Instant MP3s (or WAVS!) from Vinyl !!!

[leggo rocker]

Yesterday I went out and got myself an I-Key PLUS USB recorder.

This little device allows you to record from a variety of sources directly onto a Flash Drive (USB Pen Drive), an external USB Hard Drive or even an iPod - all without using a computer!

It's so simple to use that I reckon anyone can do it. It's very small, can run of DC or even batteries and even has a built in Phono Pre Amp.

It has inputs for line in, phono and Mic. It comes complete with a little stereo mic.

I'll be taking this to my next DJ session at the Golden Fleece next weekend so I can finally get reliable recordings of my live sets without having to take a laptop to the dance!

In the UK it retails at just over 100 pounds, of course, it is half that cost in the USA.

If you want to record your vinyl, live shows, your guitar practice or even interviews then I reckon this is the perfect answer.

I'm not being paid, coerced or bribed to post this review. I just love this little box so much already I had to share it with you.

It's also making it so easy to record sets that I am uploading even more podcasts to my download site after just 12 hours of owning the i-Key.

Be sure you don't get the older, non PLUS version. It hasn't got the pre-amp.

Full specs are here:

http://www.ikey-audio.com/ikeyplus.htm

[bullit]

What does it connect into? ie, how much space (hd) does it have / do you have to connect something to it.

does it have an external memory card or? i couldnt see in the pics.

[leggo rocker]

It has a USB port - not an internal HD. This is your storage.

Whatever you connect to that port is your storage media. So when you are at home, or anywhere you have power, you could connect it to a big powered external USB drive.

BUT, the great thing is that it will also happily connect to any flash / pen drive - or (I guess) even a USB card reader with a memory card in it. What's more, it will even use an iPod connected to the USB port as storage.

So effectively storage is limitless.

Once you've done the recording you have the MP3 file all ready and waiting there, on your drive. Ready for uploading, burning to CD, editing, emailing to a friend or record company exec - or even for uploading to leggorockers.com/downloads

I have used it with a 1GB pen drive slotted into it, which is going to be absolutely ideal for my next gig where space is really tight behind the decks. It is the ideal solution for recording live stuff - especially because it will run off battery power.

It records in various levels of MP3 format, from 128 upwards. It also records in WAV.

The iKey has a level meter built in so you can check you aren't overloading the input.

There's a headphone port for monitoring the recording, should you wish to.

[ton1]

Even better, the turntable with dock for ipod included

http://www.numerama.com/magazine/9084-U ... -iPod.html

[leggo rocker]

No! This is not the same thing at all!

Tell me how that would help me record my DJ set this weekend? I'll be using the club's twin SL1210 and mixer setup. So this turntable is not really the answer is it?

It also won't help the guitarist make MP3s of his latest riffs.

You couldn't use this turntable to record an interview artist

It is also a cheapo deck so not much use if you want to record from your high end turntable?

The product Ton1 has linked us to is really for someone who has a stack of vinyl he wants to record before selling, but no longer owns a turntable.

[Guest]

if you don't want to carry a computer to a party, a cheaper and easier solution would be to bring a small md recorder.
much better if you have a digital output on your mixer cos no worry about volume level!

[ton1]

No! This is not the same thing at all!
..., but no longer owns a turntable.

That was kind of a joke amigo !

[leggo rocker]

if you don't want to carry a computer to a party, a cheaper and easier solution would be to bring a small md recorder.
much better if you have a digital output on your mixer cos no worry about volume level!

The iKey DOESN'T need a computer, that's the whole point I am trying to make here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a standalone device about the same size as the original cassette Sony Walkman!

I have been using an MD for recording shows up until now. The problem with MD is that you (or the sound engineer) have to change disks to record a long set, or you have to use LP4 which degrades the quality. You also then have to make the MD into an MP3 in order to use it on the web. And optical out isn't always available. MDs are specifically designed to hamper file sharing so don't make it easy for the user to create MP3s from them. Yes, you can do it, but it isn't easy for the non-technical user.

The iKey will stuff 16 hours of recording onto a tiny 1gb memory stick.

The iKey records directly to MP3 format so there's no messing and people who can use a tape machine but aren't that good on computers can handle one of these very easily.

The iKey can run off batteries (4 x AA) so it doesn't need a power source in a dance hall situation. One less device to find power for.

It has an easy to use line in level and includes a bi-directional mic for ambient recordings.

An MD doesn't have a phono pre-amp so it can't be used to plug a turntable into it directly.

The iKey is solid state, unlike MDs, so no moving parts to stop moving!

[leggo rocker]

You really missing the point here!

You absolutely DON'T need a computer, because you could record to iPod and then replay on the iPod.

But most people with iPods have computers anyway!

But the REALLY important part is that you don't need to take any computer to the party, gig, dance, interview or whatever, which I thought was your point. I hate to take my laptop to a bar or club where it risks getting stolen, damaged or soaked in beer.

Do older LP-MDs also play Hi MD? Or do you need a Hi MD player? As far as I understand it, I would need to replace my MD players and recorders to use HiMD. Why bother when the iKey does it all and does it so easy?

I have also been told that Hi MD is murder on battery life. Not so the iKey which sips battery power really slowly in the way the old MDs used to.

And 1GB, while impressive, is just 1GB, whereas flash memory now comes in multiple GB formats and yet is still physically smaller than an MD.

And an MD for a podcast? That means recording at real time and messing about on a computer with transfer software. Lots of people just can't cope with all that stuff. With the iKey you simply plug in the pen drive to the PC after recording and drag and drop the MP3 or WAV file into your chosen folder.

Actually setting the line in is REALLY easy on the iKey and I have yet to play at any venue that has an optical out on the mixer. And even my own mixer, which is the ubiquitous Technics SH-EX 1200 doesn't have optical out. I also found my Sony MD player really fiddly to use in the dark at venues as the damn buttons are just too small and the record menu not straightforward enough. Whereas the iKey is a one touch record and stop record - and the buttons are well located the size of old Sony Walkman cassette buttons so they are VERY easy to use in low light. Besides, you would set the record level at the sound check.

I have also noticed that sometimes when recording with a MIC onto MD I can hear the MDs motor on the recording. The iKey has no motor, so no noise.

Don't get me wrong, I've used MDs for a very long time, maybe 10 years now. I record interviews on them in my journalist work. But then, when a client wants that interview as an MP3 for a website I have to mess around to make an MP3 from the MD format, which is a pain and time consuming.

So many times in the past you have urged us to get with the times and not to be stuck in the past, and yet here comes a great little cutting edge solution for these purposes that I have already found to be far, far superior in actual use than the MD I have been using up until this week - and you don't seem to accept it!

So I don't really understand why you don't really 'get' the point of the iKey device. But in the end, why should I care if you like this solution or not? I don't sell them so there's nothing in it for me. I simply felt it was such a great device and so suited to the needs of many of us here - and also easy to use for the non-computer literate as there's no set up or anything. It's just a recorder that records to convenient and ultra portable flash memory.

[leggo rocker]

And does your Hi MD have a phone pre amp so you can record direct from a record deck?

No, I didn't think so...