RipFlash PLUS 128MB Digital MP3 Player with Voice Recorder

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Manufacturer: PoGo! Products
Price at amazon.com: List price $189.99



Product Features:

• First of its kind digital-music player with direct MP3, WMA encoding--no PC required
• 128 MB storage holds 4 hours of near-CD-quality WMA audio
• Over 30 hours storage for WMA voice recording; internal microphone included
• ID3 tag support (shows track and artist names) and backlit display
• Offers SD/MMC memory expansion slot; accessories include stereo earbuds and an arm band/belt case

Product Description:

The RipFlash PLUS is a first-of-its-kind Flash-memory-based combination MP3 player, MP3 recorder, and voice recording device that actually turns analog audio into high-quality MP3 data--without the need for a desktop PC. This means it's possible to record directly from any audio device, such as a portable CD player, record player, tape player, or even radio, into the RipFlash's 128 MB internal storage. It has a Smart Media Card slot for additional memory, and you can also upload and download MP3s traditionally, using a desktop PC and USB cable. Quick voice messages are a snap using the recorder's internal microphone. A high-quality stereo microphone (not included) will suffice for recording anything from live music to training seminars. The recordings can be played back through the onboard internal speaker, through the included earbud headphones, or through any home or car audio system using the appropriate cables. The efficient WMA format provides over 30 hours of voice quality or up to four hours of near-CD-quality music. RipFlash can detect the "gap" between the tracks of a CD when recording, so each song on the CD is saved as an easily identifiable individual MP3 file. The unit is supplied with earbuds, a direct recording (line-in) interconnect, a USB cable, CD software, and an arm band/belt case.
From J&R Music and Computer World The RipFlash PLUS is not only a full featured MP3/WMA Player with fast USB connectivity, but also records MP3 files using the on board microphone for voice and live recording or directly from any audio source, such as a CD player, through its line-in connector. Create MP3 files without a PC! 128MB Onboard Memory - Over 30 hours MP3 record time (Four hour near CD quality Windows Media Audio record time ID3 Tag and Backlit Display Internal microphone and speaker (MP3 Voice Recording) Multi-Speed Playback VAD (Voice Activity Detection) Recording Line-In MP3 Recording (from analog audio source) SmartMedia Card Memory Expansion Slot USB 1.1 Connectivity Package Includes: Earbud Headphones, Direct Record (Line-In) Cable, USB Cable, CD Software, User Manual, Arm Band / Belt Case OS Compatibility: Windows 98, ME, 2000 (USB port required)

Description from Manufacturer:The RipFlash PLUS is a first-of-its-kind Flash-memory-based combination MP3 player, MP3 recorder, and voice recording device that actually turns analog audio into high-quality MP3 data--without the need for a desktop PC. This means it's possible to record directly from any audio device, such as a portable CD player, record player, tape player, or even radio, into the RipFlash's 128 MB internal storage. It has a Smart Media Card slot for additional memory, and you can also upload and download MP3s traditionally, using a desktop PC and USB cable.

Quick voice messages are a snap using the recorder's internal microphone. A high-quality stereo microphone (not included) will suffice for recording anything from live music to training seminars. The recordings can be played back through the onboard internal speaker, through the included earbud headphones, or through any home or car audio system using the appropriate cables.

The efficient WMA format provides over 30 hours of voice quality or up to four hours of near-CD-quality music. RipFlash can detect the "gap" between the tracks of a CD when recording, so each song on the CD is saved as an easily identifiable individual MP3 file. The unit is supplied with earbuds, a direct recording (line-in) interconnect, a USB cable, CD software, and an arm band/belt case.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Love It! Rating:
This little MP3 player is about the size of a business card and about 1/2" thick. It is my first MP3 player. I bought it to voice-record books I'm studying...making my own "Books on MP3" as it were. The software was no problem to load, and the file manager software is simple and effective using the USB to download, upload and delete files from the player effortlessly. I also bought the Coby MP3 to Cassette car adapter and this works well to play my MP3 books while driving. Compared to the cassette tapes I have made of my books, the quality of the built-in microphone and digital recording is crisp and clean. I expecially like the several "repeat" functions as well as the A-B repeat function to replay certain book sections or chapters again and again until it finally sinks in! :)
The manual is a bit amusing due to the poor English, but it's not difficult to "translate" or understand and so far as covered all my questions and use of the player.
The dual ear phones are a bit uncomfortable in my L ear, but transparently comfortable in the R ear. However, I have gotten used to them and can listen in a quiet room to my book chapters with the volume turned all the way down to 1.
It works perfectly for what I bought it for. I'm thrilled with the MP3 technology to manage voice files, a qauntum improvement over cassette tapes!!

