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ikey PlusSnagging.org In association with Amazon.co.ukOnline Shop | Property Guides | Kitchen & Home | Garden Tools | Power Tools | Consumer Electronics Get the Snagging Checklist Here!  Color: Black EAN: 0747706005709 Label: ikey Plus Manufacturer: ikey Plus Model: ikeyplus MPN: ikplusu Publisher: ikey Plus Studio: ikey Plus Warranty: Manufacturer warranty for 1 Year from date of purchase. Features:
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Editorial Review: Product Description: Average Rating:
 Rating: - Great idea, but flawedYour own ideas are always the best ones, right? I'm always pleased to find that someone else has already made my ideas into reality, and so it was when I saw the iKey. I got a Pinnacle Soundbridge at Christmas, and having ripped most of my CDs to MP3 (only joking, if you're reading this, BPI), I was faced with finding an efficient way of digitising a large collection of vinyl and tapes. I could do this on the computer, but it was time consuming and prevented anybody doing anything else while recording was going on. Too much multitasking, and the audio would suffer. So my idea was - why not make a small, simple (and cheap) device that would digitise audio and record it straight to a USB memory stick? As soon as I did an Internet search, I found the iKey - wonderful! What a shame that the reality didn't stack up to the inspiration. Mine wouldn't recognise the USB stick when worked from rechargeables, although the low battery light never even flickered. It worked with disposables, but lasted only three and a half album sides - the batteries I took out were far from dead, and were still good for nearly any other use. The unit would be no good as a portable recorder in any case, even if the power situation were fixed. The level meter LEDs are too dim to see even in strong indoor lighting; they'd be pointless out of doors. And of course there's no way to play back your recordings, unless you carry an iPod or some other player as well. Better hope you get it right first time... And without being able to set the level accurately on the dim LEDs, that's unlikely. That wasn't a problem for me, since it would just be connected to my stereo amplifier all the time, and could be plugged into the mains PSU. But before I leave the subject entirely, who would make something that will explode disposable batteries if you leave them in while using the PSU? This is a fundamental design flaw that should have been addressed. Personally, I'd be happy to recharge batteries in a stand-alone charger; no need to recharge them in the unit. IF the unit worked on rechargeables, you'd want to carry a spare set anyway for serious location work, so you'd be taking the lid off regularly. That needs a screwdriver, by the way, so remember to take one of them as well (I'm being unfair: thumbscrews are included as an alternative, along with different coloured faceplates.) Moreover, the line input is not sensitive enough for the tape output of my preamplifier, which outputs 100mV or so in common with many other units. The iKey requires 800mV for full recording level, by my measurement. At the moment, I'm recording vinyl with the record deck plugged into the "phono" input, which works fine. When I get around to digitising tapes, I may need to dig out a preamplifier. How much work would it have been to have included a little more gain on the front end? This IS the plus version, after all. A few more niggles, while I'm in the mood. The interface is generally fussy - all those multi-function buttons and multi-meaning lights recall the old Sinclair Spectrum. Having to remember to flush the buffer to the USB storage before you can unplug it is a right pain, something to get used to rather than making the unit a pleasure to use. It doesn't remember the quality setting, but defaults to WAV every time you switch on. Something else to get used to. For some unknown reason, files on the USB device are created with a date sometime in 1979, which causes my version of Windows at least to have a sulk and not display it at all. Finally, the mic works on the phono setting too - and is more sensitive (is it RIAA equalised? I don't know.) This hardly matters, but again it points to slapdash design. Having said all that, it's a useful bit of kit. The price was reasonable. The technical support was UK based, prompt and cheerful. It's doing what I wanted it for - I'm only glad I hadn't wanted it for any of the things it's bad at. But to mix a metaphor, it's a shame when a great idea (and I know it's a great idea, it was one of mine) is spoiled for a ha'porth of tar. -- Edited to add: In my opinion, the sound quality of the onboard MP3 encoder is not very good. I found MP3s recorded by the iKey to be woolly and tiring to listen to, no matter what the bit rate. It isn't just me: search for QDesign MP3 encoder on the web (that's what's used in the iKey) and you'll find other unflattering comments - but listen and make up your own mind, preferably over the length of an album or two. My advice is to record to WAV and, if you want MP3s, convert on your computer. For example, the unfortunately named Lame encoder used by the free Audacity sound editor (among many others) does a good job. -- Edited again: After some further measurement, it appears that the high frequency response of the phono input is poor when compared to the preamp in my own stereo amplifier. That probably explains the poor sound quality, rather than the encoder. In short, don't bother with the iKey plus - buy the standard version, and use it with an external preamp.  Try searching the Internet for "ikey Plus" or Ebay for "ikey Plus". You might also be interested in the following great products:
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