Hey there.

I know there are a fair few threads concerning specific features for mp3 players, so I'm sorry for this being another of those...

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO GET!

Basically, I would like:

- Ability to record PCM WAV files

- Line-In socket for external mic etc (line-out would be a plus)

- FM Radio (with ability to record this at least at 160kbps mp3)

- Preferably a Flash player 2GB(+?)

- mp3 VBR (LAME) playback support (FLAC would be nice too)


So far:

iAudio U2 seemed good, but I'm not sure exactly what this adpcm wav record is - lossy?

iRiver T30/iFP - I think these lacked either wav record or line in, or both?

iRiver H120 - maybe... not flash but...

iAudio M5 - does this do the job?


To be honest, if it's NOT a flash player I won't be absolutely put off, but it would be nice. In fact, is there anything that nearly reaches these requirements? I would really like to be able to record found sounds in Wav quality to be used for productions, and it would be a bonus to be able to listen to some music on it too. Please can you help me, you are indeed a knowledgable lot...

ADPCM... I think it's a kind of WAV that records at lower bits an kHz, thus keeping the filesize down = not usable for much.

My prefered MP3-player brand is iRiver.
The T30 as you suggested might be a good choice.
It has a 3,5mm line in and "Freely selectable bit rates from 40 ~ 320 kbps to record via the line-in"
Specs
My iRiver IFP-799 (RIP ) had adjustable recording volume for line-in signals. T30 should have the same.
Could select in the menues if I wanted to use the line-in as line-in or external microphone.

I'm guessing WAV recording might be a difficult feature to find on a MP3 player.
And radio quality is usually not that great. The signal got worse the second I hit record (from radio) on the 799.

i would vote for the iriver hp 100/300 series

...even tho it is HD based...

but do you want to record stuff AND use it as a player? 2GB wouldn't be big enough for me to do both at the same time...

i grabbed a bootleg of a show i went to this summer (the TOOL concert at the GORGE) and the dude had used an iriver 120 - it sounds AWESOME.

this may help - it is the bootleg recording information:



later

Thanks guys!

At the moment it does seem like a choice between the T30 and the H120 - although the latter is difficult to get hold of and the former has no wav record... but maybe I'm being picky.

I think what I really want is the M-Audio Microtrack 24/96, but at the moment that's kinda out of my pricerange.
Any other suggestions?

what is your price range?

i picked up a refurb'ed h320 for $110

the rockbox firmware has mp3 recording options up to 320kbps, WAVPACK, and WAV


later