Microtrack Firmware Update

Unbeknownst to me, M-Audio released a firmware update for my MicroTrack 24/96 earlier this month. Among other things, it addresses one of my major beefs with the original firmware: mono recordings.

Previously, the MicroTrack only recorded in stereo. For most of what I do, this is twice the number of channels I need. So thanks M-Audio, you’ve effectively doubled the capacity of my Compact Flash card.

Update: Spoke too soon. Upon closer inspection of the release notes:

When recording mono from the analog inputs, the inputs are monitored directly. This means that when monitoring, you will still hear whatever source is on the right channel even though it is not being recorded. Only the left channel will be recorded. For MP3 format recordings, a Stereo MP3 file will be created but both left and right tracks will contain whatever was recorded into the left channel. For WAV recordings a true mono WAV file is created. Note that when recording from S/PDIF, input monitoring (whether mono or stereo) is not supported.

Bah!

This is it… the iTalkPro

Well, I’ve been waiting for this ever since I bought my first 3G iPod a couple years ago. We’ve known for a while that the new 5G iPods support high quality voice recordings, but up until now there’s not been a way to actually make recordings.

All that changed today, when Griffin announced the iTalkPro.

It’s powered by the iPod, has built-in mics, software gain controls, and can record CD quality stereo sound. No word on whether you can hook up an external mic or monitor while recording. This probably won’t replace your pro flash recorder, but if you carry an iPod around already, it might be a nice accessory to bring along.

New Edirol Portable Digital Recorder

One of my favourite gadget blogs, Engadget, points to the release of a new portable digital recorder from Edirol — the R-09 (product page). The specs look pretty nice:

• 24-bit/48kHz (or 44.1kHz) uncompressed recording
• Up to 320kbps MP3 playback and recording
• Records to SD card (64MB card included)
• High-grade stereo condenser microphone built in
• Mic and Line audio inputs; USB I/O
• Easy operation, user-friendly graphic display
• Ultra portable, half the size of the R-1
• Long battery life

I considered Edirol’s R-1 for a while, but eventually settled on an M-Audio Microtrack 24/96. I always throught the R-1 was kind of clunky, so the R-09 should be nice. I especially like the built-in mics, and that it runs on AA batteries.

This American Life Scoring Music iMix

Some things I know to be true:

1. I like the music on This American Life
2. I’d like to be able to buy some of the music used in This American Life
3. I like iTunes
4. I don’t like RealAudio

So I spent part of my Saturday afternoon compiling an iMix called This American Life Scoring Music. You can find it in the iTunes music store, or if you have iTunes installed, just click the previous link.

Note that all of the music from the TAL website isn’t included in the iMix. iTunes doesn’t have everything.

But if you’re looking to make a radio show of your own that sounds a lot like TAL, this’d be a good place to grab some tunes.

NPR Podcasting Workshop

Via the always informative BoingBoing comes a link to AudioLuxe, advertising a “Content Crash Course for Podcasters” run by NPR producers, at an NPR station:

Why should professional broadcasters have the monopoly on quality? DIY doesn’t have to be dull! Learn the tips, tricks, and time-tested techniques professional public broadcasters use to capture and keep a listener’s attention.

Why isn’t CBC Radio doing this?