I mean c'mon: mild-mannered iPod steps into its ProTrack exoskeleton to become supercharged hybrid machine. How come this thing doesn't have Robert Downey Jr's scruffy scowl emblazoned upon it? I guess Alesis wants those who use field recording to take it seriously, or something.

There are some features not to scoff at, I suppose. For starters, the ProTrack has two electret condensers built in, instantly turning your iPod into a field-ready stereo recorder (and lending it the nearly exact silhouette of the Zoom H4). It also adds two combo XLR-1/4" jacks for mic and line input. You could hook a pretty sweet stereo mic to this thing, as it even supplies full 48v phantom power (though only when plugged into AC power).

The ProTrack also runs on it's own power, supplied by four AAA batteries (apparently, Alesis hasn't gotten over the great iPod battery debacle of aught-four, and neither have I). According to Alesis, it'll provide up to five hours of operating time.

A threaded tripod mount and a built-in, switchable limiter round out the specs on the ProTrack. Oh, did we mention it also charges your iPod? Hell yeah.

Available Christmahanukwanzika 2008.