Yet another iPod . . . yet another iPod without real recording capability. (And no, adding a piece of hardware and then having to deal with low-resolution recording does not count.)

So while Nano is certainly deeply drool-worthy for listening, wouldn’t it be great to have an iPod-like device for recording? Here are some of your options:

Hack your iPod. iPodLinux unlocks full-resolution, uncompressed audio recording with no additional hardware; it works best with a line out plugged into the headphone port but mic recording works, too (though the signal winds up being on the weak side). Installation on Windows and Mac is easy; see links on their site. Bad news: many iPod models aren’t supported; my 3rd-gen iPod works great but 4G support and mini are still in the works — and forget about Nano.

Get an iKey and a hard drive. Gemini’s iKey recorder takes a line in input from RCA and records either MP3 or WAV to a USB key or hard drive. That makes it a good companion to an iPod Shuffle or Nano or, better yet, a high-capacity, full-blown iPod. Detailed specs now available from Gemini. And it’s got a clip indicator so you don’t screw up your recording. Bad news: The iKey could be great for someone whose only need is getting a line feed recorded, especially for extended recording sessions. But the thing is big and clunky (2 lbs, and about 5″ wide) and costly ($229 list) for something that really doesn’t do anything. It’s just a line in, USB out with buttons on it — no mic in, and no built-in storage. For the price, you could get an iPodLinux-compatible iPod, or save up for a real recorder. Speaking of which . . .

Get a decent CompactFlash recorder: This is really the best solution. There are a number of real recording devices that do accept mic input, even with mic pres / phantom power. My favorites of these are the Edirol R-1 and M-Audio MicroTrack (shown). The R-1 has lots of great extras, like a built-in stereo mic that sounds surprisingly good, mic effects, and metronome. The MicroTrack is more iPod-like in shape and has digital in (perfect for connecting to your audio interface.) Bad news: None, really, other than price — about $400 for the recorder, plus $100 for storage. But as opposed to the other routes, while this will cost you more, you’ll get a real serious recorder you can actually use. I’m still saving up for mine, but boy do I want one of those MicroTracks at my next gig.

Get Apple to Add Recording. This sure would be nice. Bad news: Outlook very, very poor.

Previous coverage: (and more details on these recorders)

Which Portable Recorder to Buy?
Gemini iKey Recorder: BYO Hard Drive
M-Audio MicroTrack Portable Recorder: Official, US$499.95
Edirol R-1, Tricked-Out Portable Recording
Korg D4 Compact Flash Four-Track USB Portable Recorder
Pro Digital Recorders with SMPTE Sync for Video Production
The “HD” MiniDisc – 1GB Recorders from Sony
Marantz PMD660 Portable Digital Recorder

Updated: Music thing joins the quest for recording alternatives, no matter how “cheap or ugly.” I’m game. And I’m on the lookout for a MicroTrack to test; stay tuned. Heck, if I get one, and you’re in the NYC area, we can test it on your band. -PK

Updated again: The Digital Music Weblog waxes poetic about an old Archos Jukebox Recorder . . . that’s gigantic and records MP3s, not lossless files. Hrmm, still not impressed. Who knew basic recording would prove to be an elusive technology?

Up in the sky: it’s a Zoom! It’s a 4-track Portastudio! No, it’s a CompactFlash-based 4-track recorder from Korg.

Yes, the march of CF-based recorders continues. Hot on the heels of last week’s look at sub-$400 recorders, here’s another one — with a twist. The Korg D4 is a “complete portable studio,” not just a field recorder. Basically, it’s a four-track with built-in mic, metronome, drum patterns, effects, mic/amp models, MPEG-1 recording and USB out. Here are the full specs:

4 tracks simultaneous recording, 32 virtual tracks

1/4″ and XLR inputs for line, guitar, or mic

Low-quality (to save space) or high-quality MPEG-1 (audio layer -2) recording (sorry, no uncompressed recording)

93 guitar, bass, drums, amp and mic simulations

4-band EQ, chorus, phaser and flanger FX

Full editing with a push/turn knob; Punch-In/Out, Bounce, Copy/Paste, Delete and Time Compression/Expansion

Built-in mic; tuner; metronome

Audio rhythm patterns (32 metronome and 55 rhythm patterns) including 8 beat, 16 beat, Rock, Funk, Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, 3/4, 6/8, 5/4, 7/4 and more (7/4 time? Excellent!)

Analog audio outs plus USB (sorry, no digital in/out)

So, in other words what you get is a lot of tricky extras; it’s mainly a songwriting/4-track and practice tool. That’s all fine and well, but I’d be much happier to lose all the extras and stick with digital ins and outs and lossless uncompressed audio recording, like on the other recorders we’ve looked at. But if these extras do appeal to you, it’s a great bargain. It’s either the world’s tiniest portable digital studio, or the world’s most tricked-out metronome. You be the judge.

