Stereo recording with iPod Touch

[sound_captain]

I have been using the Alesis ProTrack and this app. I found that the built in ProTrack mics appear to produce a stereo recording, but when I use line level from a mix console (in stereo) both tracks seem to be a sum of each other so the mix becomes two identical mono tracks. I verified this by examining the waveforms on my Mac. Is this an issue with iProRecorder, or should I be addressing Alesis with the problem?

I tried both a 2nd Gen Touch and a 3rd Gen Nano - same results.

[jason]

Hello,

Thank you for your question. We just confirmed that using the stereo mic or line both result in a stereo files with an Alesis ProTrack and iProRecorder 1.3. When we then transferred the file into Peak, it was very clear that indeed the file recorded as stereo. The way we did this test is we created a stereo file and reduced the left side to nearly silence. We then played the file – sending the audio output of the Mac directly into the ProTrack – and recorded it into iProRecorder. We played back the file and observed it did not sum both sides into a mono recording. We then transferred it into Peak where we confirmed that indeed, it recorded as a stereo file. I'm assuming that you have checked the following:

1. iProRecorder settings – in the settings app on your iPod touch 2G, select iProRecorder and make sure stereo recording is enabled.
2. Ensure the ProTrack is set to stereo.

You might want to try deleting iProRecorder (be sure to transfer any recordings you want to save first) and reinstalling. Also, be sure to reboot the iPod touch after you re-install. Let us know if the issue remains. As for the 3rd Generation Nano, I take it that you are using the included recording application and NOT iProRecorder.
The fact that you have the same issue in more than one app would seem to indicate it may be an issue with the ProTrack – in which case you would want to contact Alesis.

Let us know if you are unable to resolve this.

Thanks!

Best regards,

Jason

[sound_captain]

Hi Jason,
Thanks for the quick reply. Your suggestion to reinstall iProRecorder seems to be the solution, at least for the iPod Touch 2G. Once I did the reinstall, I tested using 2 people talking into 2 mics through a mix console with hard panning to the left and right, as well as cross-panning while they were talking. I recorded with the ProTrack using line level inputs (L/R) and monitored the live process and playback through the ProTrack headphone out. There was stereo audio. When I transferred the sound snippet to my Mac (using Bonjour) and listened through iTunes - yeah!!! - it was the same panned babble.

Now that I know that the iProRecorder/ProTrack combination works correctly in a well controlled environment, I'll keep a watch on the ProTrack/iPod combination. I'm not ruling out hardware issues yet. I need to clear up the 3G Nano mystery. One thing that has come to mind could be related to the dock connector. Perhaps I didn't have a fully seated iPod in the ProTrack connector. This may have produced a mono mix. If I had an improper connection using an iPod Touch 2G with iProRecorder, the application may have also picked up a mono signal.

But above all, I LOVE this little application. It is simple to set up; easy to catalog recordings; very cool to have the mini web server wtih Bonjour connectivity to transfer files; simple recording process; and a very COOL looking interface - nice conceptual remake of the standard record, pause, FF, and REWIND functions.

Again, thanks for your time and testing.

-charlie

[jason]

Glad to hear it's working well for you. We tried testing again and this time were not able to reproduce the metering problem – in each subsequent test, the meters functioned properly and recordings were stereo.

Thanks!
Jason