Griffin iTalk Pro - Microphone

This a very easy to use recorder for your ipod (I used it on a 5th generation one with video). You basically just plug it into the bottom of your ipod and follow the easy instructions on the screen. There are two quality modes (high and low). I generally use low because it seems fine for my purposes (I bought this recorder to record some meetings for school) and because the high mode takes up a lot of memory. A 1 hour meeting on low took up about 162 MB while an 1 hour on high took 500MB+. Also I think the battery drains more quickly in the high quality setting. (but less than a quarter was drained in the low quality setting). In terms of sound quality, the recorder is very good. You can make out speech and surrounding sounds very well. All sound files are saved as .WAV and titled by the date and time you recorded. My only complaint is that the unit records at a relatively low volume compared to itunes songs. As a result you have to turn the volume up considerably on your computer or ipod to compensate. I have not tried recording music so I don't know how good the quality is for that.

Just started using this today. Setup and operation couldn't be much simpler. As other have reported, using the built-in mics captures a lot of background noise, but the recording quality is adequate for voice memos, lectures, etc. Haven't tried recording live music. I only have a few gripes with the product. I found the "Automatic" recording level setting unusable, because when it auto-switches back and forth between High/Low recording levels, there is a really loud pop. My first voice recordings were unlistenable due to the number of these pops. But setting the recording level to either "High" or "Low" instead of "Automatic" solves this problem. It's also a bummer that it doesn't remember this setting, and defaults back to "Automatic" every time you plug it in to the iPod, which means going through several extra button clicks before starting a recording. Lastly, there is no shock-absorption with the built-in mics whatsoever, so any handling of the device causes major noise in the recording. Suggest placing it on a stable surface and not touching it when it's recording. Using an external mic would resolve this problem, but since it only has one mic input, you can't record in stereo that way. Bottom line is that this device is so cheap, it's certainly worth the price as a basic voice recorder, and is more convenient than having to carry around a completely separate device for this purpose.

The Griffith iTalk Pro is super. It's a plug and go sort of thing, and I used correctly and successfully the first time I tried. The sound quality was amazing, really beyond what I expected. It worked perfectly inside my breast pocket with the default settings that came when it arrived, no adjustment needed. I have used it every day through a fifteen-week school term and it needs a charge about 1 hour after giving a two-hour lecture. I would buy this for twice what I paid and feel good about it. Compared to other types of mics, this one is the easiest to use, least expensive, and delivers great sound quality.

I bought this to record meetings of 25 people. Plug it in, simple, easy to work. Picks up the whole room. But it always picks up the sound of the drive writing and when the auto gain boosts on lower voices that clicking overwhelms the signal. I thought it would be great once I plugged a mic & amp into it, but I could never get the mic input to work. After plugging it in a few times, the whole device fell apart, literally (and I was not at all rough with it). I bought the Belkin, 2x the cost but works like a charm - even better than plugging the mic & amp directly into my Powerbook (the Belkin seems to add a little boost & is less noisy). The Belkin can also charge as you record, which the Griffin can't. Seems an iPod can't record much more than 75 minutes before it runs out of power, so the ability to charge while recording can be crucial.

The product itself (when it works) records very well. I have no complaints about the stereo quality it records. It also doesn't pick up every hiss or back round noise in the room. It's better then any handheld all in one solution digital recorder, which only records in 8 bit mono sound. However all this means nothing if your not sure it's even recording what you're intending to. Out of 10 lectures only 5 where good, the other five were dead air (didn't record anything). Still created an hr long file and was the same size that did record but nothing. I don't know why it's doing this, I turn my IPOD on plug in the I-talk pro, my voice menu comes up, and I hit record. The red circle light comes on, and my IPOD displays recording. But like I said above sometimes it doesn't record anything. Creates a soundless file. I am in the process of trouble shooting the device to see if I can see an issue when it doesn't record anything. It's hard to tell when there is no way to check until after it stops. I would rank this much higher if it weren't for this issue.

The iTalk Pro is a good product. I like it's look and design. It blends seemlessly with my black ipod. It's small easy to attach and use. It can record with very high quality or low quality. I recommend using high gain when recording a lecture. I wish it had speakers to play back what was recorded. (I thought it did when I bought it). Overall, I'm happy with it, however I wish it cost a little less.

I use this product to record voice lessons. Though I would not necessarily recommend you make CDs to send for jobs, auditions, competitions with this product, it certainly does a decent jobs. (It can be used for those things in a pinch, just make sure you know the room well enough to know where to place it.) It does tend to run the battery down on my iPod when I use it, so don't expect to use it for more than an hour and a half or so. Excellent product. Great quality, clear sound, totally worth the price.

The Pros: Sound quality is clear. small size. very easy to use. The Cons: extremely directional, will only pick up extremely small radius of sound. will only pick up loud sounds, and they have to be pretty close as well. recordings are incredibly quiet. The other reviews talk of using it for interviews or lectures. I may not be a professinal interviewer but I think you'd have to get your subject to speak extremely loudly at point blank range to pick them up. I wanted to record very rough tunes I compose so I don't have to scrabble around with manuscript paper. It's of no use to me. I wish my old Belkin would fit the new Ipod, that one was really excellent. HOWEVER if you want something to hold right up to your face and mumble self indulgent thoughts into this could be the one for you.