IKM Free iRig Recorder App

So when I got the email about the free Android app, I thought maybe I should have a look. I've been giving Obi a lot of trash talk about them hawking their iCrap here, and feeling kind of bad about that because Obi's a good guy. And maybe, just maybe, I might be able to add a microphone and end up with a useful pocket recorder for picking up found sounds.

First step was to go to the Play Store (that's the Android equivalent to the iStore for you iSoldiers) and check the user ratings. Curiously, an equal number of users gave it 1- and 5-star ratings, with few votes in between. There seems to be wildly varying opinions as to whether it's great or crap. 

Next, I went to the "Accept & Download" page, where it tells you just what you're agreeing to. That was an eyebrow-raiser:

When you download the app, you give it permission to 
1. find out what other apps you have installed
2. use GPS to find out where you are, and 
3. silently send this information to IK without further permission, at your expense

My first reaction was: WTF? Then I realized that these permissions were so that IKM could try to sell me stuff. OK, I guess, but really - is this the kind of free reign we're expected to give to applications nowadays?

I'm going to pass on this free offer for now, but I'd be curious to hear anyone's experiences with it.

Just installed it on my Galaxy 10.1 note. Quick & easy set up, registered it with my IK account & then directed me to the additional editing processor apps available for purchase.
Just tried a few simple recordings, works pretty well & have 10MB of recording space available.

I'm going to travel in Europe for a month so it might come in handy. I'll keep it installed for that, my only concern is how quickly it drains the battery.

bitflipper


So when I got the email about the free Android app, I thought maybe I should have a look. I've been giving Obi a lot of trash talk about them hawking their iCrap here, and feeling kind of bad about that because Obi's a good guy. And maybe, just maybe, I might be able to add a microphone and end up with a useful pocket recorder for picking up found sounds.

First step was to go to the Play Store (that's the Android equivalent to the iStore for you iSoldiers) and check the user ratings. Curiously, an equal number of users gave it 1- and 5-star ratings, with few votes in between. There seems to be wildly varying opinions as to whether it's great or crap. 

Next, I went to the "Accept & Download" page, where it tells you just what you're agreeing to. That was an eyebrow-raiser:

When you download the app, you give it permission to 
1. find out what other apps you have installed
2. use GPS to find out where you are, and 
3. silently send this information to IK without further permission, at your expense

My first reaction was: WTF? Then I realized that these permissions were so that IKM could try to sell me stuff. OK, I guess, but really - is this the kind of free reign we're expected to give to applications nowadays?

I'm going to pass on this free offer for now, but I'd be curious to hear anyone's experiences with it.

to be fair, virtually every app you get does that. hell, google search does it. your supermarket loyalty card does it. i plan on getting it and the iRig hardware at some point, seems cheap and will be great for some basic location recordings...

 I recently spent a very long time in a well known electronics store trying to decide which pad device I would buy. In the case of IK I guess it really wouldn't matter because they seem to be heading in the direction of both well known platforms.

 When it comes to privacy,yeah they probably know my underwear size and everything in between and I don't personally care( as long as the crooks don't get into my wallet), but I can certainly understand the concern about it. I didn't know that IK was doing this kind of information mining though. I knew Google and others were.

  My guess is that in this day and age when it comes to marketing the gloves come off. Any edge at all can be an advantage in a tough sell environment. 

  I ended up with an ipad . Just about every app I download asks me for permission to use "location services". Most of this is simply so if the app has something to sell or recommend it knows what is nearest to where I am so it can give me the closest choices(and probably get geographical info on buyers).If big brother wants to use it he certainly could. If he wants me he knows where I am.

  I don't think this thing will ever replace my studio but for some things it is simply amazing. I like the idea of bluetooth keyboard controllers with an iphone/ipad as the sound module. Even basic recording can be decent,maybe as a way to work with something on the go and put it into the mother ship later on.Using the screen as an input device....meh.


 Guess I didn't really answer your question Bit. The nice thing about apps is that you can download it and if it doesn't work for you it can be deleted in less than a minute.

Fog


bit you are right.. obi comes across as a good guy.... BUT and it's a biggy

he's towing the company line.. post on FB posts.. about them spamming the c*** out of people with i-apps.. I always comment, with stuff they don't wanna hear hopefully more that do it.. THE better .. then they will take the hint...  ask them about 64 bit apps.. and tell them to pull their finger out, instead of wasting time spamming 

it's a bit like trying to flog me a 2 stroke lawn mower... yet it's the same company that sells high end sports cars.. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED in entry level BS.

I am not gonna buy into apple stuff.. I bought the IK stuff on a totally different format... sooner they realise that THE BETTER.. I'm getting hacked off with their hawking of i-app BS..

same goes for other companies marketing departments.. they have a habit of making me NOT want to buy their products.. be warned



p.s. IK... your re-downloading of sound libs + transfer of license's policy + super discounting of products soon after buying makes me NOT want to buy your products.. and YES obi.. do pass that on

 
+10000
i couldn't have said it any better
 
but maybe we should also mention the cusom shop crap that's now also infected TRackS (which by itself is a great BTW), but having all that trouble to get it to work AFTER paying for the update just because that bloody useless custom shop keeps crashing when being offline and of course totally useless support from IK really did it for me ... no more money for updates at that end and definitely no iCrap, either
 

 

Played around with it a bit more today. Pressed record, starting jamming on acoustic & transferred it via ftp instantly.
I also received 50G of free space on DropBox with my 10.1 & uploading files to there is a snap too. 
I'll get some use out of this for sure, works just fine. No complaints for this free app. 
I can always remove it in a few seconds if needed.

http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.ashx?m=2813213

If anyone is going to turn the iPhone into an ap  ....... It will be IK.

That's a bit of a stretch, comparing iRig with "the advent of digital recording". (And I don't consider "turntableism" a big step forward in the evolution of music technology, either.) 

But I get your point, that tools are often re-purposed. Picture the first recordist who saw a leveling amplifier in a radio station and said "hey, I'll bet I could use that!" 

In the engineering world, it's such a common practice that it warrants its own word: "kludge". 

Obi - I hope you know it's nothing personal as I sincerely appreciate you being around. 

I'm guessing that IK hired you guys for a reason and that they do encourage you to make sure that they get as much visibility as possible. 

It is a strategy, but not one that works for me. In fact, the more I hear about something, the more likely I am to be annoyed and to NOT buy the product(s). Works w/ TV ads and w/ everything else. But it's a strategy that must be working.

But, yes, as far as I'm concerned, yes it gets heavy to see the IK logo pop up in my newsfeed for no particular reason. 

Maybe also because I already own all the computer products besides ARC. It's much harder to come up w/ something that could potentially interest me. No fix for my issues, no new products for me.

But OTOH, see, I like having news about things like the new British Chanel GUI. So I can't just block you guys from my Newsfeed. 

Are you saying they didn't play their part in helping create a whole new parket for better turntables, digital samplers and drum machines?

IK Obi


Are you saying they didn't play their part in helping create a whole new parket for better turntables, digital samplers and drum machines?

ANd I wish I could see statistics on what percentage of the OVERALL music scene those are a big part of.
Yea every parket has its ninche ,but I think a DAW BASED forum would not be the target for I Apps blitzs...
 
BTW "this" android based app doesnt work with my Android phone..

@Musicman100, I didn't create the thread, software is software no matter the OS. I've seen threads here about Ubuntu Studio as well. Some good points, music technology helps change and create new musical styles, techniques and breeds innovation to push the boundaries further.