iRiver

[bkayne]

I'm helping a nonprofit look at moving from a portable DAT recorder to an iRiver and haven't found answers to some of our questions elsewhere:

- What's the battery life when recording (is it the same as when listening)?
- How many hours of storage is typical when recording at a high quality (stereo 44.1)

We're also looking for an omni directional microphone. Something not too large (it will be taken to remote spots in Zambia). We need something of decent quality because we record both voice and music (we created a sort of sound-seeing tour of Zambia last year capturing all of the singing that is part of every day life.)

Thanks!
Bob

[cybercooler]

Bob,
I do not have a specific answer, but I can say that the battery life when listening is awesome. The manual says 17 hours (I have an 899). When you record it definitely chews up a battery quicker. If I had to guess probably less than 5 hours. This is a really really rough guess as I have yet to just keep recording (I listen mainly). I should have a decent idea soon as most of this weekend will be a sound seeing tour.

[Illinoise]

We got the 512mb (899?) iRiver for $100 bucks at Best Buy (after rebate). It gives us roughly 8.5 hours of recording time at 128/44.1. Haven't had it long enough to test the battery, but we've recorded many hours without losing a single bar of battery. It's a flash drive, so I don't anticipating battery power to be much of an issue ... it's made to run on 1 AA, for crying out loud.

I'm quickly becoming a big fan of the iRiver and at $100 a pop, trying to get my friends interested, too.

[shepdave]

I've got a 790, and I love it. I've had it since early March, used it for three field recording sessions, allin-studio podcasts I've done so far (=12 half-hour shows), several promos and sweepers, etc. In other words, I've done quite a lot of recording on it.

I've changed batteries exactly twice. Runs FOREVER on a double-A batt.

I have the 256 Mb model. I seem to recall that I can record stereo, 44.1/128 for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours solid. Lower bitrates, mono, etc., will increase this time span.

My brother, one of my podcasting partners in another state, bought one as well. We love 'em.

Dave

[Craig]

The 512MB is the 795/895. As for mics, you might want to look into a set of lavalier omnis, available at places like www.soundprofessionals.com. They're available for as little as $40 (for a stereo set) and are perfect for the use you describe.

Craig

[audiocollective]

The 512MB is the 795/895. As for mics, you might want to look into a set of lavalier omnis, available at places like www.soundprofessionals.com. They're available for as little as $40 (for a stereo set) and are perfect for the use you describe.

Craig

that’s great... it is almost like you have stock in soundprofessionals! but i must say they have great stuff... and when i get the money I’m getting the mic that is hidden in the headphones.

The iRiver is great and I hardly ever run out of batteries. It seems like you get 40 hours of recording on 1AA but that probably won’t be what makes the battery die. Sometimes I forget to turn it off and it stays on for a long time or I leave it plugged into the usb and the battery drains. I don’t know why it uses the battery when plugged into usb but usually I don’t have it plugged in for long. That the lack of usb mass storage capability and no recording level metering are the only qualms I have with such a perfect device!

[Craig]

it is almost like you have stock in soundprofessionals!
Just a satisfied customer.

when i get the money I’m getting the mic that is hidden in the headphones.
You can build your own for under $10 if you can't wait. Check the "Behind the Scenes" archives for February...there's a link there to the instructions.

That the lack of usb mass storage capability
If you're a Windows user you can upgrade the firmware to get this feature. However the firmware upgrade also removes some of the higher recording quality settings for some ridiculous reason.

Craig

[bazookajoeshow]

My two complaints about the iRiver is the lousy battery lid that keeps on popping off. I returned two iRivers to Best Buy until I realized it was a feature, not a bug.

My other complain is that I wish there was a way to monitor and cotnrol levels on the fly.

But aside from that, the iRiver rocks for a reason.

Bazooka Joe

[allthewhile]

I used to hate the iriver because of it's confusing user interface. However, after I went on a trip to Europe last week, I quickly fell in love with it. The battery life on the iPod I took was too short to bear. In fact, it couldn't be counted on to last for even part of the bus rides I took. I got very used to wearing the iriver around my neck and listening to music and european radio when my adhd kicked in on boring parts of the tour. It was also handy because I kept my sony mic in my pocket and did soundseeing tours of some of the most interesting places.

After a few days of use, I got rather comfortable with the user interface and now can do pretty much everything on the iriver without thought.

