[Drew]

As a musician, it's pretty common for me to take rough mixes of my latest work in the car for heavy rotation and evaluation. In my old car, I used the cassette deck, but in the E, I plan to use the AUX and an MP3 player. However, I'm having a rough time deciding what to get.

I'd love to have an iPod of course, but I really don't want to spend that much on a non-essential like that. The main concerns are finding a player that a) can run on AC power and b) is both Mac & PC compatible. I'm trying to decide whether I want to go with a CD-based player, which basically means unlimited storage space and total computer compatibility, or if I want to get a simple solid state player. Most of the time I only bring two or three songs in for evaluation... anything more permanent than that will likely just get burnt on a CD, so maybe storage isn't an issue. And of course there are removable storage models as well. I'm trying to stay under $100. Anyone have suggestions?

Thanks!
Drew

 

[rodaniel]

Drew, I''ve owned my Frontier Labs' Nex II MP3 player for almost two years now and I absolutely love it! It uses the same standard compact flash memory cards as my wife's PDA and our digital camera. And the Nex II is very reasonably priced - about $100 without memory.

Frontier Labs isn't as glitzy as some of the bigger name companies - and the Nex IIe is without some of the bells & whistles (mostly useless fluff) - that some of the more prominant MP3 players feature, but it works well, shares indystry standard compact flash memory cards, and won't set you back a week's salary. Here's a link if you want to find out more about it:

http://www.frontierlabs.com/IIe.html

 

[Drew]

You know, I was looking at the NEX, but it doesn't have any way to run it on AC power. I think the IIe (the new one) does have AC input, but the new one is also more expensive. Still, I do use compact flash for my camera and already have a 128-MB card....

Hmm... a good option to consider...

Thanks!

Drew

 

[boneheadz]

I just bought the Creative, Nomad Jukebox 2. It was on sale for 269.00 cdn. Plus its called the Nomad, thats also my elements name. Anyway I would have prefered the Zen but it was 450.00 cdn and I figured I could get by with 10 gigs. The audio features are great and work through the stereo. Very happy with it

 

[rodaniel]

[quote:5fab230dca="Drew"]I think the IIe (the new one) does have AC input, but the new one is also more expensive.[/quote:5fab230dca]

The IIe model is only about $5-10 more expensive. In fact, you can squeak in just under $90 if you shop around...

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=fronexiieb

http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/ca...id=37&osCsid=7a6ef2e101af8dbcda33e66db59411e1

 

[patedugan]

I got a Creative Nomad Jukebox 3 (20 gigs) specifically for my Element, and it works beautifully. I've got about 2,000 songs in it now, and it's still only half full. Highly recommend it - and I got a great deal on it at J&R music world online. Check it out.

 

[Drew]

Well, I just got a RioVolt 250 on eBay. It's CD-based, so it's totally unlimited for memory... reads CD-RWs, MP3 and WMA, and has a handy remote control so I don't have to lean over to get at the buttons. I think it'll do nicely!

Unfortunately I bid on two different auctions by the same guy for the same item by mistake, and won them both! Hopefully I can talk the guy out of making me actually take both of them...

In any case, descision made!

Drew

 

[eMass]

FYI to all musicians looking for MP3 players for the Element...

Did you know that the Archos jukebox can RECORD directly to MP3 format?

I plug it right into my electronic drum kit and record entire practice sessions lasting up to 90 minutes sometimes. Then I plug the Archos into my AUX jack and listen to my sessions while I commute.

It's a great way to evaluate your own performance.

I imagine the same idea could be applied to any electronic instrument including voice if you use a microphone.

 

[jdef]

[quote:c8d2af64f8="eMass"]FYI to all musicians looking for MP3 players for the Element...

Did you know that the Archos jukebox can RECORD directly to MP3 format?
[/quote:c8d2af64f8]

Wow, eMass, that sounds like something I definitely need. Is it stereo input? Thanks for the heads up!

 

[eMass]

Yep it's stereo. And not only does it provide an analog stereo line-in, they also provide a digital stereo line-in!

Any of the Jukebox Recorder series can record. There's 3 models - a 10GB, 15GB, & 20GB.

The 20GB sells for about $275 - here's the link to the technical specs...
http://www.archos.com/lang=en//products/prw_500277_specs.html

 

[jdef]

Cool, thanks!!

