iPod: Recording voice memos

Supported iPod Models

The following iPod models can create voice memos if you use an optional accessory:

• iPod classic 160 GB (Late 2009)
• iPod classic (120 GB)
• iPod nano (4th generation)
• iPod nano (2nd generation)
• iPod (5th generation) running iPod Software 1.1.2 or later. Note: When recording voice memos on the iPod (5th generation), recordings longer than 2 hours will be spilt into 2 hour segments)
• iPod with color display running iPod Software 1.0 or later
• iPod photo running iPod Software 1.0 or later
• iPod (Click Wheel) running iPod Software 3.0 or later
• iPod (dock connector) running iPod Software 2.1 or later
  

If you're not sure what iPod model you have, see Identifying iPod models. It's always a good idea to make sure you have the most recent version of the iPod software.

Recording a voice memo

1. Connect a microphone or Apple iPod Earphone to your Voice Memo supported iPod. On the iPod (5th generation), connect the microphone to the dock connector.
2. The Voice Memos menu or screen appears.
3. On the iPod classic 160 GB (Late 2009), iPod classic (120 GB), and iPod (5th generation), you can choose the recording quality by choosing High Quality or Low Quality. Select “Low Quality” (22 kHz, mono) to save space, or “High Quality” (44.1 kHz, stereo) for a better sound.
4. To begin recording, select Record or Start Recording.
5. Hold the microphone a few inches from your mouth and speak. To pause recording, select Pause. Note: When recording voice memos on the iPod nano (4th generation), selecting the Center button while recording will create chapters.
6. When you finish, select the Menu button and then Stop and Save. Your saved recording is listed by date and time. Note: On your iPod nano (4th generation) you can also label your recording with one of several provided labels.

Playing a recording

Select Extras > Voice Memos and select the recording. Note: The Voice Memos menu item doesn’t appear until you connect a microphone.

Playing a recording on an iPod nano (4th generation), iPod classic 160 GB (Late 2009), or iPod classic (120 GB)

Select Voice Memos > Recordings and select the recording. Note: The Voice Memos menu item doesn’t appear until you connect a microphone.

Transferring a recording to a computer

Manually

Voice memos are saved in a Recordings folder on iPod in the WAV file format. If you enable iPod for disk use, you can drag voice memos from the folder to copy them.

Synchronize

If iPod is set to update songs automatically and you record voice memos, the voice memos are automatically downloaded to a playlist in iTunes when you connect iPod. Once downloaded, the voice memos are removed from the Voice Memos folder on your iPod. To play the voice memos that have been synchronized to your computer in iTunes, select the Voice Memos playlist on the left side of the iTunes window. To play the synchronized voice memos on the iPod, select the Voice Memos playlist in the Music menu, not the Voice Memos menu in the Extras menu.