What's an ipod?!?!?

[TINKOFF RADIO]

I just flew back from Spain to Miami and kept my iPod packed in my bag. The single AA battery lasted the entire 9 hour journey! Amazing thing. I bought it for recording (which I too have done lots with it) but during this journey decided to give it a go as a listening device and I was pleasantly surprised. The interface takes some getting used to - but for the convenience of such long playback, a radio and a kick *** recording device - all on ONE AA battery...

You can't go wrong - can you.

I just wish it made a good cup of joe like the Senseo...

Enjoy your iRiver, I know you'll end up buying one!

Adam Tinkoff
TINKOFF RADIO

[Illinoise]

My other complain is that I wish there was a way to cotnrol levels on the fly.

Actually, there is.

It's called mic distance.

*rim shot*

Thanks, I'm here all night. Well, not all night. In fact, I'm off to bed. Goodnight, inkernet. And if anyone needs to sue me for unauthorized use of the word "inkernet", please don't serve the papers until after 10 a.m. Central tomorrow. Thanks.

[Craig]

My other complain is that I wish there was a way to cotnrol levels on the fly.
Actually, there is.

It's called mic distance.

There is an external device available to monitor levels but it's ridiculously overpriced at $99, doesn't allow you to control levels, and has to be used in place of headphones. (If you want to check it out anyway, click here (http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=ISI-RLM-1&type=store).) You can also spend $180 and get a portable preamp with a peak detector that solves several problems, including controlling levels while recording, letting you know if you're clipping, and bypassing the internal preamp (which can be noisy in a quiet environment) by providing line-in levels. Of course, for $180 plus the cost of the iRiver you're starting to get up into the price range of the professional recorders but you can still tuck everything into your pockets. You can find more info on the preamp here:

http://www.minidisco.com/spa-1.html

And before someone asks the obvious question, you have to calibrate the iRiver recording level to the peak detector in order for it to be useful.

Craig

[NicoleSimon]

I know, the price of the H320 is more than for the 799/899 but if you come from a DAT Recorder this might be more of your liking.

The H320 has a 20 gb hard disk and a normal battery life of I would say 4-6 hours if just playing. If you don't mess around with the display (sucks of course battery life) I already did 4 hours of straight recording.

You have a line in and a monitoring mode, can set input and output level. It has a lion accu but you can plug in an external battery package.

Caution: There are several versions which are available. Some have the external battery pack included and a microphone. For example I have this awsome little mic but no external battery pack.

You have a file browser on this and you do have the possibility also to set recording of kps rate.

While it is more bulky than one of those ifp 799/899, it has more option. So even though price is more than the little ones, it has more harddisk and of course the level control also makes it worth it.

hth
Nicole

[docsnavely]

What's an ipod?!?!?

Isn't it that thing that your woman dropped into a can of red paint?

[bkayne]

We really appreciate all this help.

Bob

[NoirTech]

Hey all.
I'm just starting off myself and yesterday I bought an iRiver iFP-899 from Best Buy. I plan to plug it into the output of my Mackie 1402 mixer using the input of the iRiver. Anyone doing something similar?
Also, I do plan to record directly to the iRiver when out and about. Do you all recommend using a mic while doing this, or will the internal mic on the iRiver be enough?
Thanks for any help.

On another note, I was kindof iffy about buying the iRiver since I have an Olympus DM-10. Though, after some google searching, I've read it's not the best for podcasting. Is this pretty much the opinion of otheres?

thanks

[ampguy]

I have an 895 and for the first 5 or so podcasts I want to try the internal mic only to discover it's limitations.

Then, I plan to use a mixer with mic pre, and studio quality mic from my music studio to go line-in to the iriver.

I have a variety of compressors and limiters and various tube mic pre's etc., so I'd recommend for non-portability, a decent compressor (FMR RNC comes to mind), and a decent large diaphraghm condensor (MXL 990 is usually ~$60 @ musicians friend) with a nice shock mount.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/ampguy

[ampguy]

to get rid of that nasty clipping, so I went from the mixer to the line-in this evening for my podcast #4, should be in the ampguy rss feed in a day or so.

[ferg]

My other complain is that I wish there was a way to cotnrol levels on the fly.
Actually, there is.

It's called mic distance.

