Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Longridge
The Belkin TuneTalk Stereo is a clever gizmo that converts a 5G iPod into a high-quality recording device. It neatly plugs into the Dock connector, adding roughly an inch to the overall length of the unit.
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Belkin TuneTalk Stereo
The Belkin TuneTalk Stereo is a clever gizmo that converts a 5G iPod into a high-quality recording device. It neatly plugs into the Dock connector, adding roughly an inch to the overall length of the unit.
Pressing the Record button launches the Voice Memo interface built into all 5G iPods - no driver installation is necessary. An on-screen counter shows you how long you've been recording.
Recordings can be played back directly on the iPod or downloaded on to your Mac via iTunes. Plug your iPod into your Mac either using your standard cable or dock, or with the TuneTalk still connected using the supplied USB cable, and recordings will be transferred to the Voice Memos playlist in your music library. You'll then want to rename them as it quickly becomes difficult to distinguish between files by date and time alone.
The recording quality is excellent: like the Xtreme Mac MicroMemo the TuneTalk Stereo records CD-quality sound files. However, despite its dual microphones optimally positioned for stereo recording, we were disappointed with the stereo separation.
Frustratingly, it only records in Wav format. The advantage of this is that it's a lossless format, so recordings maintain their fidelity. The disadvantage is that file sizes are very large: at roughly 10MB of disk space per minute, an hour-and-a-half recording will take up nearly 1GB.
It's possible to convert the audio to MP3 or AAC using iTunes' standard conversion tool, but this method is fiddly. An alternative is to use the TuneTalk in low-quality mode, but the sound quality is noticeably inferior.
The sound quality is also affected by the Autogain switch on the bottom of the unit. When in the off position, the TuneTalk records exactly what it hears, which is ideal for recording a conversation at close quarters or in quiet surroundings. Turn Autogain on and the recording levels are boosted, producing impressive results when recording a quiet source or one at a distance from the unit.
There is added versatility with the inclusion of an auxiliary stereo input jack, which means you can record directly to your iPod from a CD player, computer or even a high-quality external microphone.
Perhaps the TuneTalk's biggest drawback is the way it drains your iPod's battery. We found that a fully charged battery on a 30GB iPod (not the latest model, which Apple says has a longer battery life) allowed the TuneTalk to record for around an hour and a half, which severely limits its usefulness. You can recharge the battery while recording if you plug it into an available USB port or power adaptor, but then it ceases to be portable.
The TuneTalk Stereo is an impressive product for iPod owners who need to do the occasional bit of recording. However, despite its innovations, the limitations, most notably the power consumption, and the fact that it's £20 more expensive than the MicroMemo - although it does include a stand - mean we have to give it a limited recommendation.
Pressing the Record button launches the Voice Memo interface built into all 5G iPods - no driver installation is necessary. An on-screen counter shows you how long you've been recording.
Recordings can be played back directly on the iPod or downloaded on to your Mac via iTunes. Plug your iPod into your Mac either using your standard cable or dock, or with the TuneTalk still connected using the supplied USB cable, and recordings will be transferred to the Voice Memos playlist in your music library. You'll then want to rename them as it quickly becomes difficult to distinguish between files by date and time alone.
The recording quality is excellent: like the Xtreme Mac MicroMemo the TuneTalk Stereo records CD-quality sound files. However, despite its dual microphones optimally positioned for stereo recording, we were disappointed with the stereo separation.
Frustratingly, it only records in Wav format. The advantage of this is that it's a lossless format, so recordings maintain their fidelity. The disadvantage is that file sizes are very large: at roughly 10MB of disk space per minute, an hour-and-a-half recording will take up nearly 1GB.
It's possible to convert the audio to MP3 or AAC using iTunes' standard conversion tool, but this method is fiddly. An alternative is to use the TuneTalk in low-quality mode, but the sound quality is noticeably inferior.
The sound quality is also affected by the Autogain switch on the bottom of the unit. When in the off position, the TuneTalk records exactly what it hears, which is ideal for recording a conversation at close quarters or in quiet surroundings. Turn Autogain on and the recording levels are boosted, producing impressive results when recording a quiet source or one at a distance from the unit.
There is added versatility with the inclusion of an auxiliary stereo input jack, which means you can record directly to your iPod from a CD player, computer or even a high-quality external microphone.
Perhaps the TuneTalk's biggest drawback is the way it drains your iPod's battery. We found that a fully charged battery on a 30GB iPod (not the latest model, which Apple says has a longer battery life) allowed the TuneTalk to record for around an hour and a half, which severely limits its usefulness. You can recharge the battery while recording if you plug it into an available USB port or power adaptor, but then it ceases to be portable.
The TuneTalk Stereo is an impressive product for iPod owners who need to do the occasional bit of recording. However, despite its innovations, the limitations, most notably the power consumption, and the fact that it's £20 more expensive than the MicroMemo - although it does include a stand - mean we have to give it a limited recommendation.
Author: Mike Hirschkorn
