Belkin has introduced a new iPod accessory called the Tunetalk Stereo
(BTS). When used with an external mic, the BTS and iPod make decent
quality field recordings.
The current iPod (5th generation, "video" iPod) has the ability to
record audio via its docking connector. The iPod firmware will
digitize two channels of analog audio input at a rate of 16/44.1, and
store the result in an uncompressed WAV file.
The new BTS is an improvement in audio quality over previous products.
In the past year or so, a few companies (Griffin, XtremeMac, Belkin)
introduced adapters for the video iPod that record audio on the go.
None of these could be recommended for field recording, however.
These older models were best suited for voice notes, where audio
quality was not as important.
While the BTS has a pair of internal mics, it's best to use an
external mic. The BTS plugs into the bottom of the iPod, so it is in
contact with your hand when you hold the iPod. This makes it more
likely that the built-in mics of the BTS will pick up handling noise.
The built-in mics are sensitive, so they also record the sounds of
the iPod's hard disc activity.
The BTS has a 3.5mm stereo jack for microphone input. No phantom
power or plug-in power is provided, so the microphone will need its
own power source.
One nice feature included in the BTS design is a USB plug, which can
be used to provide power from an external battery. Recording 16/44.1
audio keeps the iPod's hard disc busy, so the iPod's battery is
depleted within 2 hours. With an external USB battery, you can run
the iPod for extended periods.
Recordings made with BTS are recognized by iTunes software when the
iPod is docked. iTunes will automatically transfer the recordings to
PC or Mac, storing them in the "voice notes" folder. iTunes can burn
an audio CD of your recordings, or transform the original WAV files
into AAC or MP3 compressed form.
The 30GB video iPod costs about $300, the BTS about $50. Will this
combination yield results as good as the $350 M-Audio Microtrack 2496,
or $400 Edirol R-09 recorder? Probably not. The dedicated recorders
have better sound quality and lower self-noise. The Microtrack and
R-09 certainly are more convenient to use, with dedicated buttons for
most recording activities. The BTS requires you to use the iPod's
menu to control recording. The Microtrack and R-09 have batteries that
record a lot longer than the iPod. And the dedicated recorders
provide power to mics.
So who would be interested in the iPod and BTS for recording? I think
someone who carries an iPod anyway, for music listening and (dare I
mention it) playback of nature sounds in the field. The iPod and BTS
also would make a good backup recorder in the event that your primary
recorder had problems. Also worth considering is how unobtrusive an
iPod is in situations where a full size recorder would be unacceptable.
Here are links to two articles that describe the BTS more completely:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1989222,00.asp
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipod/review/8100/
--oryoki
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