Issues withg the ifp -795

[dave_r_riley]

(1) My household own three iRivers: the T30, H10 and the ifp- 795

(2) I can see why the ifp was discontinued as it is cumbersome compared to the other two. and besides the T30 is a great device and player of superb quality.

(3) My daughter uses the H10 -- and I rely on the ifp-795 (512 mb) only for recording.

My issues are

1. Microphone connection. The 795 has a ridge which won't take most 3.5 mm microphones -- between the two line in jacks. Sony mics --designed for mini disc players won't connect there without a lead or a "L' shaped connector plug. However Giant Squid at least make mics that will connect at the point. I use a Sony & had to shave back a connector in order to make the iRiver a line in with the mic connected to the device without a lead.

• Mono Microphones won't work on the Iriver. You need a special connection to use mono mics on the iRiver 795 because the iRiver msiunderstands a mono mic and while you can hear the audio whiel you try to record the device will not move into RECORD mode. Giant Squid make mono mics for the 795 but I managed to employ a few odd connections -- three in fact -- and a lead -- so that I can record with my mono mic. I wanted to record lectures at the rostrum.

• Software is crappy. The Iriver Music Manager designed for the 795 is is crude compared to the interface available with the" iriver plus 2" you get with the T30. And what annoys me the most -- and maybe someone can help me here -- is that I cannot get the hardware recognition to work on my desktop. Only the "Music Manager" will recognize that I have the 795 connected so that means I cannot 'save as ' or copy /paste using other program options. Am I missing somthing? Is there some way I can tweak thsi to be open to other programs?

• Firmware is confusing. With the T30 its a straighforward issue. With this one it's a confusing pain primarily because the Music Player is a mess. I know very littel about Firmware anyhow--and with the T30 ignorance is OK -- but with the ifp its so confusing.

However...

The iRiver 795 is a great little recorder which sits, as I've rigged it up with its extension mic -- in (see image)the palm of one hand.I don't need leads. I can carry my recording studio around in my pocket. I can in time use a variety of mini microphones for different jobs and this little beauty gives me a good/great recording at 128 Kbps and 44kHz. And it has PLUG IN POWER -- so with these sorts of mics I don't need a premamp or mic battery!

I also can monitor my levels by listening in as I record --through the earphones.

But is there any other recording options I could explore too by fiddling with the RFECORDING format? Is 128kbps my limit?

So don't buy this as a player folks -- despite the FM -- But it's a great recorder and is still a standalone/stand out in that regard for the quality and the price.

[k1spanish]

I am using the iFP 790 frequently for recording too. Haven't had these issues.

- build my own stereo mic with plug that fits
- for mono I use the build in mic - its amazing good quality and can record up to highest bitrate
- I use the iRiver Music Manager, it's not a clever software but good enough to drop a few files from here to there, no problem with this.

The UMS - functionality (firmware) limits the recording quality. With manager software recording is possible up to 320 kbps, easy to adjust with the menu. I am happy with handling and results for avarage quality needs.

The really sucking point with the iFP is the fact, that recording is limited to 12.5 kHz! You wont't find this in any specification but you will easy find out when using spectrum analysis with your recordings. For better quality I use iHP and Rockbox.

[nek]

A question to Riley and k1spanish. I just wanted to know what microphones you are using, especially the compact one fited directly to the 795

[k1spanish]

I bought in some electronic store a small stereo plug mounted with 1.5 m wire and two condensor microphone capsules (20Hz to 20 kHz), four housing I used small cases from headphones, mounted the capsules with foamrubber and thats it. All together less than 5 EURO. Sound amazing good, especially when fixed with needles at the basecap - unvisible but superb stereo recording, less niose of the rowd when you are tall enough

[dave_r_riley]

The microphone I used on this rig is the Sony ECM-DS30P. It's great little mic for interviews and recording your own voice as you have to work in close. It's no so good for ambience and sound tours and maybe not recommended for music. I use it for podcasting.

The main point about this is that the mic has to offer plug in power otherwise you need to also employ a preamp (a battery setup to run your mic). The Sony mini stereo mics draw on the power in this edition of the iRiver -- ifp 795.-- but not others. Giant Squid and Visivox are a couple of other companies that make, so I hear, great mics like this with plug in power. So I warn you that both these may fit into the iRiver without the join problems I encountered. Giant Squid clearly describe the problem and have a model to suit the iRiver.

dave riley