Pulse Smart Pen

The Pulse Smart Pen from Livescribe, gets my vote for coolest gadget of the year.  Something a few years ago we would of only seen in a James Bond movie. This pen is amazing.  As you write it will record your strokes and audio if you like. Read more

FAST Track Ultra - USB audio

The FAST Track Ultra from M-Audio (www.m-audio.com) is a handy device to have. the large majority of microphones are analog. While your computer may have an 1/8 mini audio in device, you might need to get two or three microphones into your computer. This device will do it. The interface to the computer is USB, so this acts like a sound card. You have independent volume control along with a monitor out to listen to what is going on with your headphones.

M-Audio makes this in several versions including the Fast Track Pro and Fast Track Ultra.
Kevin has this device and loves it.

www.m-audio.com

Sony - Wireless Microphone

The Sony WCS999 Wireless Microphone is a inexpensive wireless lavalier microphone.  The microphone is omni-directional microphone and picks up sound from all directions. The  wireless transmitter is easy to fit in your pockent and clips onto clothing for proper positioning. The wireless receiver plugs into the audio recorder microphone input. There are 3 channels that enable you to choose another channel if there is interference.

iMultiMix8 USB from Alesis

  

.  If you have a 5G iPod you can plug it in and use it with this mixer.  Use the iPod to record or playback.  It has 4 channels for Mics and 4 channels for instruments or line inputs.  It works with both Mac and PC and features a USB interface. Alesis is a popular brand among home recording enthusiasts and home studios.  They also make a 16 channel version and a rackmount version.

 

 

SHURE SLX wireless mic system

 The SHURE SLX UHF mic system features both options for lavalier and handheld mics.  UHF wireless systems will cost more, but will have less interference that VHF system.  This is the wireless system used at Utah State University in many of the smart classrooms.

SHURE XLS wireless mic website

Zoom H2 - Digital Audio Recorder and USB mic

Four mics are better than two, and the H2 Handy Recorder from Zoom  has all 4 of them.  Reviews praise the recorder released in the Fall of 2007.  The price is right at $150 - $199 on the street.  The H2 will record in both WAV and MP3 files onto Secure Digital (SD) memory cards, the same that are used in many of the newer models of digital cameras.  

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Micro Track II- Professional 2-Channel Mobile Digital Recorder

The Micro Track II is a professional digital audio recording capable of recording both WAV and MP3 files onto compact flash or micro drives.  It has two microphone inputs that are balanced 1/4″ TRS inputs, with phantom-bowered mic preamps, and line inputs.  Connects to a mac or pc via USB and makes transfer to the computer as easy as drag and drop.  You can also transfer files to the computer by pulling out the compact flash memory card and put it into a card reader. Read more

xTag USB microphone

The xTag from Revolabs is a wireless microphone with a charging base that connects to your computer via USB.  A great microphone for use in the classroom, lab, or any other place you do not want to be tied to the computer via a cable.  My first test of this microphone was at EDUCAUSE 2007 in a large seminar room.  It worked perfectly everywhere I wandered.  You can also pick up one that has analog audio out on the charging base, to plug into a sound card, mixer, or sound system.  

Revolabs makes a whole line of microphones for conference rooms, and podcasting.  Check them out online at http://www.revolabs.com.

Snowball USB Mic

This USB microphone, called the Snowball is from Blue Microphones .  This is a professional level microphone with great sound and it works on both a PC and Mac computer.  I have this mic on my desk and I love it. Read more