Computer accessories maker Belkin announced their Universal Microphone Adapter for iPod on Monday. An alternative to their Voice Recorder for iPod, which features a built-in microphone and speaker, the Universal Microphone Adapter allows you to connect any microphone with a 3.5mm plug to your iPod and capture cleaner recordings.
The Universal Microphone Adapter attaches to any iPod with inputs for a remote or headphones. It records 16-bit audio at 8kHz and comes with a real-time LED indicator that measures sound levels. You can adjust your microphone’s sensitivity with the adapter’s 3-level gain switch.
Given the iPod’s copious hard drive space, you can record and store hundreds of hours of audio, whether it’s from conversations, lectures, interviews, or even your own verbal memos. The adapter has a pass-through 3.5mm jack so that you can still plug in headphones and listen to your recordings, and like any other files on your iPod, you can copy audio sessions to your computer for storage.
Belkin will ship the new adapter on March 17 with an estimated retail price of US$39.99. It works with iPod software version 2.1 or higher. The company hadn’t updated their Web site with a page devoted to the product as MacCentral posted this article.