Using Griffin LapelMic to take VoiceMemos

Steffen,

I don't think you're going to find it in the iPod documentation, so you'll have to look at the Griffin items.

I've got a Belkin recorder (the bulky one). When I plug it in, the recording screen automatically comes up on my iPod. I think it also places a "Voice Recording" (or something like that) menu item at the main menu for as long as the device is plugged in.

I'd imagine the Griffin should function in a similar fashion.

I'm thinking about the Griffin lapel mic, so it will be interesting to know if it's less intuitive or if yours just doesn't function.

Good luck.

Steffen,
You will need something to interface between the Lapel Mic AND the iPod. (The lapel mic will not work if plugged directly into the iPod's headphone jack)
I have a Belkin Universal Microphone Adapter ($30). This has two ports, one dedicated for a microphone and the second port for a headphone.
Although the Belkin Universal Microphone Adapter DOESN'T have an integrated mic (like the Griffin iTalk or the Belkin Voice Recorder for iPod w/ Dock Connector), it DOES have a 3 level gain switch with LED indicator which helps you get the better recordings by monitoring how noisy your recording is (green is good, orange is marginal, and red is noisy).

advantage of the Belkin device is you can purchase different mics for different tasks (lapel for dictation, shotgun for lectures).
Disadvantage is its bulky.
I also have a Griffin iTalk which works nice for dictation, but isn't so great for lectures.

Hope this helps,
-Tark

I bought a Griffin Lapel Mic, and I couldn't get it to work at all. The biggest mistake was to buy it from some two-bit online retailer in the UK who are as much use as a chocolate teapot when it comes to dealing with the possible faulty item, and whose customer service is total crap.

All I can say is that if you live in the UK, buy your iPod accessories from either the Apple Store, or from a retailer with a good reputation for customer service and a no quibble returns policy, such as John Lewis.

What do they say in business? A satisfied customer will tell 2 people, but a dissatisfied customer will tell 10 people.

So far the Griffin Lapel Mic has been a total waste of time and money, because I was sold a dud one, and this dodgy online retailer, based somewhere in the west of England won't deal with it. But they'll take my money quite happily. Can't stand this way of doing business.

Has anyone had any luck with using the Lapel Mic with their iPod? It's a great idea, shame my experience has been soured. Will try another retailer, though, if someone reports back and tells me they could get theirs to work. As I said, great idea.

A J,

sorry to hear about the lousy service you have got. I have a Griffin label mic that works well with a Belken universal microphone adapter.
The strange thing, is that it doesn't work as a pass-through microphone when attached to a Griffin iTalk, and I haven't had any success using it as a lapel mic when plugged into the line-in port on on my PowerBook.

My advice would be to find a local retailer of the Belkin microphone adapter, and see if you can use your Griffin mic with the Belkin adapter in the store. If you are satisfied with the recording then buy the Belkin adapter.

BTW: If you weren't already aware, you can't plug the microphone directly into the iPod's headphone jack and record without an iTalk or Belkin adapter inbetween the iPod and the lapel mic.

Both the Belkin and the iTalk (with its own integrated mic) provide a monoaural recording even though the Griffin lapel mic is supposed to be a stereo mic.

I plugged it into an iTalk, which was plugged into my iPod. No luck.

I plugged it into a Griffin iMic, which was plugged into my iBook. No luck.

Checked the settings in System Preferences, tried to do a test recording in iMovie. Still no luck.

Someone else tried to make a recording on a Windows PC, don't know what the settings were, but he didn't have any luck either.

So, I reckon it's not working . Or Griffin are making products which are incompatible - but that's less likely.

If the retailer ran their business like this in your country, Tark, they wouldn't last very long.

AJ,

I chatted with Griffin tech services regarding my lapel mic's performance with the Belkin adapter and my iTalk and the Griffin tech suggested that I may have a defective iTalk.
Your situation may be different since the lapel mic has never worked under any configuration you have tried.

You may want to contact Griffin if your local Griffin reseller isn't taking care of you in the UK. The Griffin tech support folks are very courteous and helpful over the phone.

Below is Griffin's contact page (They are based in Tennessee in the States)
http://www.griffintechnology.com/contact/

-Tark

Thanks, I will send an email. They may well offer support in the UK.

If it didn't work with the iTalk, it should have worked with the iMic and I checked the settings in System Preferences. All I managed to get in iMovie was an electrical hum or static, same as on the iPod via iTalk.

Perhaps it's worth referring the matter to Griffin - it's a shame because it's such a great idea to have a little mic to use with an iPod.

You know what Tark? You're right. The Lapel Mic works with the Belkin adaptor, but it won't work with either iTalk or iMic. How strange.

AJ,

to follow up on my iTalk and lapel mic issue; The Griffin tech emailed me back later yesterday to say he is sending me a replacement iTalk that has been tested to work against a lapel mic. Once I get it, I'll try to reply back with results.

Its wierd that the lapel mic doesn't work with two Griffin products in your hands but does work with the Belkin...

Have you had a chance to follow up with Griffin in the UK?

No, not in the UK. I emailed tech support on the US website, and I'll see what they say. I told Griffin, in my email, that it records with the Belkin adaptor. Looks like I'm not the only one with to experience this, if you have found the same. Shame I had to spend another 20 quid on the Belkin adaptor, but at least I know that the Lapel Mic is functioning ... and I can use it now.

I've got the Lapel Mic working through iMic now. It's the switch, it doesn't make sense. Well, not to me. Turns out that with the mic plugged into the mic socket, it works with the switch on towards the speaker/headphone socket. You'd think it would be: switch towards speaker/headphone socket for output, and switch towards the mic socket to select mic/input. Not so. A bit of an oversight in the design of the iMic, I say, not exactly obvious, is it?

Having said that, the iMic is a good product, and so is the Lapel Mic. It's a pity that I could not use the iTalk as intended, and had to buy the Belkin adaptor.

I just got my replacement iTalk from Griffin last night. The unit DOES record with the lapel microphone. Clearly the first one I bought was defective and I will be returning it shortly.

Regarding audio quality,
1) The iTalk by itself (no lapel mic) is nice (compact and adequate for dictation)
2) The iTalk with the lapel mic had a lower recorded volume. It was clearly listenable, but I had to boost the playback volume when compared to the playback of the recording from the iTalk by itself.
3) Belkin iMic w/ Griffin Lapel mic: low level gain setting; equivalent to the iTalk + lapel mic
4) Belkin iMic w/ Griffin Lapel mic: mid level gain setting; For lapel recording this works well (good recording volume) but I can see the iMic's recording indicator light bounce from green to orange.
5) Belkin iMic w/ Griffin Lapel mic: high level gain setting; Loud recording volume but noisy. Indicator light is bouncing between orange and red.

Conclusion: If you will record in different environments (from dictation to lecture halls), I would recomend the Belkin iMic and buy an appropriate microphone for specific recording condtions.
If you plan to do principally dictation, I would recomend the integrated mic concept like the iTalk. The iTalk will still have a port for a lapel mic if you should need it, but you won't have the gain to record distant speakers (lecture halls).

Did you mean the Belkin Universal Microphone Adapter for the iPod for when you put Belkin iMic?

Yeah....

Don't know why I started calling it the iMic, but it is the universal microphone adapter (no onboard mic, but a line-in instead).

thanks for catching that!