Pricing/Availability: List US$399, available this month.
Korg D4 Product Page

Portable digital recording is great — import is as simple as dragging files to your hard drive, they’re mobile, they’re non-linear, and they write to increasingly cheap storage formats like CompactFlash. But what about synchronization for video applications? I have found one portable field recorder that’s CompactFlash-based, records up to 192kHz, and optionally can be configured with a SMPTE timecode reader/generator:

Fostex FR-2 CF field recorder

This is definitely a “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it situation,” but boy, check those specs and you’ll see what a CF recorder should be.

Video pros / post production gurus out there: what are you using? Seen anyone recording audio on synced field recorders yet?

For me, the solution has been just to use a standard consumer recorder and sync manually — though I definitely don’t trust those cheap MiniDisc recorders.

The M-Audio MicroTrack portable recorder (prototypes were called FlashTracker) is now official. See the awkward press release (via Harmony Central; as usual M-Audio’s Website is lagging).

Who’s writing this stuff? “Leaps in miniaturization technology”? (Sorry, a leap in tech would involve a $99 price.) “One of the secrets to the . . . compact size” is the use of CompactFlash? Well, okay, I suppose that might be a secret to someone who’s been living in a cave since 1990. (Hey, where’d my DAT go? And what’s this World Wide Web?) And “it will also be embraced by other markets including business, education and worship.” Well, first, we’ll wait to see if it gets embraced. Second, the mention of “worship” gives me images of people in robes circling around a MicroTrack on a pedestal, chanting. Oh, wait — you mean use by the worship market. Right.

Press release gripes aside, this confirms reports we’ve been getting since the spring. Basically, you’ve got the form factor of an iPod or WMA portable player, but with all the pro recording specs those devices miss: 24-bit/96 kHz uncompressed audio, phantom power for mics, and digital input, li-ion rechargeable battery, all in a cute little unit that connects via USB.

Now the bad news: the price may be worth it if the audio quality is spectacular, but it’s certainly high. An Edirol R-1 is larger and clunkier, but it’s also at least $100 cheaper and has more features. You’re definitely paying for the smaller size. And there are no extras, either: no included memory, no included software. (The press release touts a bundled copy of Audacity editing software, which is utterly silly — it’s free to download for anyone anyway. Way to bundle open source software, M-Audio!)

CompactFlash is certainly the way to go: a quick Froogle search reveals a name-brand 1GB card is just about US$70. Excellent. But you might want to just stick that in an R-1, and spend the rest of the money on a 5-star dinner. More once I’ve seen this puppy up close. Oh, and as usual, Music Thing thinks it doesn’t look cool enough.

CDM 5 words: Now make it 300 dollars.

Quick: which brand-new portable recorder will be your long-awaited iPod of recording? The newly-announced M-Audio MicroTrack, or the already-proven Edirol R-1?

One thing’s for sure: CompactFlash is where it’s at. I just got an email from Buy.com offering a full 2 GB of CompactFlash storage for US$70 after rebate. You’re likely to run out of battery life — or whatever it is you’re recording — before you run out of space. And drag and drop is so much better than the old way (dealing with MiniDiscs, DAT tapes, and the like).

So, based on some feedback from readers, I may have to upgrade the CDM rating on the MicroTrack portable recording device from ‘HOLD’ to ‘BUY.’ Street price is looking like it’ll hit around US$400. See Sound Professionals for that pricing plus the spec sheet that still (goshdurnit) isn’t available on M-Audio’s site.

Sure, that may sound pricey compared to your [insert iPod or competitor here], but if this in fact delivers high-quality recording, I’ll bite. The spec sheet also features a built-in mic, input for stereo electret, and mic pres via a TRS 1/4″ input. (Yes, those readers who speculated there was no room for an XLR jack — there isn’t. But a balanced 1/4″ is just fine, too. Just make sure you have a good adapter.)

MicroTrack edge: M-Audio’s device is small and has a cute iPod-like LCD display, plus a digital input for direct-digital recording. Edirol R-1 edge: The defending champion of this product category may be clunky, but it has built-in stereo mic and integrated software mic models, effects, metronome, and tuner. Which one do I want? I’m leaning towards the M-Audio because of its smaller size, but we need to see a shipping model before anyone can say anything authoritative.

Bottom line: Finally, we may be able to throw away the DAT and MD recorders.

Updated: Reader Dan wisely points out that the M-Audio device has a major edge over the Marantz and Edirol products; the MicroTrack has a digital input while the others do not. If you’re just doing field recording, of course, you won’t care about that, but if you’re plugging into other digital devices for recording performances or backup, you sure will! And I’ve learned my lesson: I’ll make a little product comparison grid for us tomorrow. -PK