Record Audio from Sound Board using iPod?
 

I was originally planning on buying a Samson Zoom H2, H4N, or ProTrack Stereo Recorder to begin recording audio at concerts/weddings by using the house sound board, but began wondering if the iPod Touch had the same capability, perhaps by adding an app of some kind. I know there are voice recorders such as the Belkin that you can attach, but I was thinking more of connecting the iPod directly, by using a 1/4" to mini cable adapter. Is this possible? If so, what app would enable me to do this?

Mono only, of course. And a mic-level unbalanced input only (on poles 3 and 4 of a 4-pole 3.5mm minijack plug). Griffin's iTalk Recorder is a free app. to try.

I should say: I've not actually tried this, but thought about it. Actually, I was wondering about using it as a pocket recorder for the groom with a lapel mic. Not tried that either yet.

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Looks good - thanks. I saw on Griffin's site that the sell an external stereo microphone called the iTalk Pro that plugs into the iPod (for voice recording use), but I also wonder if you can plug a cable from the sound board straight in? If so, this is a great alternative to buying a similarly priced Zoom H2, although as mentioned, you lose mic balancing.

Ah - I had assumed you were thinking of using the 3.5mm jack socket. To get a stereo input, you have to go in through the docking connector, I believe that's unbalanced line level, but I'm not sure of the pinouts, and it's not such an easy DIY job for making your own adapters...

I don't believe Giffin's iTalk Pro gives you balanced inputs.

I'll stick with mono then. This will work perfectly. Thank you!

Keep in mind, the more complex the device, the more likely it will fail. I certainly wouldn't trust an iPod Touch and a freebie app to record mission-critical audio.

Michael, a couple of points regarding your plan, irrespective of how you capture the PA sound. All you'll get is the sound that's amplified for the audience - unless you're recording a big concert, many drummers will not be mic'd up so you'll not record them at all.

Using the PA at a wedding means your quality will depend on the quality of the PA gear.

In all cases your sound will be at the mercy of the PA mixer - if he decides to change the balance or doesn't maintain his gear properly, that will show on your recording also.

For instance, at a Wedding Fair in Manchester last Sunday the DJ/PA providing the sound for the catwalk show started getting badly distorted sound off the radio mic the commere was using. Whilst this genius engineer checked the speaker connections I pointed quietly out to him that the background music was perfect and that it sounded like a radio mic battery dying. It was.

Whilst recording the PA can get you out of a hole, there are better ways I'd recommend you try first.