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Alesis ProTrack Converts Your iPod Into a Pro-Quality Digital Recorder
Posted by Sean Fallon at 3:30 AM on June 24, 2008
This isn't the first product to come down the pipeline offering portable audio recording capabilities for the iPod, but the new ProTrack from Alesis is definitely the most feature-rich. According to the press release, the ProTrack is "the world's first professional handheld digital stereo recorder for iPod" with two built-in high-quality condenser microphones, a pair of combination XLR - 1/4-inch inputs and a 1/8-inch stereo output. The device should be available sometime in Q3 for iPod (Classic or 5th Generation), or iPod nano (2nd or 3rd Generation)--but a price has yet to be determined.
Feature List:
• Integrated iPod design
• Records to iPod (Classic or 5th Generation), or iPod nano (2nd or 3rd Generation)
• Professional connectors: two combination XLR - 1/4-inch inputs, 1/8-inch stereo output
• Supplies 48V phantom power to inputs when wall-powered
• Records 16-Bit, 44.1kHz or 22kHz stereo
• Two built-in condenser microphones for detailed recording
• Built-in microphones in XY configuration for optimum stereo image
• Switchable limiter ensures overload-free recordings even in unpredictable aural situations
• AC power adaptor included
• Four AAA batteries provide up to five hours of operation
• Tripod stand mount for placing into ideal recording conditions
[Alesis via Brad Linder's Blog]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
MINI Driver
Posted 4:59 AM 24/6/08
Zoom H2 - already available - does full 5.1 surround sound recording - way cheaper.
MINI Driver
Enochrewt
Posted 4:55 AM 24/6/08
Or, you could just put the rockbox firmware on the iPod, get a mic and record stuff. Probably for a lot cheaper.
Enochrewt
cliston
Posted 4:19 AM 24/6/08
"Records 16-Bit, 44.1kHz or 22kHz stereo"
Hardly "Pro-Quality".
Why even bother?
cliston
gelatinous
Posted 4:05 AM 24/6/08
@gelatinous: Oh I see your point, well eventually I think there will be wifi almost everywhere but regardless, I would not want to have to depend on wifi for my only phone. Would probably just use the voip for international.
gelatinous
gelatinous
Posted 4:04 AM 24/6/08
@zincrox:
What about wifi?
gelatinous
lucky_you
Posted 4:03 AM 24/6/08
My concern are the preamps. Alesis isnt exactly at the top of my list for noiseless preamps in their mixers. However, this still seems better than the Belkin offering. At 16 bit, it can suck up space fast, so personally this and a Classis or Nano seems cool.
lucky_you
Killjoy
Posted 3:54 AM 24/6/08
@gelatinous: In addition to above concerns, this specific device is not going to be cheap.
Killjoy
mrpedenman
Posted 3:54 AM 24/6/08
do i see a Tricorder in the making???
mrpedenman
zincrox
Posted 3:51 AM 24/6/08
@gelatinous:
wifi...
zincrox
DeadWriter
Posted 3:49 AM 24/6/08
@gelatinous: Somebody would have to design an app that allowed access to the memory and to act as an interface. Likely the files created would also be some sort of Wonky non-standard format until you imported them to your computer. It might just be less expensive to get a used iPhone when there are VOIP and audio recording applications, instead of buying some large external audio interface.
DeadWriter
DeadWriter
Posted 3:46 AM 24/6/08
I think this may be a case of too-much-too late. I would have jumped on this ages ago, but now with good solid state audio recorders running around $500 there doesn't seem to be much of a market for this. Recording to solid-state memory is a + for field recording, but it lacks usability for mass storage.
I don't know how easy data recovery is on an iPod, but if for some reason a wave file is damaged in writing, the data can almost always be recovered. What is found is a RAW file, with is an audio file with out an envelope to tell it handedness, recording rate, etc...
Lastly, I have become more and more suspicious of units with built phantom power. The Sony's PCM-D1 and PCM-D50 are more than just sexy. They have low floor noise as compared to the (cough Zoom cough H4) at least in my experience. Then again, none of them are a Cantor [gizmodo.com] .
DeadWriter
gelatinous
Posted 3:36 AM 24/6/08
Methinks having a microphone could make VOIP+iPod Touch that much easier, meaning no need for the iPhone. Thoughts?
gelatinous
AndySebastian
Posted 6:21 AM 24/6/08
@lucky_you: Seriously, I bought an Alesis IO 26 and it had horrible noise and crappy sounding preamps. i couldnt turn the gain knobs past 12 o clock before getting spectacular crackling in the mix. Got two of them with the same problem on ebay. Thank god it was a store since they were very lenient with their return policy. I would only buy alesis compressors from them
AndySebastian
DeadWriter
Posted 7:40 AM 24/6/08
@cliston: I'll make the argument that most people can't tell. There are all sorts of people ripping their CDs in much higher quality- but why. You can't add fidelity after the fact. This adds to your statement, but it also highlights a problem. Many people think that they can tell the difference between CDA and better than CDA recordings, and quite often- they can't.
DeadWriter
ArtInvent
Posted 3:50 PM 24/6/08
I have a $300 Zoom pocket recorder that records in 94kHz 24 bit, with built in stereo mics and XLR jacks as well. And it doesn't need an iPod to work. This is pretty disappointing specs. Why would you give it XLR mic inputs but only 44.1 16 bit?
ArtInvent
mconheady
Posted 3:50 AM 25/6/08
I have that zoom recorder too and it's amazing. I was holding out for an ipod add-on like this, but it figures it wouldn't support the model I have; plus who wants to rely on two pieces of hardware at once, when you can buy one.
mconheady