Hear iPod 5G’s high/low quality recording modes, compared

Following up on our First Look at Griffin Technology’s iTalkPro Stereo Microphone for fifth-generation iPods, we have now posted an audio quality comparison file so that listeners can hear the rough differences between the newest iPod’s different recording modes. The 9.1MB file, available here, contains samples of the iPod 5G in High and Low Quality modes outdoors and indoors, plus a sample of the iPod 4G in its original, lower-quality recording mode.

Recorders by Belkin and XtremeMac will also take advantage of the 5G’s new modes, which were designed by Apple to enable podcasters, students, and business users to make CD- or superior voice-quality recordings on the go. Technical details can be found below.
For the technically inclined, here are some details and caveats on our recording samples.

1. Segment 1: Outdoor introduction in 5G High Quality Mode: 44.1kHz stereo, low gain – bumped 15dB because volume level was low.
2. Segment 2: Outdoor comparison of 5G Low Quality Mode: 22.05kHz monaural, low gain – bumped 15dB because volume level was low.
3. Segment 3: Indoor comparison of 5G on Low Quality Mode: 22.05kHz monaural, low gain – bumped ~15dB.
4. Segment 4: Indoor comparison of 5G on High Quality Mode: 44.1kHz stereo, automatic digital gain.
5. Segment 5: Indoor comparison of color 4G iPod on its only recording mode: 8kHz monaural, automatic analog gain.
   Though the iPod saves in WAV format at various bit rates and mono/stereo modes, the final file is a 192kbps, 44.1kHz stereo MP3 file, compressed from a 66+MB WAV file.