 

[pookSter]

And don't forget the Digital Out as well. It plugs right into the digital jack on the home sterio and sounds better than my dvd player.
Just an update on the Archos 20 gig recorder. It can be had for as little as $220 now with the car kit at harmony computers. Hey Emass, are you using the RockBox 2.0 open source firmware for your Archos?? It adds so many more great features. They have even added a karaoke features for the Record . Its great to have an MP3 player that's software is updated on a daily basis unlike others that once you buy it you are stuck with what the factory offered.

well, enough boasting on this wonderful product.

 

[eMass]

No - not using rockbox but I've heard great things about it and just need to get off my arse and check it out.

Thanks - Archos really is the best.

 

[pookSter]

All you have to do EMASS is just drop the firmware file in the root directory of the Archos, and like magic, it boots to the new version...real simple and it will add about 25 features to your Archos model, extend your battery life,well, here is a list for ya
http://rockbox.haxx.se/docs/features.html

If you need some help...let me know.

 

[Sunstoke]

[quote:0e30daac1a="pookSter"]All you have to do EMASS is just drop the firmware file in the root directory of the Archos, and like magic, it boots to the new version...real simple and it will add about 25 features to your Archos model, extend your battery life,well, here is a list for ya
http://rockbox.haxx.se/docs/features.html

If you need some help...let me know.[/quote:0e30daac1a]


How do you do that? I want to buy one of these! 8)

 

[pookSter]

Sunstroke said:
How do you do that? I want to buy one of these!

How do you do what Sunstroke?
Copy it to the MP3 player?
All the Archos models show up as an extra hard drive on your computer as soon as you plug it in, so you not only have an MP3 player, but a portable 20 gig hard drive as well. Great for backing up/transporting files.

 

[Sunstoke]

[quote:8c4abbcb8f="pookSter"]Sunstroke said:
How do you do that? I want to buy one of these!

How do you do what Sunstroke?
Copy it to the MP3 player?
All the Archos models show up as an extra hard drive on your computer as soon as you plug it in, so you not only have an MP3 player, but a portable 20 gig hard drive as well. Great for backing up/transporting files.[/quote:8c4abbcb8f]

I wanted to know how to copy the Rockboxx software to the Archos. Thanks for the reply!

GS

 

[Sunstoke]

Pookster,

Seems like you like the Archos! Have you had any problems with it? Any problems withe Rockboxx software? Can't you download updates from Archos? Too many Questions! Any info on it would be greatly appreciated! I really like to research stuff befor I buy it!
8)
Thanks, GS

 

[pookSter]

Sunstroke said:
Seems like you like the Archos! Have you had any problems with it? Any problems withe Rockboxx software? Can't you download updates from Archos? Too many Questions! Any info on it would be greatly appreciated! I really like to research stuff befor I buy it

I really do like this. I had an IPOD before. It had a nicer display than the Archos, and was an good player too, but the IPOD lacked a lot of features the Archos has, and I could not justify paying twice the amount just for the Mac name.

I have not had any problems yet. You can download updates from Archos, but the company simply does not have the manpower or the desire to improve the software. They fix only bugs. The "Archos" software is no where near as good as the Rockbox. You will see what I mean when you get one. The stock firmware has all the features as most standard MP3 players like the IPOD, BUT only the users of the Archos player really know what features they want because they use it every day. This is what is so Unique about the ROCKBOX team. They are in touch with us the users. You need a feature that is not there, put in a request and someone works on it.

If you look at the list of added features here http://rockbox.haxx.se/docs/features.html you will see the difference between Archos and Rockbox.
This however is not the complete list as this is version 1.4 and they have added quite a few more features in version 2.0

You want to upgrade the Archos player's size from 20 gigs you say? Easy, just go out a buy a 60 gig laptop harddrive and it is a simple plug in install after you unscrew the case. ...See what I mean?
I would however recommend the Archos recorder 20 over the FM Recorder 20 simply because the one without FM has the older style AA Nickel Metal Hydrate batteries which last 10 hours. If you go with the FM recorder, its a newer design with a lithium battery that is not standard, and I am afraid that in a year or so when it needs replacing, you will probably pay a pretty penny from Archos for it.

Hope that helps..

 

[Sunstoke]

Helped alot, Thanks! It looks like the way to go!