Topic: Recording to my iPod - great little digi recorder

[gravity]

So, I got a used 3rd generation Ipod on ebay a month or so back specifically to install linux on it and test it's recording capabilities.
The linux install was a breeze. The very basic recording function of the player is nice. For Line-in stereo recording I had to solder 3 wires to the tiny iPod connector (and melted the shit out of one in the process. Luckily I bought a few extras and decided to clip off all the pins I wasn't using before trying again).
I can record 16-bit stereo at up to 96Khz.

I have a decent pair of stealth cardioid mics and a cheap little pre-amp and gave it a shot.

So, I go out to stealth tape my first show with my new little toy and I couldn't be much happier with the results. I went to see Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar) play an acoustic show at a little local venue the other night and I think the recording came out pretty damn good.

I posted the whole show on Dimeadozen and have gotten some good feedback.
I also have a sample I converted to MP3 posted to the web @ http://www.mindspring.com/~mweil/HooverDam.mp3

I think the iPod is a pretty damn good little digital recorder once you open up all the features Apple locks out.

[MoFo2]

it would be cool to see some pictures of this

[rdflash]

is there instructions out there for this?

[willndmb]

is there instructions out there for this?

http://ipod.hackaday.com/entry/1234000147025394/
i think there are others too

[gravity]

ipodlinux.org has everything you need to know. The only limitation so far is you have to have the 3rd generation ipod.
Really the only trick part is soldering to the dock connector which I have attached a pic.

[MoFo2]

So what's the battery time for recording? Sounds pretty stealthy

[gravity]

I can get about 2-2.5 hours of recording with the stock 560MAH battery. I am going to upgrade to the 850MAH.
I also imagine that the higher the sampling rate, the more juice it will take to spin and write to the hard drive. I recorded my first show at 44.1Khz.

[bconnolly]

So what's the battery time for recording? Sounds pretty stealthy

Not to mention: what venue is going to turn you away if they find your ipod? The chances that they'll assume it's for recording are astronmically slim.

[tscales]

I have been cruious about his for along time but always thought the A/D in the pod was not very good - am I wrong?

Can you record at 24-bit??? (doubtful, but I thought I'd ask)

How about if I were recording to my pod from the analog outs on my UA-5?  (I'd like to hear some thoughts.)

-T

[gravity]

If any of you guys have a chance to listen to the sample .mp3 or actually download the show I would be glad to hear any feedback on the quality of the recording.

[gravity]

24-bit. Nope - the iPod is only a 16-bit machine (but your talking about a 15 gb digital recorder that you can score for well under $100).
I can't really speak to the A/D conversion but the few things I have recorded have sounded nice.

[greenone]

So what's the battery time for recording? Sounds pretty stealthy

Not to mention: what venue is going to turn you away if they find your ipod? The chances that they'll assume it's for recording are astronmically slim.

On the other hand, if it's got all sorts of wiry dongly things coming out of the back of it, they'll likely assume it's for other activities.

[gravity]

On the other hand, if it's got all sorts of wiry dongly things coming out of the back of it, they'll likely assume it's for other activities.

actually, the only thing coming out of the ipod is the dock connector to a stereo mini pin. looks just like the cable you charge it with except for the stereo pin in place of a USB connector. Now if they find my preamp and mics then I've got som 'splainin' to do.

[greenone]

On the other hand, if it's got all sorts of wiry dongly things coming out of the back of it, they'll likely assume it's for other activities.

actually, the only thing coming out of the ipod is the dock connector to a stereo mini pin. looks just like the cable you charge it with except for the stereo pin in place of a USB connector. Now if they find my preamp and mics then I've got som 'splainin' to do.

Ah...I assumed it kinda looked like the illustration above, a little hack-y. What's your final product look like?

[rsimms3]

Are there other tracks that are more complex, say with other guitars and drums?  The sample you put up sounds good.  What kind of mics/preamp did you use?  What sort of controls do you have over recording on the iPod itself such as gain, channel adjustments, etc.?  I am just curious.