Griffin iTalk Pro - Microphone
by Griffin Technology
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Our Price: $99.94 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $25.00 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Griffin iTalk Pro - Microphone
Customer Review: Great.. until it breaks.
Summary: 3 Stars
The quality of the audio from this unit is just ok.. plug in a high quality shotgun or stereo mic for better sound. The built in mics would be fine if you could adjust the gain, but since you can't you will get very peaky and poppy audio when speaking directly to the device.
You will also hear the ipod HD spin up and cycle while using the built in mics. This is not the recorder for serious podcasting unless you are using something to control the volume before it goes in to the italk. Something like a portable 4 track or just a mini-mixer should do the trick. But if you are going to the trouble to set all of that up you probably want something to record to that isn't going to run out of battery so quickly.
I'm sure it had something to do with the way I carried it around in my pocket but the built in mics are now shot.. I didn't smash it or drop it.. just put it in my pocket with my keys for about 5 mins.. now the mics are all messed up. A little durability would be nice.
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Customer Review: shoddy
Summary: 1 Stars
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.Customer Review: Disappointing!
Summary: 3 Stars
Although the iTalk Pro has been made pretty easy to use (push to record) and easy to transfer voice files to your PC, the quality of the sound is certainly far from that a PROfessional would need. The PRO suffix is quite a misnomer, but Griffin Technology isn't the first to mis-use that word. There is too much high frequency hiss in the sound so you couldn't really use it for, say, pro voice recording. It might be OK in low-sensitivity mode with a loud band. The loud band would produce enough sound to make a reasonable sound level and mask the high frequency hiss altogether. I tried speaking into a good stereo Sony Mic plugged into the iTalk. I compared it with the Sony DAT using the same Mic and was very disappointed at the hiss. I guess it was too good to be true that I'd be able to replace my $1000 DAT with a $34 assessory to the iPod.Customer Review: Awesome little device
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok, i'll admit that this isn't perfect. The audio is a bit hissy but for what I was using it for, it's perfect. I was using it to record my class sessions and test previews. It worked brilliantly and it's made school a breeze. No more scrambling to write down notes at breakneck speed. Just take the notes you can and rely on a recorded backup copy. I will say that it definitely pays to sit close to a quiet instructor. But pays back huge dividends in the end. One thing I will say is that it mows through battery time like crazy so make sure to bring a wall plug if you have a place to plug in close by. If you've got a kid or are a student who is an auditory learner or just wants a backup of any lecture, this is HIGHLY recommended. Don't buy this for the sonic clarity, you may be disappointed. But it does what I needed for sure.Customer Review: Sole problem is no way to lock it off
Summary: 4 Stars
Considering the size, cost and convenience, the audio quality is excellent. I've carried it around for interviews for podcasts and they are fine.
The iPod scroll wheel can control the recording unit, so a separate start/stop button is not required on the iTalk. Unfortunately it's there, though, and the iPod lock switch does NOT override it. So you cannot keep it assembled and at the ready because it's forever turning itself on and draining the battery, recording hours of unwanted background noise. It's like having a camera that you have to take the film out of after every shot.
If the iPod software can be upgraded so the lock switch locks out this button, the utility of the device would be greatly improved.