<p>I MISPOSTED before when talking about the voice recorder. it is the TUNETalk by Belkin, not iTalk. SORRY!!!!!! i hope you didn't get all frustrated looking for the wrong thing!!!</p>
<p>a few years ago i was given the "broadway the american musical" CD collection -- GREAT GIFT!! </p>
<p>also, my grandmother gets my sister and i books every year -- one year it was "Our Musicals, Ourselves", which is a WONDERFUL history of musical theatre. whenever i'm cast in a new show i always look up what that book has to say about it!!!</p>
<p>Where do you get these voice recorders for ipods? I think someone mentioned Radio Shack, which we don't have.</p>
<p>Yesterday I asked at Best Buy if they had voice recording devices to attach to an ipod. They said no, they used to have them but they don't carry them anymore.</p>
<p>I just bought the Griffin ITalk at Radio Shack for $40. Best Buy did not have any digital recorders for Ipod. I also bought at the Apple Store one (my husband will look at both and decide which one to keep as I am not knowledgable about this at all) called the MicroMemo (by XtremeMac)-it was a little more expensive ($60). The technician at the store claimed they were having some problems with the ITalk (not sure if this was true or just a selling strategy)-it has a detachable microphone so u can put other better mics in its port. They both do virtually the same thing, just was told MicroMemo was "better".</p>
<p>there are 2 Ipdo recorders for the video Ipod that I am aware of. (Over the last summer, I looked into this extensively, but things could have changed.) One is the MicroMemo you referred to, the other is a Belkin model. We ended up with the Belkin F8Z082. Both of these are quite excellent. My daughter says the sound quality is outstanding. </p>
<p>Previously, by mistake, we had bought a different Belkin model that is NOT compatible with the video Ipod. At the time I looked into this over the summer, there was NOT a Griffin model compatible with the video Ipod. This may have now changed </p>
<p>Make sure you know whether the recorder you are looking at is compatible with the particular Ipod you have. Call Griffin or Belkin if need be.</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up-I looked at both the ones I bought and it says compatible with video Ipod 30 mB or 60 mB. Didn't realize that there were different models but glad I looked. So ITalk and MicroMemo both are compatible as is the Belkin model you got.</p>
<p>So, those of you in the know: is the best option for a college-bound MTer to get one of those video iPods with some kind of digital recorder attachment (such as the one Belkin) makes so that they can not only download iTunes/music for pleasure listening, but also record their voice lessons/accompaniment, etc. for college audition practice? As I said before, my D's voice teacher would like her to begin recording her lessons, so she can practice more at home. (D plays the piano, but not very well, I am afraid!) She is a hs junior, and we don't want to have to buy everything all over again when she goes off to college. I am wondering if it makes sense to replace her iPod nano with a "real" iPod now, or just buy her a cheaper recorder to use in voice lessons and wait to get whatever new iPod gizmo is offered next year at this time. Any opinions from those of you who have MTers in college?</p>
<p>Since you have plenty of time before college for your daughter (and the video Ipods have already come down in price and will probably come further), I would suggest you delay a decision on this. In my daughter's case, her voice teacher recorded accompaniment on to an old fashioned tape. In a rare instance, it was helpful when we converted this to a CD. We only bought the Ipod recorder in advance of college.</p>
<p>When we were in the market early last summer, there were NO options yet for the iPod video (Belkin's had been promised, but was not yet available, and Griffin was still deciding). We already had the Griffin iTalk for the pre-video iPod (that worked well), but that iPod crashed. We opted to buy an older model iPod (from Apple) that worked with what we had. </p>
<p>The lesson we learned is that both the iPods and the accessories change every 2-3 years (Apple is already working on a replacement for the iPod Video), and Apple does not always make the new model compatible with old accessories. To make a long story short, I would get what you like and what fits in your budget now, knowing that you may need to replace things in 2-3 years. It sounds sad, but electronics have become a limited-time investment meant to be replaced and not repaired these days.</p>
<p>As an owner of two ipods, I would say watch out for them, as they are not the most dependable things in the world. When they work, they are amazing, but they break down SO often...that costco lifetime garentee would be fabulous because these things have so many malfunctions! I have lots of friends with ipod troubles too, so look into other mp3 players as well if possible.</p>
<p>If you are definatly getting an ipod, don't waste you time with the nano's or mini's or shuffles if it's for someone who is into music. They will use up those 1 or 2,000 songs way to quickly, and as much as $50 may seem like a lot, it is a small price to pay for 7 times the amount of storage. A lot of mini/nano users ended up upgrading to the 30g, and wasting a lot of money in the processes.</p>
