External mic for decent quality recording?
 

Hi, I'm on holidays finally with free time to use the tablet just for fun. :rolleyes:

An interesting project is to contribute to http://librivox.org using exclusively the tablet. With the embedded mic and Maemo Recorder I don't get enough quality and I'm thinking of plugging an external mic (I must buy).

Has anybody tried?

All their tips refer to USB mics since the usuak scenario is to record using a PC: http://librivox.org/wiki/moin.cgi/Ne...ng#microphones

PS: There had been talks in the past about porting Audacity. Any news? Or any basic sound editing app.

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

Hi Quim! Didn't you leave Finland for your holiday?

Anyway, to the subject: I think you're onto something. I know there's a guitar tuner app somewhere for the tablets (maybe not OS2008 build yet, I don't know) and it would be nice IMO to see that audio sampling/resolving functionality coupled with an editing program. Portable sound editing! That opens up an entirely new and possibly lucrative market for the tablets, especially the N810. Imagine using an N810 on a sound stage before a concert to test acoustics...

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

hi qgil:
an adaptor like this one .....
http://www.seidioonline.com/index.as...PROD&ProdID=97

...should let you use any high quality regular microphone-headset.

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

How good is the chipset for capturing audio? At least Maemo Recorder records WAVs only at 8 kHz which isn't much compared to the usual 44,1 kHz.

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

Eureka!! I had done some searching for just such an adapter for a while and gave up. I have this great Plantronics Gaming Headset that gives me amazing sound quality (once I added a little foam cover to the mic). When I record audio on my Ubuntu box, it seriously sounds like I am using a studio mic.

This will allow me to use the headset and ditch the Nokia one (it works, but my ears are sore after using for a few minutes).

I just ordered this adapter.

*edit*
I wanted to share the headset I was using, but no one seems to sell it anymore. It is one of those behind the neck deals w/ seprate jacks for mic/headphone.

** edit *** Found it! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16826265008

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

I think the chipset supports up to 48KHz, I posted a message about it on bugs.maemo.org:
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2450

Please vote for the "bug" so we can find out what the real deal is :)

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

Thanks, I got it clear now.

One driver of these "multimedia computers" is to fulfill use cases so you have less needs for a laptop/PC. Increasing those 8Mhz would make sense in this perspective (surely from a mobile phone POV you don't need more than that). Maybe there are some limitations or complications elsewhere, though. I will ask around once I get back to work.

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

i currently use an Archos 402 and connect a small pre-amp and external mic for recording to .WAV format at live gigs and stuff....It'd be great if i could use the N800 for the same thing!

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

Hi Quim,

I'm hoping to get going again on a port of Audacity later this year - working on internet radio stuff in the short-term. Several members with more expertise than me have said that recording beyond 8kHz sample rates will involve using the DSP. If this is confirmed, I'll need to do a LOT more homework before a port is possible.

For now, I've purchased a Zoom H2 audio recorder to test things in stages. It can record WAV and MP3 files to SD/mini/micro, so files can be imported that way. Next, it can be used as an audio interface or live mic via USB (no N810 here to check that yet, but I'll report back as soon as I know the details). I'll be using the H2 to record audio books for a different project (literature for the blind); it's cheap at $200 USD, and the sound quality is excellent. I use Bias Soundsoap 2 on the Mac to clean the audio, and edit in Audacity.

I'd love to be able to record directly into the N810 (or its family), but for now, devices like the H2 satisfy my needs, and are adequate for many broadcast/podcast/semi-pro needs. While it probably is possible to do decent recordings on the IT (where decent = 48kHz, 16 bit, low noise), the external mic and preamp costs kill off any size/cost benefits.

Of course, the N810 will probably make an awesome editor, and who knows what future tablets may bring (actually, YOU probably know! :) )

Enjoy your well-deserved holidays!

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

I didn't know about this Zoom H2 and I'm fascinated now. Looks like a bit overkill for voice recording only, though.

I'm curious about the possibility to bridge the mic with the tablet via USB, if only for transferring the files processed in the mic and publish them using the tablet. With so many features they could have included Bluetooth as well... :)

About porting Audacity... good luck!

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

I'm pretty sure the H2 follows the mass storage spec, should be able to mount that sucker.

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

Yes, the H2 does mass storage, but IMHO it's even easier to remove the (micro/mini) SD card from the H2 and pop it in the tablet. No cables, no drivers, easy. Of course, I'm also going to try connecting it over USB, just because it's (probably) possible! Using it as a USB mic is even more interesting to me, but I don't get out much :)

So far I've got only great things to say about the H2. The interface is a bit clunky, but the audio quality is very good, and it looks just ugly/plasticky enough that you won't get mugged doing a recording on public transit (as I did in Toronto a few weeks ago - the recording, that is, not getting mugged).

Since you're an insider, Quim, any chance the engineers of the next generation tablets could make it possible to use the built-in stereo speakers as mics? They're simple transducers, after all. Might be a nice addition, even if low-fi.

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

I've been podcasting for two years and, like TenSpeed, I use the Zoom H4 regularily for voice recording. It is an amazing piece of hardware! The built in mic produces sound quality that rivals studio mics. Plus, it records straight to SD card in MP3 format (or wav, if you prefer). I have a writeup on the H4 here:

http://thisweekinnuclear.com/podcasting.html

It would be great to have Audacity ported to Maemo. I could record on the Zoom H4, pop the SD card out, slide it into my trusty N800, edit the show and mix in my intro and ext loops, then upload the episode to my hosting service (Podomatic.com).

At present I have to lug around my laptop to accomplish all this!

Sweet!

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

I will ask about the topics discussed in this thread out of personal curiosity, yes. I have still two good weeks of holidays though. :rolleyes:

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

I picked up the adapter above to utilize my Plantronics headset. It works great!

Now, to find a recording program that records stereo.

Anyone have any ideas?? Maemo Recorder just does mono.

Skype and Gizmo work really well w/ this setup. I am popping over to Newegg to pickup another set so I have one for my Ubuntu Box and one for my tablet.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16826265008

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

I'm guessing the microphone input is mono. Anyway, you'd need a decent stereo microphone to make any use of stereo recording. At that point you'd better use a recording device that's built for the job. For regular use mono input is just fine :)

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

As stated above, that headset has great sound quality. On my Ubuntu box, it is near professional sounding in Audacity (Ok, maybe not professional, but it sure is warm and buttery :) )...

Even on the tablet in VOIP apps, it sounds great.

I was just hoping something like an Audacity port is available.

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

This is an exciting thread. Plan on using n800 in audio documentaries. include music at shows and on the street.

I have a Audio Advantage Roadie I use on my laptop. Can this be hosted and are there drivers?

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

can the sampling rate be even higher, even if the resolution is dropped? I'd love to be able to use the tablet as a very basic oscilloscope!

Re: External mic for decent quality recording?
 

Hello!

I recently bought an N800, which should be arriving shortly, and I'd love to use it as a session recording device with a decent external mic and a higher bit rate. It looks like there has been some other discussion (e.g. here) on this forum about doing this, but I wonder whether anyone has gotten further? There is a bug in the Maemo bugzilla about the sample rate, and Audacity apparently runs but neither plays nor records. Some other audio-related apps have been ported as well.

There is a Debian ARM port of Audacity, so it looks like the only problem is with accessing the DSP. I haven't found much other discussion of this use of the tablets, so I figured I'd ask here if anyone had started poking around with the N8x0s DSP (some have, without luck)? Alternately, is there any good documentation or a programming API for it?

thanks, and hopefully I'll be able to contribute some apps in the future. This looks like a cool platform.