anyone using an iPod to audition songs?

[fuzzjunkie]

I'm thinking about using my old 10G hard drive iPod as a means of listening to different arrangements and/or mixes of songs...anyone here do that? I was thinking it would help in that it's away from the studio...fresh ears...and the iPod still works fine, but isn't getting any use with the Nano around.

[chrisjedijane]

I use my 20GB iriver to record acoustic demos sometimes, it can be pretty useful.

[Maggieo]

Anything that will give you a fresh perspective on a mix is a good thing!

[chrisjedijane]

ahh right, i completely mis-read that post - i use the dictaphone on my iriver to record wee demos sometimes for fun.

I think it'd be a good idea to listen to mixes on your ipod - it's the way that most people listen to music most of the time these days anyway, so it couldn't hurt.

Nothing can beat mixing through some quality monitors though, if you can get access to them.

[fuzzjunkie]

"Nothing can beat mixing through some quality monitors though, if you can get access to them"

true, this was just to see how they would sound on the lowest common denomenator, which used to be mono on a boombox...and more for trying out different arrangements.

[lalalandstudios]

I have to say that I find it very helpful to audition mixes on an ipod with earbuds, and also thru itunes with my macbook's built in speakers (talk about lowest common denominator there) - just to do a final reality check before committing to a final version.

I'd be interested to see what people are doing using their ipod as a scratch pad recording device on the road, or to grab rough mixes of their live sets - I haven't done this - but it has distinct advantages (wav format, direct transfer/non-real time to your computer) over DAT or other portable recording formats. What ipod audio interface are you guys using?

[pullover]

When I am mixing down I listen to the demos all the time, I listen on my MP3 player and I take notes. I listen in the car and I take notes. I listen to them on my friends stereo, in their car. Just remember to take notes so you can make an even mix that sounds good on all systems.
One time I had some distortion on a drum track that sounded really sweet through the monitors and on my MP3 player, but sounded like Jimmy on my friends stereo. It was actually kind of embarrasing how bad it ruined the sound.

[idiotbear]

I always put my tunes on my iPod to see how they sound. It's a good idea.

[fuzzjunkie]

"One time I had some distortion on a drum track that sounded really sweet through the monitors and on my MP3 player, but sounded like Jimmy on my friends stereo."

I've re-amped drum tracks through a tweed champ a few times...the tube distortion and room ambience helped it sit well mixed with the straight drum tracks, but it was used as an effect, not as the main drum track. I prefer that to overdriving the preamps on an initial recording as you can mix it to taste or leave it out if it doesn't work...of course those are tube preamps as well and not digital distortion from overdriving into a DAW.

Another thing I've done is running the tracks out through a Yamaha 4-track and pushing it into the red and mixing those tracks with the main drums...stole that idea from Brad Laner of Medicine. Very crunchy

[chrisjedijane]

digital distortion from overdriving into a DAW.

*Shudder* 

[Amber]

I used to have an iRiver and got some great recordings just putting it in the corner of a room recording a drummer and myself. I used the little mic it comes with. I also used the internal mic to record my acoustic and me humming melodies. I was really impressed with the sound quality. I've heard a lot worse in digital 4 track internals. I use my Ti Powerbook speakers, car hi fi and anything I can get my hands on! It trains your ears well. It's all well and good saying use a good set of monitors but if your room is treated right it doesn't really justify using expensive speakers.

Using an iPod can be bad sometimes as it really limits highs and lows that could be quite obvious on a good hifi.

AKG K240 are good for getting a good sound on phones.

[Ian]

I like being able to put some mixes on the iPod and then walk around and listen to them - just getting out of the "listening" environment can really add some perspective. It's also a great way to audition different sequences for your record.

[glimmertwin]

I have to say that I find it very helpful to audition mixes on an ipod with earbuds, and also thru itunes with my macbook's built in speakers (talk about lowest common denominator there) - just to do a final reality check before committing to a final version.

I'd be interested to see what people are doing using their ipod as a scratch pad recording device on the road, or to grab rough mixes of their live sets - I haven't done this - but it has distinct advantages (wav format, direct transfer/non-real time to your computer) over DAT or other portable recording formats. What ipod audio interface are you guys using?

Is there an attachment to convert your iPod into a simple stereo location recording device?  That would be very very convenient.  My guess is Apple discourages it though because they don't really support using the iPod as a portable storage device - unless it can be worked into iTunes somehow. 

[lalalandstudios]

You might be interested in this.....

http://www.hackaday.com/2004/12/30/how- ... -for-free/

[glimmertwin]

You might be interested in this.....

http://www.hackaday.com/2004/12/30/how- ... -for-free/

I am very interested - thanks!