Topic: New iPod Accessory: Belkin TuneTalk Stereo (16/44.1khz)

[madamage]

iLounge has had an opportunity to test Belkin’s new TuneTalk Stereo, the first working microphone recording device for the fifth-generation iPod. TuneTalk Stereo comes in two different colors - white and black - each with two metal-grilled microphones built into the accessory’s front surface. There’s a one-push record and stop button on its left side, and two ports on its bottom: a mini USB pass-through for power, and a line-input port. A gain control switch (not working on the prototype) inbetween them toggles between high and low gain, and a LED light changes from yellowish green to red to indicate recording status.

We tried two recordings on the device: “high” and “low” quality. High quality was 16-bit stereo, 44.1KHz, with a bitrate of 1411kb/sec (10.3MB/minute), while low quality was 16-bit monaural, 22.05KHz, 352kb/sec (2.6MB/minute), both in uncompressed .WAV format. Audio samples from the device were nearly indistinguishable from each other, at least from what we could hear on the show floor through Shure E2cs.

TuneTalk Stereo is not scheduled to ship until April. You can see how a 5G iPod equipped with firmware 1.0 works with the new accessory.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/6743/

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I thought I'd share this.

If this works well and has a good a/d converter inside it could be a great addition to a starting tapers equipment collection. (like me)

[bconnolly]

Only has a line-input so you'll not only need some mics but a battery box and/or an outboard pre as well.

I guess if you already have a 5G iPod sitting around it might be worth checking out.  Could pair it with some SP CMC-8s and an SP-SPSB-6 battery box for decent results.

[cpatch]

This one was actually announced before Belkin's (it's also scheduled to ship in April):

http://www.xtrememac.com/audio/earphones_recorders/micromemo.php

Craig

[madamage]

Well, I'm definatly going to make use of it.

My rig right now is a pair of C4s - Yamaha MG10/2 mixer - my own computer (full desktop rig)

So not having to lug it all around is definatly going to be a bonus.

Random question, could I replace my mixer with a Denteke PS2 for full mobility?  Or would I require another device?

[cpatch]

Random question, could I replace my mixer with a Denteke PS2 for full mobility?  Or would I require another device?

The PS-2 just gives you phantom power for the C4s...you'd still need a preamp (Denecke's AD-20 wouldn't work in this case since it only offers digital out).

Craig

[madamage]

Wouldn't there be a preamp in the TuneTalk itself?

[Cooker]

no, you would need to boost the gain of a mic level signal to line level.  there probably is some sort of pre in the tunetalk, but since it's a line inout instead of a mic input, the pre is probably bypassed.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

"We tried two recordings on the device: “high” and “low” quality. High quality was 16-bit stereo, 44.1KHz, with a bitrate of 1411kb/sec (10.3MB/minute), while low quality was 16-bit monaural, 22.05KHz, 352kb/sec (2.6MB/minute), both in uncompressed .WAV format. Audio samples from the device were nearly indistinguishable from each other, at least from what we could hear on the show floor through Shure E2cs."

Is this a statement of quality???  I'm not sure I'd want it if you cannot tell the difference between mono and stereo...

Terry

[C.Clark]

"We tried two recordings on the device: “high” and “low” quality. High quality was 16-bit stereo, 44.1KHz, with a bitrate of 1411kb/sec (10.3MB/minute), while low quality was 16-bit monaural, 22.05KHz, 352kb/sec (2.6MB/minute), both in uncompressed .WAV format. Audio samples from the device were nearly indistinguishable from each other, at least from what we could hear on the show floor through Shure E2cs."

Is this a statement of quality???  I'm not sure I'd want it if you cannot tell the difference between mono and stereo...

Terry

im not sure if id trust the opinion of someone at ilounge, im sure there is a good chance that this person isnt a serious audiophile.  and second, i can almost assure most people on this site could probably here a difference between 44.1 stereo and 22.05 mono, jsut an opinion though, could be wrong.

[Cooker]

"We tried two recordings on the device: “high” and “low” quality. High quality was 16-bit stereo, 44.1KHz, with a bitrate of 1411kb/sec (10.3MB/minute), while low quality was 16-bit monaural, 22.05KHz, 352kb/sec (2.6MB/minute), both in uncompressed .WAV format. Audio samples from the device were nearly indistinguishable from each other, at least from what we could hear on the show floor through Shure E2cs."

Is this a statement of quality???  I'm not sure I'd want it if you cannot tell the difference between mono and stereo...

Terry

im not sure if id trust the opinion of someone at ilounge, im sure there is a good chance that this person isnt a serious audiophile.  and second, i can almost assure most people on this site could probably here a difference between 44.1 stereo and 22.05 mono, jsut an opinion though, could be wrong.

if they were just going "check 1, 2; check 1,2 " into the mic, i wouldn't be so sure they could tell a difference, listening over earbuds, after AAC

[madamage]

It isn't converted into aac on the ipod, it's in .wav.  It couldn't convert to aac in realtime anyway.

Also when they say they can't hear a difference between mono and stereo, it's probably because they were using the built in microphones, if used as merely storage, you could probably tell the difference.

[Kindguy]

nothing wrong with running ps-2 > line transformers. insted of a pre while on a budget.