There is an external device available to monitor levels but it's ridiculously overpriced at $99, doesn't allow you to control levels, and has to be used in place of headphones. (If you want to check it out anyway, click here (http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=ISI-RLM-1&type=store).) You can also spend $180 and get a portable preamp with a peak detector that solves several problems, including controlling levels while recording, letting you know if you're clipping, and bypassing the internal preamp (which can be noisy in a quiet environment) by providing line-in levels. Of course, for $180 plus the cost of the iRiver you're starting to get up into the price range of the professional recorders but you can still tuck everything into your pockets. You can find more info on the preamp here:

http://www.minidisco.com/spa-1.html

And before someone asks the obvious question, you have to calibrate the iRiver recording level to the peak detector in order for it to be useful.

Craig

Craig,

I think the inability to set levels conversation was with regard to the internal microphone - for which there appears to be no level setting for...I also don't think that level meter you mentioned would work with that either, since there is no headphone monitoring of the internal mic.

None of this would be *that* bit of a problem if the thing wasn't so darn hot. As discussed in some other threads, the internal mic seems well suited for lectures or such.

All of this is why I have one of these:

http://reactivesounds.com/rp1.php

(Yes, I heard about that from Craig, too)...

For $25, you get something that adds really no size or weight to the iRiver, has better quality than the internal mic, allows you to adjust recording levels, and allows you to monitor what you're recording.

Splediferous.

[ampguy]

so you use this with the line-in setting? (as opposed to the external mic option)?

How much better is it than the built-in mic? And when you've used the built-in mic, did you use AGC on or off? Thanks!


My other complain is that I wish there was a way to cotnrol levels on the fly.
Actually, there is.

It's called mic distance.

There is an external device available to monitor levels but it's ridiculously overpriced at $99, doesn't allow you to control levels, and has to be used in place of headphones. (If you want to check it out anyway, click here (http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=ISI-RLM-1&type=store).) You can also spend $180 and get a portable preamp with a peak detector that solves several problems, including controlling levels while recording, letting you know if you're clipping, and bypassing the internal preamp (which can be noisy in a quiet environment) by providing line-in levels. Of course, for $180 plus the cost of the iRiver you're starting to get up into the price range of the professional recorders but you can still tuck everything into your pockets. You can find more info on the preamp here:

http://www.minidisco.com/spa-1.html

And before someone asks the obvious question, you have to calibrate the iRiver recording level to the peak detector in order for it to be useful.

Craig

Craig,

I think the inability to set levels conversation was with regard to the internal microphone - for which there appears to be no level setting for...I also don't think that level meter you mentioned would work with that either, since there is no headphone monitoring of the internal mic.

None of this would be *that* bit of a problem if the thing wasn't so darn hot. As discussed in some other threads, the internal mic seems well suited for lectures or such.

All of this is why I have one of these:

http://reactivesounds.com/rp1.php

(Yes, I heard about that from Craig, too)...

For $25, you get something that adds really no size or weight to the iRiver, has better quality than the internal mic, allows you to adjust recording levels, and allows you to monitor what you're recording.

Splediferous.

[ferg]

so you use this with the line-in setting? (as opposed to the external mic option)?

How much better is it than the built-in mic? And when you've used the built-in mic, did you use AGC on or off? Thanks!


I use it with the external mic option. With the external mic option, you have a level which you can modify, unlike with the built-in mic.

I did not use AGC. I feel stupid. I didn't know that AGC exists.

My personal opinion is that the mic is slightly better. Not a *huge* difference. However, the ability to control the level, to me, is huge.

[theperfectsong]

I may have missed this on some other post, but can you use mics other than iTalk on iPod? I haven't been able to find anything. I have iTalk which does a good job in the field except for the way it mushes sibilant words. I'm looking for something for under $100 that's small. Any suggestions?
Also, how many folks are using iPods. The majority seem to be toting iRiver.
Is the battery the main issue with iPod?
Thanks!

[kickasspodcast]

Look or an IFP 750 or lower, even an 850- They are selling on Ebay for around 50 bucks (I have heard). Its 256megs and thats plenty- Get one of those little mics that sticks into the line in-


best of luck

here is our 200 dollar ifp799 setup-
Sounds nice considering:

http://kickasspodcast.com/799setup.jpg


jack

[TheChance]

Will an IFP-780 work? It looks like it has the same inputs and I can get one now for very cheap.