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Comment: A Very Functional MP3 Recorder / Player Rating:
The RipFlash PLUS does just what it promises.

PROS: It records voice very clearly and easily. Playback is very clear. You can use headphones or any stereo or speakers through the included line-in jack. You can even play it in your car using a cassette adapter (sold separately). The built-in speaker is functional but on the level of a cheap AM transistor radio. It has a bookmark function that remembers where you stopped a file (great for old time radio listening). The fast-forward and rewind feature moves very quickly through a file (perhaps too quickly if you aren't paying attention). The back-lit screen reads very well. You can add a smart media card to double your storage capability. Recording can be done at many different bit rates, depending upon the quality and size you need (I find 32 kbps more than adequate for voice recordings). You can even play back at slower speeds or faster speeds. So if I record a one hour radio talk show, I can play it back on fast speed and skip through commercials -- this saves me 30 minutes! You can easily record directly from a CD player, computer or radio using the line-in recording function. The unit is very compact and the two AAA batteries last a long time. The carrying case and belt / armband attachments are useful, as well.

CONS: The instruction manual is pathetic, clearly written by someone for whom english is a second (or third?) language. The built-in microphone was only designed for the typical vocal range (according to a pogo employee). Thus, it won't clearly record concerts, choirs or loud piano-playing. You need a very special amplified microphone to make high quality recordings (these are expensive). The earbud headphones fall out of my ears and are designed stupidly where one wire is longer than the other and is supposed to wrap around the back of your neck. The controls are a bit complicated for advanced functions, but adequate for normal use.

UPDATE: I have been using the device for many months now. Although I am still pleased with it, it is glitch-prone. It sometimes pauses during playback or fails to erase a track I try to delete. If you have a flashcard installed and try to record to the internal memory, it marks your spot at the end of the external memory which makes it hard to immediately review something you just recorded. Also, you can't review a track from the end of the track (you must forward from the beginning), which also makes it hard to find information within a track. Finally, Pogo customer service is very helpful -- I've contacted them a lot!

ALL IN ALL: this is a very good piece of technology. I carry it with me wherever I go -- especially when recording musical parts for my choir rehearsals and listening to music or old time radio.

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Comment: Great sounding, stable, AAA battery-driven gem. Rating:
I loved my player/recorder. It sounded great, recorded well, and had good expandable memory with the SM slot. It even looked slick. A friend bought one, seeing mine.
Only downsides: First, no recording level, so you have to experiment with the external source for line-in and use the built-in (very capable) mic for voice. (and you can adjust the recording quality setting beforehand. Second, the order of the songs are unchangeable, playing in the order that they were downloaded using the software designed to use with the player. Third, relating to the second, it cannot be used for an external flashdrive as it does not have a drag-and-drop feature.
Those faults were minor for the price and quality I experienced while I had mine. Alas, after many months of happy use, mine was stolen. I've tried two other players from other companies since (one a flash-drive, one a hard-drive, both with the external drive feature and fm radio, but both exhibiting poor quality). I should have just bought this one again.
So, consider buying the Ripflash Plus for its AAA battery freedom and $100 price (IPODs are a problem for both these reasons). Once you buy it, enjoy its rich feature set and good sound. And now Pogo! has added a a theft protection service. That doesn't mean you'd get it back if it got stolen, but nice thought anyway, Pogo!

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)