Recording test on iPod nano via line-in on dock connector

[zorton]

After reading a bit on the other thread about the possibility of recording on the nano I decided to give it a test via the line-in connection on the dock connector.  I soldered up pins 1 and 5 according the pinout listed here to a wire stub.  I connected the stubs to my receiver headphone output for the right channel only.  

Hitting record resulted in this file.  At first I had the volume pretty low and slowly brought it up until I saw a read on the level meter in the record application.  Towards the end I wahwahed the level around a bit, not sure why it just seemed fun.  The OS was pretty well locked up after recording and I had to hard restart the iPod to get it back to disk mode to copy the file off.  It might have been something simple like me not knowing the proper key combination to exit the recorder though  The file is just a zipped and renamed copy of the wav I copied from the nano.

This file I cranked through audacity adding a 36dB boost and trimming it down to a good chunk of Kelly Joe's song.

I think if I had gain adjustment on the recorder I could probably get the level adjusted for a cleaner copy.  I'm doubting this is crosstalk and is indicative of the ADC line-in functioning mostly like it should but i'll leave it up to the developers of this great little chunk of firmware to decide. I didn't push the receiver output very much.  I also didn't take the time to measure the RMS voltage on the reciever output but I could easily do that for a second test if anyone would like to.

So long and thanks for the firmware,
Zorton

[gnu]

I don't have a dock connector, but could you try how loud the record is when you input a normal line in volume? Or do you have to heavily amp your input to get a *hearable* result?

Good that you tested it, because I wanted to buy a dock connector just to test it myself...

[scorche]

It definitely sounds like it was successful.  Thanks for testing.  (You don't have to send me a dongle anymore, Soap)  

[zorton]

Okay,

I soldered and glued up the dock connector i'd been using for testing and tried recording again with a full sterio signal from my Powerbook into a clean connector.

In short it works just fine.  Using Tool's 10,000 days album for a test signal I recorded the following file.  I set output volume on the powerbook's headphone jack to 40% which according to Apple's "Audio Midi Setup" app is -25.82dB down from full output.

I dropped channel one for about 5 seconds then channel two a few later to test my connections and to make sure it was recording properly in stereo.

I still have to reboot the OS before I can do audio playback but it looks like the line-in connections from the dock to the ADC on the Nano works just fine.

[gnu]

Today I got my "original" *cough* dock connector from ebay, I opened it and soldered the necessary cables to pins 1, 5 and 6 - AND IT WORKS!
I get a fine stereo signal with a reasonable volume; in short I can verify zorton's experience.

Man this rocks!

[LurkAzusa]

I can also confirm that recording works on the iPod Video 5g 60 Gb (once I figured out the right ground pin, duh!).  I used powered mics.  Are there any plans to develop all the options currently available for the iRiver series, such as Automatic Gain Control and peak meter height?

I checked the online manual for the iPod Video, but couldn't readily find any info on navigation for changing the volume and gain settings in the recording screen.  Anyone have instructions?

Without any mics or dock connector attached, there is some right channel noise present.  It also picks it up when recording.  Does this also happen with the Nano?

[damaru]

Anyone tryed these readily available connector ? :

http://home.swipnet.se/ridax/connadpt.htm

seems well made !

[petur]

Anyone tryed these readily available connector ? :

http://home.swipnet.se/ridax/connadpt.htm

seems well made !

for only $39.90  -  hahaha now you know why you bought an ipod, so you can pay lots more for all its custom stuff. Apple sure knew what it was doing when it put that special dock connector in their player: consumer lock-in

[soap]

Anyone tryed these readily available connector ? :

http://home.swipnet.se/ridax/connadpt.htm

seems well made !

It's less than $4 worth of parts, how much is your time worth to you?
http://home.swipnet.se/ridax/connector.htm

[bpw]

An easy way to record in stereo with a decent sound quality onto a nano 2g or 3g, or an ipod video is with a 'Griffin italk' approx £30 from official website, £15 (plus P&P) from ebay. Does not work with nano 1st Gen (please someone prove me wrong on that!)

It does mean you don't get to play with a soldering iron, but I know some opera singers in training who swear by its sound quality and ease of use.

[Chronon]

Can you verify that this device works with a Rockboxed 5g (or 5.5g) iPod?  Please don't discuss peripherals that only work with the Apple firmware.  These are Rockbox technical forums, not general iPod forums.

[domwebhost]

The ITALK PRO does NOT work with the current build ( or any build ) of ROCKBOX that I have tried.  When the ITALK PRO is plugged into the dock connector and you go to RECORD settings and pick "microphone or line - in" and go back to the record screen the Peak meters are just frozen about 3/4 of the way up.  When you try to record all you get is a blank file.  I have also tried using an external mic in the 3.5mm jack provided on the ITALK and that doesn't work, either.  I must say that it works GREAT in the native Apple firmware, however it ONLY records in WAV format and it is a MB-sucker.  I am under the impression that developers are looking into accessory compatibility ( at least a thread I found dated Jan 2008 they were).  However, that is the last I saw of it.  I bought an ITALK PRO in hopes to use it on my IPOD VIDEO 5.5g 30g w/ Rockbox.  It doesn't work so I am stuck using APPLE firmware, dumping to PC, re-encode to mp3, and shoot back

[saratoga]

I am under the impression that developers are looking into accessory compatibility ( at least a thread I found dated Jan 2008 they were). 

Search.  Theres been lots of recent work on this.  No need to post asking other people to find it for you.

[desordenado]

Hi Zorton (et al),

I got my 1st Gen Nano to record through the dock connector. Thanks a lot, I have been looking for this for a long time.

I have mentioned it in my blog, BTW:
http://blog-desorden.blogspot.com/2008/11/1st-gen-ipod-nano-line-in-recording.html

Thanks again for all the info

[soap]

I have mentioned it in my blog, BTW:
http://blog-desorden.blogspot.com/2008/11/1st-gen-ipod-nano-line-in-recording.html

I thought the "recording breaks playback, necessitating reboot" bug was fixed?