PAGE 10 OF 13 The Mac Guild – December 2003
In Use
The iVoice II comes in an egg-like shape with curved foot that props it upright. The design is quite
functional, as all the ports and knobs are easily accessible, and if you are using the built-in microphone,
the positioning is just right for capturing audio in. Not only that, but it looks cool sitting on your desktop.
Although an egg-shape device may seem prone to tipping over, I found that the foot on the iVoice II did
an excellent job of preventing such a fall (even when I purposely was poking at it trying to tip it over).
The casing is made of a durable white plastic with a very sturdy feel.
There's one button on the top of the device for switching from Mic In (non-powered input) to Line In
(powered input). On the left side are the Mic In and Line Out ports, appropriately together in case you
use a computer headset that has duel jacks. On the right side is the Line In port as well as a volume
control knob for the Line Out signal.
You can use this device in a variety of ways, from recording sounds on the built-in Mic, recording sounds
on an external non-powered Mic, and recording sound from a powered device (such as a CD player, MP3
player, etc.). Utilizing the Mic In and Line Out ports together, you can also use it for video conferencing
using a computer headset, or headphones with an external Mic.
I was amazed at how simple it was to use this unit. Under OS 9, I hooked it up, switched the input to
External Mic, and immediately went to the Alerts tab of the Sound control panel and clicked on New
Sound. I spoke into the iVoice II, and the sound instantly was recorded as a new alert sound. The quality
of the recording was pretty good for a built-in Mic. Of course, the quality varies with the type of
microphone you use, the level of input, and the background noise. Using a desktop microphone
connected to the Mic In port, I was able to capture a much higher quality sound.
Besides using the record function on the OS 9 Sound control panal, you can also capture audio using any
recording software, such as SoundEdit or Sound Studio. You can also use it with video conferencing
software to speak and listen through the iVoice II audio in and out ports. What was a very pleasant
surprise is that the iVoice II also supports the Apple microphones (you know, those Mics that used to
come with every Mac). Just when I thought it was time to toss out the old microphones, the iVoice II has
given them a reprieve.
The iVoice II is well integrated with the Mac OS, both OS 9 and OS X, and I am hard-pressed to find any
fault with the hardware. If I could suggest anything, I would ask for a longer cable, one that would make
the distance between a desktop microphone connected to a tower Mac that may be sitting underneath
the desk. Of course, since the iVoice II can also be hooked into a USB hub, using a desktop hub
circumvents that particular drawback.
Summary
The magic of the iVoice II is in its simplicity. This is a USB add-on device that puts Audio In and Out
ports on your desktop, complete with volume control and a toggle for powered or non-powered input. The
design is both pleasing and functional. For any Mac user with Audio needs, this is a welcome addition to
your Mac system; and for those G4 users that do not have an Audio In port at all, the iVoice II is a must
have.
Pros
• Brings back the Audio In port for G4 Macs that don't have them
• Supports Mic input, externally amped device input, and Audio out
• Built-in Mic, or supports 3rd party Mics (including the Apple Mic)
• Cool and functional design, including volume control on output
• Inexpensive
Cons
• A longer cable would be helpful for hooking up to a tower Mac
Overall Rating
5 out of 5 Mice
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