My main question is why not use my iPod for taping? I have a fifth generation Rockbox'd iPod Video. I also have a TuneTalk which gives me a line in jack. I have professional mics and preamps, so that is not an issue for me. Given the iPod with Rockbox and a Line-In jack, why not use this setup? All the searching on this forum, albeit dated, has said NO GO with iPod. But honestly, with the setup I have now, what is different from the iRiver H120?
1.
It is possible to record with a rockboxed Ipod, but it doesn't mean that all accessories are supported. If you search rockbox.org, you'll find that all reports on Tunetalk so far have been negative. The developers don't have access to all third-party gear, so not enough work has been done there. Get a plain line-in connector instead, like this:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=115762.msg1550982#msg15509822. Like others said, the recording feature for Ipod is still ridden with bugs. Many report that there is recurring hiss one of the channels, or crosstalk. Maybe the AD is to blame, maybe other conflicting hardware, maybe Apple's proprietary protocol, obstructing the devs:
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=15730.03. Rockbox for Ipod doesn't have the same feature set as rockbox for Iriver. No Safety Clip AGC (no gain control at all for most models), the recording screen is not as elaborate. No live headphone monitoring, etc. The list goes on:
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=9244.15So if you put all of these factors together, it's quite obvious why it's a bad deal to fork out $40-$80 on a dock connector just to get line-in, when you can get an entire working H320 on ebay for $70-$80!
That also explained why so few of the devs bothered to spend their money on all these overpriced little accessories for the Ipod. Simply not worth it when you have superior technology at your fingertips.