recording voice

[Sheila]

I am looking into the possibilities of recording voice using a Pi. I've spent ages searching the web for suitable gadgets but it seems whatever search terms I put in I'm not getting what I want. I can find loads of audio out stuff that plugs in to USB, and quite a lot of audio recording stuff that plugs in to USB but costs loads and is designed to turn your PC into a 4 track recording studio.

What I actually want is a circuit, that takes the output from a mic, and turns it into digital (MP3 would be nice but not essential as I can get software to do that). Then can plug into either the USB or GPIO. I'm happy to make necessary connectors etc. So far the nearest I can get is a recorder that is self-contained and plugs into USB just like a memory stick to transfer files afterwards. I can pull that apart and make that work possibly by wiring the GPIO to the power and record switches and download the files when it stops. However, you're then stuck with a mic on the device rather than one on a lead.

So does anyone know of any products that would be a bit more suitable to connect to a Pi?

[gsh]

I just use the USB microphone I bought for my daughter to play Wii Sing...

That works fine...

Gordon

[Sheila]

Most of the USB mic's say they need drivers for Windows and Macs, or they are ridiculously expensive professional musician type standard. If I can get USB mic that is a web chat type standard and does not need drivers, then that will do the job. If yours fits that can you tell me the make and model. Its just taking me ages clicking on a link and reading through specs only to find its not the right thing.

[gsh]

The one on my desk is a Logitech microphone like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Logitech-USB- ... 1418479400

That works fine for me

Gordon

[Sheila]

That one looks a bit big and chunky gsh, this is the thing, I just want something very basic.

I seem to be getting somewhere. I have found some gadgets on Amazon that look like a USB stick but are designed to replace faulty sound cards on PC's. They take a normal 3.5mm mic plug and stereo out and plug into USB, I'm assuming they produce .wav format.

This will be a good option for me as it allows use of a variety of microphones. However, there are numerous ones at numerous prices with mixed reviews, and most of the reviews are about playing sound not recording it. So if anyone had one or anything similar let me know what they perform like.

[FTrevorGowen]

That one looks a bit big and chunky gsh, this is the thing, I just want something very basic.
I seem to be getting somewhere. I have found some gadgets on Amazon that look like a USB stick but are designed to replace faulty sound cards on PC's. They take a normal 3.5mm mic plug and stereo out and plug into USB, I'm assuming they produce .wav format.
This will be a good option for me as it allows use of a variety of microphones. However, there are numerous ones at numerous prices with mixed reviews, and most of the reviews are about playing sound not recording it. So if anyone had one or anything similar let me know what they perform like.

I guess you mean something like this: http://www.cpmspectrepi.webspace.virgin ... apter.html which I tried out quite a while ago. Recording is associated with the mixer software's 'Capture' settings. File type will depend on the software used to capture/record which, as you suggest, may well be "*.wav" by default.
I've also got one of these similar devices: http://www.cpmspectrepi.webspace.virgin ... apter.html but haven't done much with it yet.
Trev.

[Sheila]

Yep, exactly what I was looking at, although the OCD bit of me is a tad frustrated that its also audio out, which I don't need. But I can live with that.