Alesis' ProTrack turns your iPod into portable digital recorder

Though not the first audio recorder we've seen to get buddy-buddy with Apple's darling for storage -- nor the first Alesis product to partner up with the iPod -- the ProTrack is still pretty swank in its own right. Hailed as a "professional handheld digital stereo recorder for iPod," this unit enables direct-to-iPod stereo digital recording for folks needing gobs of storage space. You'll find a pair of condenser microphones built-in along with twin XLR - 1/4-inch inputs for connecting external mics and line sources. Folks who can't locate an AC outlet can count on four to five hours of use from four AAA cells, but it should be noted that only select iPods (2G / 3G nanos, 5G iPods and the iPod classic) are supported. Look for this one to land in Q3 for a currently undisclosed price.

[Via Brad Linder's Blog]

[Jimmy Jones @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:05AM]

And the target audience is ......... !

[Nytrojen @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:07AM]

Beret-wearing guerilla squirrels wielding .50 Barret Machine guns, of course!

[phanbouy @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:10AM]

your mom?

[Nytrojen @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:11AM]

Also, anyone who wants their 21st century electronics to look like it belongs on a utility belt on a ghostbuster.

[John Bailey @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:15AM]

People who go to any lengths to prove their iPod can do ANYTHING!!!!!!!

[Minilap @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:08AM]

Target audience is Alesis's customers. How hard was that to realize?

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:14AM]

Target Audience include improv performers, amateur musicians, and podcast makers.

I got an iPod mic for podcasting.

[jh00d08 @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:38AM]

Sweet, the lack of recording ability was the only thing holding me back from an iPod. Coupled with the large capacity of the new classic this could become very popular.

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:42AM]

I found the same thing at a bargain bin at a CompUSA liquidation sale. Doesn't require AAA's, and includes a bendable microphone connected to a 1/4 " jack.

Psh.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:20AM]

I think I know what you are talking about...

Something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/XtremeMac-IPV-MIC-00-MicroMemo-Digital-Recorder/dp/B000FNC2IK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1214209156&sr=8-4

I was actually looking at that, but I decided not to get it because I was unsure if it would record stuff from across the room.

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:58AM]

Exactly! Mine is white! It works wonderfully, and the included microphone is very high quality. I'm using it to record practice sound files in a musical i'm doing.

Runs right off of your ipod's batteries, and saves the files in a special playlist on iTunes automatically.

[tomokazu.osada @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:43AM]

hopefull pessimism:

you know, i just have this feeling that we are going to look back upon the iPod and all of the device-specific crap that we have made for it and feel shame, well, hopefully. what a waste.

tomo

[BratPAQ @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:57AM]

the same way i look back right now to my sony cassette walkman, and a whole bag of cassette tape, like 40 tapes, with cases...

[DefPo3t @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:54AM]

I'm ok with add-on devices being locked to certian products causeof different connectors. But for peers sake give all devices a plug for charging

[DefPo3t @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:56AM]

edit**
universal plug. End edit**

AOL blogs give us an edit button!!! Kthnxbie

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:12AM]

Actually, I bet its due to techinical limitations.

[dennis @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:00AM]

"Records 16-Bit, 44.1kHz or 22kHz stereo"

Fail. I can't think of a really good reason or real world application for someone to combine XLR mics with 16-bit 22kHz stereo recording. I've never seen a convincing professional recording iPod solution. Alesis makes budget audio and midi equipment, which is fine, but the specs on this device don't make sense. There are a number of portable recorders that will use high quality mics and record 24-bit or 32-bit 44.1 or 96 kHz (stereo) audio, a couple of which will use XLRs. Some will even multitrack and add digital effects to direct input guitar and bass.

[Minilap @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:11AM]

I think it's the ipod that doesn't have enough processing power to record higher resolution audio. This is still a great product, because the 24 bit portable recorders are expensive.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:18AM]

Yay, an add-on devices that adds functionality to another device that should have already had this feature as a standard.

My 5 year old first-gen MP3 player by MPIO had recording built in as a standard feature.

This is pathetic.

Guess this gives Apple the opportunity to milk more $ out of the iFools who line up to buy the same product year after year with only minimal changes made to it in order to entice their sheeple.

At next years Apple convention, Jobs Introduces the:
Apple iPod Touch Record Pro!

[Minilap @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:06AM]

This device offers XLR inputs, Phantom Power and Limiter, if you don't know what those are maybe you shouldn't comment at all.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:16AM]

This isn't pathetic.

While it may be satifactory to you, people who want portable podcasting and other options cant use the cheap quality of one of those built in mics. No one wants the mic to be blurted when playing music and listening. Those mics on those devices built in are usually for "Milk... Butter... Eggs...", not for sound-quality demanding uses.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:16AM]

Also, this isn't made by apple. Dumbass.

[Joe @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:01AM]

I'll echo the other replies here and say you really don't understand what features this device has. Look around for a device that has stereo XLR inputs. Try comparing your amazing five-year-old mp3 player's recording quality up against a Marantz portable. You're comparing a pro (or at least prosumer) level feature to a consumer level feature.

Nobody who needs decent sound uses the 1/8" stereo connectors.

[Cunthor @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:03AM]

Right. So this bulky accessory is the answer to Apple's reluctance to include a basic feature almost every other mp3 player on the market has? No thanks.

[Minilap @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:06AM]

This device offers XLR inputs, Phantom Power and Limiter, if you don't know what those are maybe you shouldn't comment at all.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:17AM]

Totally agreed. Theres a big difference between built in microphones, and these microphones.

Would you prefer watching an explosion in high definition or crappy cellphone camera definition?

[Jon @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:03AM]

I have a 4 year old iRiver 20gb mp3 player. At the time i bought it it cost the same as a 20 gb ipod, but mine came with an internal mic, a line in jack that supported either an external mic (which was included), a line in cable, and a fiber optic input. It also could record to MP3 with quality levels up to 320 kbps, or to wav. All of that came with a battery that still lasts more than 12 hours on a single charge. The fact that this came standard in a 2nd gen device just shows that apple is just interested in selling as little functionality as possible so they can suck more money through licensing these companies to make compatible products. My iriver also has a built in FM tuner which i have yet to see on an apple product.

[Wess Stewart @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:51AM]

This is a great...repeat GREAT idea for low-budget musicians. You already haul your iPod around filled with your influences, and sometimes you just NEED to get that cool new riff you just came up with at the music store down...

I think it's a killer idea, but really the headline should read:

Apple, Alesis Team Up to Bring More Musicians to Guitar Center

[LloydChiro @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:48PM]

Why bother with this? If you need professional portable sound, wouldn't you just buy a recorder made for that purpose?

[LloydChiro @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:16PM]

How does it compare to this?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LGA2K6/103-6970287-5265421?ie=UTF8&tag=lloyd0c-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B000LGA2K6
Or this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012754UG/103-6970287-5265421?ie=UTF8&tag=lloyd0c-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0012754UG
Wouldn't you want to get the right tool for the job?

[Davin Peterson @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:53PM]

Everything is always iPod, but what about the Creative Zen? Creative pioneered the MP3 player and invented the iPod interface, of which they own the patent.

Creative's ZEN players come with a built-in Microphone for recording. The older players even allowed you to record from FM radio. So, save some money and get a Creative ZEN instead.