iPod Photo Recording Help

[bba1973]

Lately, I've been trying to figure out how to use the recording feature with my iPod Photo. After doing some research, I made some progress, but still need help. I'm using a Sony ECM-DS70P microphone hooked to the headphone jack with "microphone" set as the source. After messing with the gain and volume settings, it picks up almost no sound at all. I use this mic to record stuff on my laptop sometimes, and it's really soft. A +10.0dB boost on my laptop makes it louder and good enough for my purposes. Apparently I need a preamp for use with my iPod. Would anyone be kind enough to recomend an affordable portable preamp? Would I be any better off using the line in with this mic, or would I still need a preamp? I have a cmoy headphone amp if that could be useful, but I'm lost when it comes to mics. I'd just like to be able to use my iPod as a mobile recording studio, and eventually record my live album out in the woods with it. Why buy a dedicated recorder when I've got a Rockboxed iPod?

Thanks for reading.

[GodEater]

You don't need a preamplifier, you need a dock port adaptor, as you're currently plugging the microphone into the wrong place on your iPod. Any sound you're currently picking up like that is a result of crosstalk inside the iPod.

[bba1973]

Okay, that makes sense. What dock port adaptor would you recomend? I'm only seeing one recording device in the iPod Accessories wiki. It'll need a line in, right? I'm expecting my 80GB iPod Video in any day now, so I'd like to get something that will work with both, and Rockbox on both, and allow me to use my Sony microphone.

[Chronon]

Something like this should work, but seems a bit pricey for what you get.  If you can find a recording accessory whose line-in is reported as working in Rockbox for a comparable price then this would seem to offer a better value.

Alternatively, you could get a dock connector and wire it yourself for much cheaper.  That same site I linked lists basic dock connector plugs for a few dollars.

[bba1973]

Forgot about the recording function on my Clip+ until tonight. I tried it out, and it serves my purposes good enough. Thanks for the help.

[soap]

Okay, that makes sense. What dock port adapter would you recommend?

You can make your own. <---Link