Trying to find a decent, cheap digital notetaker/voice recorder

LSaberX on 01/03/2012 - 20:31

Hi guys, I don't know if you're meant to call them a digital notetaker or a voice recorder (can someone correct me please?) but I am basically looking to pick up one of those little rectangle pieces of electronics that can be used to record seminars/lectures etc.

Basically I'm thinking of heading down to the local investing expo coming up IN march, and I find the easiest way to remember hour long lectures and info sessions etc is to record it (similar to an uni lecture). Just wondering if voice recorders could therefore pick up somebody standing up front, or if they're designed to be used by yourself (or in other more conventional uses such as a journalist face to face with someone they're interviewing).

If they can pick up lectures and distant speaking, can someone recommend brands, and/or websites or places i can get some for as cheap as possible? I don't need any fancy features, but good quality recording and replayability/nifty functions would be great….

Found some on the dick smith site - but they seem to range up from $60+ which seemed quite pricey to me, or is that the standard? -

http://dicksmith.com.au/dsau/navigation/navigation_results.j…

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • llama on 01/03/2012 - 20:38

    The cheap ones are crap.

    Oympus and Sony are the leaders. If you want "long distance" recording (eg: from class seats) then you'll need to buy a decent one $200 at least.

    Notetakers are for personal speaking. The majority of them are like that.

    Found some on the dick smith site - but they seem to range up from $60+ which seemed quite pricey to me, or is that the standard? -

    $60 are the toys. A proper one will almost hit 10 times that.

  • c64 on 01/03/2012 - 22:45

    plug in mic into a mobile phone?

  • Steptoe on 01/03/2012 - 23:05

    Sit near a speaker in the PA system, and use your Android Phone.

  • SaberX on 02/03/2012 - 17:49

    SO the sony/olympus ones at $150-200 will get the recording from long distance? How about if rather than a class lecture its more of a study room teaching class? Will the sub $100s pick them up?

    I have an iphone,how does a plug in mic work to record into an iphone?

    • llama on 03/03/2012 - 09:43

      I'd say that they sub $100 units are about the same "recording power" as an iPhone.

      There needs to be a good mic AND good automatic volume control to make the unit pick up the lecturer, but not completely distort if you move piece of paper on your desk.

      I've been through all of this a few years ago. The only way of deciding is to go onto (say) eBay and search. Then write a list of all the model numbers, and then Google the number and "review". Just be a bit cynical of "consumer review" sites where people vote, those may be shonky, but they also give good "real world" info as well.

      Example: Olympus DS-4000

      EBAY http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olympus-DS-4000-/200719222311

      SOME REVIEWS http://www.productreview.com.au/p/olympus-ds-4000.html

      See - that is obviously a "note-taker" and has operational issues.

      Olympus DM-620

      EBAY http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olympus-DM-620-/320842613542

      A REVIEW http://tinyurl.com/7dygcc5

      That is better - 3 mics, so has preset scenes.

      The hassle is that the primary function of these devices is as "notetakers", (handheld), not to use a boom mic and record from the rear of a class. So when you do that with them, they fail… it takes serious electronics to capture a lecture over the background noise.

      Take some recordings with the iPhone, and use that as a baseline.

  • minijumbuk on 02/03/2012 - 20:13

    I have a brand new Sony Walkman that can record voice (8GB) Model is E464 that I want to part with for $100 if you are interested. You can also use it to play music..apparently the earphones and the device produces very nice bass..not sure how it performs as a voice recorder though I haven't tried it.

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