How to record radio and ICS?

[Decredenza]

I am trying to figure out how to record the radio and intercom chatter during flight - not for safety, just entertainment.

Back in the day I used a cassette tape recorder with a voice activation feature (to eliminate all the dead space). That device is long gone.

I have tried using an Olympus digital voice recorder fed by a 3.5 mm mono plug fed from the drop cord but even though it does record, I simply get unreadable garble. I believe it is overpowering the little brain of the DVR.

Any suggestions?

[John R81]

I am trying to figure out how to record the radio and intercom chatter during flight - not for safety, just entertainment.

Back in the day I used a cassette tape recorder with a voice activation feature (to eliminate all the dead space). That device is long gone.

I have tried using an Olympus digital voice recorder fed by a 3.5 mm mono plug fed from the drop cord but even though it does record, I simply get unreadable garble. I believe it is overpowering the little brain of the DVR.

Any suggestions?

Get a lavalier mic (like this one (http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/mp33750/microphone-lavalier-beige/dp/MP33750?mckv=sEH3Xva6N_dc|pcrid|72935592137|kword||match||pl id||pid|MP33750|&CMP=KNC-GUK-CPC-GEN-SHOPPING-PRO_SIGNAL-Audio_Visual-MP33750) )

Place the mic inside the ear-cup of the headphone and it will record everything that you hear. Simples!

[MikeNYC]

Decredenza, you're probably feeding a Line-Level source (ICS) into a Mic-Level port (recorder). It's overpowering the input circuit, so you get garble. What you need is a -40dB pad to bring the level down, or run it through a mixer or other attenuator. Then, you'll get clean audio via the cord.

John R81's solution is totally viable and people have been doing it this way for decades. Nothing wrong with that.

If you do want to stay the Corded route, a U/174 to 3.5mm with an attenuator will do it. Also, check your recorder to see if there's a Mic/Line Level switch. Many have one, and it will help greatly to change it to Line Level.

I feed ICS right into my helmet-mounted GoPro, and it sounds great. It goes in via the Mic Adapter, which can be set for Line-Level and works perfectly via a U/174 to 3.5mm.

[Flying Bull]

All you need is the earphone with mic with your mobile.
Just put the mic underneath your headphones and use a voicerecorder app
Sounds like
http://www.polizeifliegerstaffel.de/userfiles/downloads/Traffic.mp3
Or
http://www.polizeifliegerstaffel.de/userfiles/downloads/Batdischargelaut.mp3

[Bell_ringer]

Try this:
http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/9312