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Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

NOT dependable!

Written by MF from Southfield

Sep 12, 2009

I am a linguist doing fieldwork in Central America. You can't even imagine the frustration and fury I feel when after conducting 6-7 interviews a day with the few remaining speakers of a language, only to come home and realize that only four of them have recorded!! Half of the interviews come out as a slight buzzing sound with no sound whatsoever. After a half-hour interview with an elderly person, how can I go back and say, "do-over"? I've tried to play with it to find out what I'm doing wrong why it's not recording well -- if I'm pressing a button I shouldn't or anything, but I'm consistent in my usage. I am extremely disappointed and will never recommend this item to anyone. I wish I could give negative stars.

10 of 13 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Great for Interviews

Written by LF from Superior

Sep 11, 2009

I wasn't sure what I was getting when I decided to buy this product, but it has served me so well! I use the recorder almost exclusively for newspaper interviews. It is extremely portable/convenient, and has surprisingly high quality recordings. Plus, the voice memos easily transfer to iTunes for use in other programs such as Garage Band. It's so much cheaper than other digital tape recorders as well. I highly recommend it!

5 of 5 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Half The Time Device Doesn't Record

Written by CB from RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA

Aug 7, 2009

We have had this item for about a year and around 40%-50% of the time it doesn't record you just hear static. Very disappointed... but when it does record it sounds great.

3 of 4 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Not yet for Classic

Written by NS from Lower Hutt

Mar 18, 2009

Classic firmware not up to it. I've used tunetalk stereos for a year or more. The disk noise is bad, but I now use separate mics plugged into the tunetalks, not the internal mics.
But recently upgraded IPOD 5Gs to classics & endless troubles recording. Most "high" quality wav files end up 44.1Ks/s MONO. This can't be the tunetalks' faults: They've run ok for ages. The Belkin site says "only works with latest IPOD software", but latest software not up to it. Occassionally I get 44.1 & Stereo, but mostly the wav file is 44.1 MONO, a mode it has no setting for. Apple store says "compatible with classic". Belkin says works with latest software. But firmware not up to it for classics.

23 of 33 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

USELESS !

Written by DF from new york

Feb 13, 2009

I bought this at Adorama, and I should have listen to the salesman who told me to buy a real recorder instead. In fact it worked a couple of time in the first weeks, then suddenly trash out (just white noise) 2 very important interviews of 30 min each. great isn't it ? I was able to use it for a couple more ITV cutting every 5 or 8 minutes thinking I might not waste so much of the ITV if one of the short file was corrupted as usual... it eventually worked sometimes and then it's again recording white noise ! This product doesn't even worth one star. I'll bring it back or crash it !

24 of 35 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Good Quality but doesn't last

Written by LB

Jan 3, 2009

I bought this to record my voice lessons and occasional lectures. At first, the sound quality was great and the recorder really did what it was supposed to do - record everything without scratches or static when I sang high frequencies. It picks up EVERYTHING. However, once in a while the device would say it was recording and when I would go and play the song on my ipod or on the computer nothing would be recorded. Also, the chip at the bottom fell out within a few months and I am not rough with my electronics at all. Eventually, it has pretty much stopped recording. It really is a shame because it is a very good product, but within less than a year it has pretty much become useless. I don't know if I'll buy another one, but I'm hard pressed to find any other voice recorder that had as good quality, despite the drawbacks.

Bottom line: Great quality, but there are definite drawbacks and be prepared to lose some of your recordings and get frustrated.

72 of 76 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

okay mic

Written by AH from Little Rock

Jan 1, 2009

i bought this mic intending to use it for my rock bands' practices and to record gigs and stuff, but the outcome was "staticy" and poor. the sound quality was fuzzy and scratchy and was overpowered by the amps and pa system. in other words it's sensitivity level is very high creating the bad unwanted fuzzy "wind-blowing" effect.

17 of 19 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

great sound, frustrating skips and clicks!

