.

Well, that was terribly helpful contribution.

I am serious, however.

[RTD]

surely possible, but what do you expect from a telephone mic in quality?
Does it have a recording app build in? If so, there you go...

[Aladar]

surely possible, but what do you expect from a telephone mic in quality?
Does it have a recording app build in? If so, there you go...

I'm not sure if it has one built-in, but there are others for it, and the OS being Linux, there will be many more..
While the quality will probably not be as good as any recorder.. maybe it will be better than recording on minidisc?

[RTD]

telephones have everytime build in mics but thats it. So the idea to go with a cheapo flash recorder or an iphone with attached stereo mics would be the better solution Well, minidisc is not that bad as well, if you like to stay with it.

[earmonger]

Your recording is never going to be better than your mics. A phone has a mic optimized for the narrow frequency band of speech. And it's mono. It will not sound better than good stereo mics plugged into a minidisc recorder.

[Aladar]

OK we obviously didn't understand eachother.
It has microphone input, I don't want to record it using the phone microphone. I'd plug in my CSB into the N900.

[yug du nord]

Is it a stereo or mono input?  If it's designed for a hands free device for your phone, it might only be mono.  I'm sure you could find/buy an app for it though.  I don't know if I would use it as a primary recorder, but keep a small pair of mics/stereo mic in your car/bag/briefcase....  and you'll always have a rig on hand. 

[Aladar]

Is it a stereo or mono input?  If it's designed for a hands free device for your phone, it might only be mono.  I'm sure you could find/buy an app for it though.  I don't know if I would use it as a primary recorder, but keep a small pair of mics/stereo mic in your car/bag/briefcase....  and you'll always have a rig on hand.

No idea, most I could find was "stereo audio output and either microphone input or video output". But I think phone at this budget should have stereo input..

[petur]

But I think phone at this budget should have stereo input..

read that again yourself.... I don't think it does stereo, I can't see how they would manage with that connector. The n900 isn't  a recording device (and neither is the iCrap family of devices)

[sunjan]

But I think phone at this budget should have stereo input..

read that again yourself.... I don't think it does stereo, I can't see how they would manage with that connector.

Petur is right. Mono only!  The 3,5mm jack is TRRS, intended to carry both video and audio. Here's your answer, in clear print:
http://www.forum.nokia.com/Technology_Topics/Mobile_Technologies/Connectivity_&_Interfaces/Wired_Interfaces/Nokia_AV_2.5mm_and_3.5mm_Connector.xhtml

Nokia devices accept mono microphone signal in from an external accessory if it is automatically detected as a headset.