<p>As a college student I know one thing that can become a big deal is the eating situation. Even the best cafs can get boring and easy mac can get old too. Maybe some gift certificates to a nicer (than fast food) restuarant in the town their school is in. Maybe enough from them and one or two friends. I'm sure they would appreciate being able to go out on one of there few free nights!</p>
<p>Plays, plays and more plays is always great. Acting books they may be really interested in, Miesner, Uta is a must, and so one...</p>
<p>And all kids love dvd's. My friends always know what to get me...anything with Christian Bale (I have most of his movies by now). Get something with their favorite actor in it if you don't know their exact taste in movies.</p>
<p>And since not many bfa kids have ANY time to watch tv, a season of a great show can be great because then they can watch it when their scheduel allows. I recomend the office, or degrassi.</p>
<p>OK, this is actually for a friend of mine, who wants to buy this particular item for her D, who is not an MTer! This woman's grown daughter (in her 20s) would like a small docking station for her iPod. The mom tells me that her other daughter has the Bose docking station, but this particular D wouldn't use the product enough to make the expense of Bose worthwhile. Anyone have any suggestions for something decent and small and less expensive than the Bose? Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>There are docking stations available eveywhere in every style( even a cool round one) and price range. Believe it or not, "Bed, Bath and Beyond" and "Linens and Things" have huge selections of docking stations that allow you to play the I-Pod while it is recharging, use the station as a clock that projects the time and weather(!) on the ceiling, you name it, they have it! Check them out on line too (but there are coupons readily available in all of the Sunday papers or on line for 20% off and they not only take expired coupons but those from their competitors as well!). She shouldn't have any trouble finding something that will work fine for her daughter's needs.</p>
<p>Ihome makes a clock radio/docking/speakers combo that is regularly priced at $99, but I have now seen it advertised for $79. Both of my kids have this. It may be similar to model Lulusmomma is referring to. It also works with all styles of Ipods. Your friend should make sure that whatever she buys works with the specific Ipod the daughter has. (The Ihome has a variety of attachments so it "fits" into the appropriate docking insert.)</p>
<p>I am in the market for a docking station for my D's ipod that will mount to her dash somewhere near eye level. It is scary to know that she is taking her eyes off the road, even for an instant, in order to "find a better song" on her ipod. She already has the transmitter that allows her ipod to be heard on the FM radio, but it didn't come with a dock. Has anyone seen such a thing?
I did find some sort of a "sticky pad" that can be applied to a dash & picked it up for her stocking, but I think it will just lay down on top of it & she will still have to handle it to change songs. NOT GOOD! Might as well have a cell phone in her hand! Yikes. Does anyone know a good alternative, or should I look into satellite radio or HD radio. BTW what it HD radio?</p>
<p>Melsmom- your quest reminds me of an accident that happend here a couple of year ago with tragic results. A girl dropped a cd while driving, and bent down to pick it up, lost control of the car and died in the accident that resulted.
I wish there were some way to disable everything that can distract young drivers.</p>
<p>Melsmom, while my kids do have the attachment that allows an IPod to be played in the car, they opt to play CDs when they are the driver because the IPod is more distracting to deal with when driving (as you know). </p>
<p>Anothermom is right about the split second of distraction. My D was distracted when the cell phone fell off the seat and she went to pick it up and when she looked up to find the car veering toward the guard rail, she lost control at 65 mph and crashed head on into the rock ledge and flipped over 2 1/2 times on the interstate in a death defying accident that she miraculously survived, though went through a lot, including intensive care, surgery, close calls at various parts of the recovery. She's lucky to be here. But I hope nobody learns the hard way about a split second of distraction.</p>
<p>Right now, I am frustrated with all things "IPod", lol. We have three that we have rotated amongst our two daughters with multiple problems in the past and at this moment, none of the three are working right. Repairs, repairs, repairs....frustration abounds.</p>
<p>You are not kidding, if I'm not mistaken one of our own CCer's D was in a terrible accident due to being on a cell phone. Luckily she was OK after a lengthy hospital stay, thank God. I agree that I was there was a way to just disable everything in their cars that isn't mounted!</p>