Written by ED from Morristown

Nov 29, 2008

I bought this product so I could record my college voice lessons (it was a requirement for the class). After each lesson, I would go back to my room and move the recording from my ipod to my laptop and listen from itunes. At first I thought it was perfect- the sound was incredibly clear. Then in later weeks I started to notice several skips in each lesson recording (keep in mind each lesson only lasted half an hour!). More often than not, the TuneTalk would skip over the parts of my pieces I really needed to work on and wanted to record so I could study my technique. I can even remember one instance where my instructor said "What I'm about to tell you is extremely important..." and then it cut out. This was incredibly frustrating for me! I also agree with everyone else who said that the amazing recording quality is a double-edged sword because it records the hums and clicks that the ipod makes occasionally (took me a while to figure out what it was). In conclusion- fantastic recording quality, but you will probably have to suffer through lots of skipping and clicks from the ipod.

57 of 60 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

A Great Mic

Written by JC from Brooklyn

Sep 13, 2008

I think that this is the greatest mic out there. I use it to record songs for my band when we don't feel like going to a studio. This is saving us a lot of money fight now because with great sound like this mic has, it sounds like a recording studio. I recommend it to anyone that wants to record anything, not only music.

44 of 52 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

The Best Mic

Written by DC from Marietta

Jun 8, 2008

I use this mic to record background sounds for iMovies ex. walking in the park, birds singing, and water rippling. I use it to record my chorus songs ( don't read music). I use it to record lectures. It is just like being there. The sound is incredible for the size and price. Easily attaches to my iPod and the iPod just knows what to do, RECORD.

I specifically like this particular mic because the acrylic spacer bar can be removed and now the mic can attach to my iPod without any need to remove the iPod from the protective case. Look around and you can find a case suitable for this.

If you need to have clear recordings at a low cost THIS is your mic.

68 of 79 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Belkin Audio Recorder - Simple and Effective

Written by CS from Wallingford

Apr 11, 2008

As an Internet marketer, I often give talks. I needed a foolproof way to record myself so that I could create new information products quickly and easily. So... with my 80 GB Gen 5 iPod, I snap in the Belkin TuneTalk Stereo, press the record button, and I'm recording CD quality sound.

When I talk, I plug in a simple lav mic into the bottom and can talk for a couple of hours.

And when it's time to edit, I connect my iPod, drag the file to my computer's hard drive, and open my editing software.

I tried others. Nothing comes close. The stereo build in mics, external mic connection, the USB plug-in for extra power, the CD (wav file) quality, and the ease of use make this a powerful tool for my business.

I highly recommend it!

102 of 139 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Superb line-in stereo recorder

Written by MD from Edmonds

Mar 22, 2008

If you want to do line-in stereo recording, this is the device to buy. I tried the MicroMemo, which made good mono podcasting recordings, but failed miserably with stereo recording. This device is simply superb. On the low quality setting, the device mixes both channels into one mono channel and the volume is reduced; not all that great. On the high quality setting, however, my recordings were nearly lossless: both tracks were separated, they were loud and had great range. I purposely turned up the volume until the record light started blinking, indicating my input is clipping and the volume needs to be turned down. That little light is worth its weight in gold. I haven't tried this with a microphone, but I did notice the autogain increased the dB a fair amount.

For battery life, I ran mine until it ran out of space and the battery indicator read that it still had half its charge left (wow!). On my 2 gig nano 2G, it recorded 2 hours, 55 mins. and 9 seconds on the high quality setting. It split the file at the 2 hour, 12 minute mark and lost about 2 1/2 seconds of record time until it started the next file. I checked the recorded files and there were no hints of distortion or device sounds leaking into my recordings (as I've been used to with my 3G iPod 20 gig). I tried this device (for kicks) with my iPod 3G and my wife's nano 1G - neither worked, as expected. Oh well!

Overall, this is an excellent product that is a LOT less expensive then buying a professional field recorder.

95 of 123 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

This thing rocks! Incredible. I was shocked.

