Voice Recorders

Do you regularly attend meetings, conduct interviews, or simply have a need to record conversations? If so, you could go out and buy a cheap mini cassette deck or a digital voice recorder. But if you already have an iPod, why bother? All you need is one of these two voice recorders.

The big benefit to using your iPod as a voice recorder is the massive amount of storage space. The ability to store said recordings on your computer, even using iTunes to catalog and sort them, is another huge benefit. Smaller digital voice recorders usually support less than 100MB, have poor audio quality, and can be quite expensive. Traditional cassette tapes are hard to manage and catalog; you cannot store the recordings on your computer, and must use cheap and easily damaged tapes. The iPod is the perfect voice recorder, and you already have one. (Note: The iPod Mini does not support any voice recordings, only the third generation iPod with dock connector does.)

Belkin Voice Recorder for iPod

With the Belkin Voice Recorder, you simply attach the unit to the top of your iPod, and you are all set to record (after the Belkin software has been installed on your iPod, of course). You can then use it to record and play back your voice recording via the built-in speakers of your iPod's headphones. What's more, the Belkin Voice Recorder can also double as an alarm clock!

Price: $59.99

www.belkin.com

Griffin Technology iTalk

The iTalk, like the Belkin unit, plugs into the top of your iPod, and can be used to record sounds directly to your iPod. The iTalk records up to 100 feet away, and even supports the use of external microphones. It also has a 2-watt speaker built in, so that you can listen to your recordings without the need of a headphone.

Price: $39.99

www.griffintechnology.com

Belkin Universal Microphone Adapter

Perhaps you already own a monoaudio microphone, and don't need all the features of the previous units. In that case, all you really need to get sound into your iPod is a Microphone Adapter, and Belkin iPod Microphone Adapter fits the bill. It allows a mono audio microphone with a 3.5mm plug to work with all iPods that have a dock connector (third generation iPods).

Price: $39.99

www.belkin.com

Tip

Photo files take much more room on your iPod's hard drive than sound files do if you are using a high megapixel camera. If you plan to use your iPod to store photos, be certain to delete them from your iPod after you transfer them to your computer.