Any way iAudio can record NOT to wma format?

[junglemike]

I'm looking for replacement for my old Iriver IFP series.
Most important functions for me are voice and radio recording in high quality .
I've read manuals for 6 & 7 models, and IIRC it can record at 44khz or at least at 22khz ( can anybody confirm that?).
But I hate Wmv and Wma with my soul...
Is there any way around that ? Maybe there's some firmware update that enables to record to mp3 format? Wav would be exrtremely wastful at high bitrates, but I would do anything to avoid using wma.

[Marvin the Martian]

I wouldn't worry about it.....it's not like your recording can be DRM'd.

[dfkt]

Unfortunately Cowon chose the cheap way with all recent players and only support the horrible WMA format for recording. A WMA license includes playback and recording, so they only have to pay once, while a license for MP3 recording is separate from MP3 playback and thus increases the price.

A Rockbox port for the i7 has been started, but it doesn't seem as it's very active: http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/CowonIaudio7Info - this would give it recording in a lot of useful formats (WAV, WavPack, MP3).

[WalkGood]

Don’t recall reading anything about 44khz or 22khz recording, but looking at the settings on my i7 you can: set line in bps (64k, 80k, 96k or 128k), mic volume (high/low), line-in volume (1-4) and recording mode (voice/line-in). Also all the firmware so far till the last all record in .WMA, no way around that as rockbox for the i7 is dead.

[junglemike]

Thank for your hlep guys.
couple more questions please:

1) Does any other iAudio player able to record into non-wma format?

2) does 6/7 series allow you to change scan speed? For example, I recorded 3 hours of radio program, and I want to hear 3rd hour, Is there fast way to do that?

3) Does it fit comfortably in one hand? Can I manage the control w/o looking at the player?
I'm doing sports running every 2 days, and I would like to be able to control the basic stuff (volume /ff/rw, etc) w/o looking at the screen/buttons with only one hand. Is it possible?

4) How is the USB transfer speed (in flash drive mode)? My old iriver 256 mb is painfully slow ( about 0.4 Mb/s) - even slower than usb 1.1

5) Can I hear the content while fast-forwarding/rewinding?

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by junglemike

1) Does any other iAudio player able to record into non-wma format?

Not that I know, but Syndrome the Cowon Moderator or dfkt would know better.

Originally Posted by junglemike

2) does 6/7 series allow you to change scan speed? For example, I recorded 3 hours of radio program, and I want to hear 3rd hour, Is there fast way to do that?

No, but it’s fast enough.

Originally Posted by junglemike

3) Does it fit comfortably in one hand?

Yes, feels more comfortable to me than the new i9, but then again I’ve been using it for a long time.

Originally Posted by junglemike

Can I manage the control w/o looking at the player?

Anything is possible if you practice enough, but I can’t and I’d say no.

Originally Posted by junglemike

I'm doing sports running every 2 days, and I would like to be able to control the basic stuff (volume /ff/rw, etc) w/o looking at the screen/buttons with only one hand. Is it possible?

One hand operation is possible, but I need to be watching the screen for most stuff and after an operation is complete you must engage lock or the touch controls will be active and make a change. Basic stuff (volume /ff/rw, etc) is easy without looking at the screen, but haven't tried it running. IMHO it might be hard although I have done basic stuff while riding bike. Even though I was going one handed within the first week, it does takes practice, coordination and good manual dexterity. That said many do complain about the UI being hard to get use to or they don’t like the UI. I’m trying present both sides here so you know what you are getting into, but I've not had issues with it.

Originally Posted by junglemike

4) How is the USB transfer speed (in flash drive mode)? My old iriver 256 mb is painfully slow ( about 0.4 Mb/s) - even slower than usb 1.1

2.0 it’s fast enough, although I’ve never tested the actual speed

Originally Posted by junglemike

5) Can I hear the content while fast-forwarding/rewinding?

I think so, but I never really do this, do you mean a recording? Let me know and I’ll test tomorrow.

[dfkt]

1) All older Cowons (4 years and more - and also players from other brands like iriver) recorded to MP3, all newer ones to WMA. To the best of my knowledge, no current consumer MP3 player records to anything but WMA - if it does record at all. The whole market has gone backwards, you see it in other aspects too - like almost no MP3 player has a basic pan/balance control anymore, among other things.

2) Don't know about the i6/7, but the i9 lets you slide over the touch strip with your finger, which is almost like a touchscreen FFWD/REW control, meaning almost instant jump to a place inside a long audio file. It has normal button-press-style FFWD too, of course.

4) All modern non-ATA Cowons are around 4Mb/s transfer speed in MSC mode.

5) Yes, thank gawd for that. Cowons are the only ones left that have FFWD/REW with sound. I can't understand how no other company (and not even Rockbox) implements that. It's essential to me. I mean, every CD player does that - every MP3 player should do it too.

[WalkGood]

2 - Yea, the i7 has the slider too, AKA "swing touch."