Written by BF from jacksonville

Mar 21, 2008

After buying a very similar looking product and being disgusted with it, I worried about
buying another low cost alternative to the full fledged mic. This thing however does exactly what it says! I would have paid 99.95 for it, had I known how awesome it is.
You need a great iPod mic? I play acoustic guitar and just to test it sat across the room with the device about 10 FT away not angled towards me, and played a bit. The clarity,
the strength of recording blew me away. Buy it.

58 of 80 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Still POTS 1.0!

Written by DC from New York

Mar 16, 2008

I bought this POTS a year or two ago and finally logged on hoping something had replaced it. Not here it hasn't.

Literally, this hunk of junk didn't record as well as my little brother's Mickey Mouse mon tape recorder did back in 1975. (And that had a freaky bonus feature -- when you put the battery in backwards -- the tape ran backwards! No one ever believes this).

Anyway, as is the case with so many non-Apple accessory products on this site, do some digging on the internet and GO SOMEWHERE ELSE to buy (and save money, usually too). I have almost never been satisfied with things I bought from the Apple store. And a quick check on Google reveals there are several cheaper products out there that are newer and better reviewed!

You listening, Apple? If so, do us all a favor and replace the moronic and confusing double-search windows with ONE SEARCH WINDOW. Thanks!

16 of 53 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

This thing is the best portable recorder out there!

Written by SP from Windermere

Jan 18, 2008

Crystal Clear audio, strong bass, no hiss, full stereo and amazing portability makes this guy the best portable recorder I have tried yet! I use it to record concerts, conversations, even Disney rides! The line in on it is super too. I use it to import records and tapes to my iPod, or plug in an external microphone. But, the mic is so good as it is, I prefer it, even over my dad's professional microphone that can plug into it.

The only downside is that it does take a lot of power (1 hour and 40 min. on a full charge in high quality) but it has a USB port to charge it while recording, or idle. Also, I keep the auto gain off all the time, because the auto gain doesn't just gain; it whips the volume down when it gets loud, and brings it up when its soft which gets quite annoying. Besides, it won't distort anyway without the auto gain, nor will it be to soft that you can't hear it.

Overall, it's small size is very deceiving for such an amazing recording. Don't just look at it, see it's size, see that it is marked as a voice recorder and leave. This is the best recorder for ANYTHING, not just voices. Also, for those of you deciding between the XtremeMac recorder, this is no competition. Belkin wins hands down in sound quality. The only thing that XtremeMac did well was power consumption, which must have something to do with the decrease in sound quality.

67 of 96 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Love IT

Written by AC from Seattle

Jan 17, 2008

I am using it to record my Flute playing for a flute studio class in a Music program that I am in and the sound quality is amazingly crystal clear. I am impressed. It is so convienient and also capable of charging at the same time.

LOVE IT

65 of 77 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Wonderful

Written by DS

Nov 12, 2007

Perfect sound, and very practical.

68 of 85 people found this useful

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo Microphones

Skipping renders it useless

Written by ML from Toronto

Oct 16, 2007

I have the skipping problem on my 5G iPod, which completely renders anything it records completely useless since half of what it records ends up gone. After much nonsense trying to get someone from Belkin to help me, I actually went to the Toronto Eaton Centre Apple Store, where salesperson Ian actually got in touch with Belkin over a series of days and follow-ups (absolutely amazing service) and got them to send me a new one.

So, I got the new one, and, of course, exact same problem. Though this issue is widespread, there is no technical note about it on the Belkin website, though now telephone service acknowledges that there's nothing I can do but replace the product AGAIN with one that allegedly works (heard that last time). To add insult to injury, I have to pay for the cost of shipping it internationally to Belkin, plus any customs and courier broker fees! Whaa?

So...now I'm afraid to use any replacement because I can't afford to lose any audio, and they promise the new one will work. If it wasn't for this, I would rave about the product because the sound quality truly is fantastic. Unfortunately, this process has turned me completely off Belkin.

60 of 78 people found this useful