iPod Wishlist: audio input

There's a hot rumor floating around that Apple is planning to release a "true video iPod" soon with a large 3.5-inch display with a virtual clickwheel that appears on screen when needed then fades away when not. All that's well and good but there's something more practical that I want: high-quality audio capture.

Apple's tech specs for the iPod with video list the following under "Voice recording settings":

- Low (22.05 KHz, mono)
- High (44.1 KHz, stereo)

According to the iPod Dock Connector User Guide you can record voice memos using an optional iPod-compatible microphone "available for purchase at www.apple.com/store." No such Apple microphone exists.

The latest (5G) iPods allow you capture a full 44.1 KHz, stereo audio signal but no one's given us a way to take advantage of this feature. iPod linux allows you to capture audio but it only installs on first, second, and third generation iPods.

There's a number of reasons why you'd want to record audio to your iPod:

- Recording lectures, classes or interviews
- Live field recording
- Podcast recording

The previous ways to get audio into the iPod: the iTalk from Griffin Technology and the Universal Mic Adapter from Belkin, were designed for the iPods with a remote port which means that they won't work with newer 5G (or dock connector) iPods. Although Griffin is mum on their plans to create an iTalk for the dock connector iPods two iPod recording options are in the works from Belkin and XtremeMac.

Belkin announced the TuneTalk at CES which replaces their Universal Mic Adapter and works with the newer iPod's dock connector. TuneTalk (price TDB) features two directional microphones and a speaker for instant playback. A line-in jack allows you to connect an external microphone. XtremeMac's MicroMemo (US$80) records 16-bit audio via an included, removable microphone or any compatible microphone with a 3.5mm plug.

I can't wait to test the new recorders from Belkin and XtremeMac but what I really want to see is an all-in one adapter with an XLR port, phantom power and a preamp so that I can connect a true high-end microphone. And naturally it needs to come white and black.

What do you want in your next iPod?