Need a good digital voice recorder

manna, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2003

Originally posted by marilynmom
Any suggestions, I need to get one this weekend. Also where at online can I look at reviews for these besides amazon.com (which is great but I want at least one other place to read reviews)??

I don't know anything about digital recorders - sorry. I do plan on getting one eventually.

Epinions.com used to be a good place for reviews, but I haven't visited it lately so I don't know if it's still going as strong.

FarmgrrlRN · Aug 28, 2003

I just bought an IRiver digital recorder from Best Buy about two weeks ago. I caught it on sale for $188, usually 199.99 for 256MB. It records about 7 1/2 hours and more if you want it to (I just have mine set that way). The quality (megahertz/gigabytes per second) is adjustable, so if your lecture is in a smaller room with less ppl you'll get even more recording time than I do (we're in a small auditorium w/ 100 students, sometimes the microphone works, sometimes not). Never the less, I have been able to hear everything our professors say! Its downloadable to your PC (I believe in MP3 format) and its also an MP3 player w/ an FM tuner...good for tuning out household noises while trying to study! You can also record from the FM radio!

I forgot to mention that they do make them with less memory, I did see a 128 MB for about $160 (i think). I don't know what your longest day is like but that might fit a little better in your budget.

Overall, its a pretty cool little gadget!!! (the best part...no more tapes!)

RNMBA · Aug 29, 2003

I also have an iRiver mp3 device. I bought the 500mb version that has direct mp3 coding as well as line-in recording. I haven't used it in a classroom yet but the trial runs have been encouraging. It can record about 8 hours without downloading and the files are converted to mp3 when you download them. An inexpensive software program like MP3 Diamond will let you break the lectures into tracks so you can move around the lecture without having to listen to the whole thing or fast forward. I caught it on sale for around $300. The smaller memory versions can do most of the same things as this one with shorter recording times.

natsfanrn · Aug 29, 2003

Ok...really stupid question from a technologically challenged old fogie -- if I get a digital recorder and download onto my computer, can I then burn the lecture onto a CD via my read/write CD drive? Are there only certain digital recorders that let you download onto computer? I don't want to sit in front of my computer and listen to lectures, but if I can burn them onto a CD and listen to it in my car or something, that might be a different story...

meandragonbrett · Aug 29, 2003

I need one too! My instructor told us to get one! She talks VERY fast!(A&P) I've been looking at ones from Sony. So far I like what I see ! They have one for 99$ that will connect to your PC and it records 280 minutes and then another one that is 79 that does not connect to the PC but it records for 300 minutes. I'm only recording my A&P class.....but do you all think I need as much time as I can afford for the future?

Brett

kahumai, RN · Aug 29, 2003

K-Mart: GE Micro Cassette Recorder $29.99 (comes with two batteries, microphone, and two tapes)

2 packages of extra tapes (two tapes 1hr. ea) $3.99

Duracel batteries $4.99

with tax: $45.75 (for the student on a budget with no financial aid money left!) :bluecry1:

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Aug 29, 2003

Originally posted by meandragonbrett
I need one too! My instructor told us to get one! She talks VERY fast!(A&P) I've been looking at ones from Sony. So far I like what I see ! They have one for 99$ that will connect to your PC and it records 280 minutes and then another one that is 79 that does not connect to the PC but it records for 300 minutes. I'm only recording my A&P class.....but do you all think I need as much time as I can afford for the future?

Brett

Brett that was what I was kinda thinking as well. I am taking 4 classes this semester but the only one I really need it for it Physiology and maybe Micro. But I dont want to get a cheap one or one that doesnt record enough mins that it wont last me through nursing school (which I will be starting next year).

I am the type who REALLy likes to record my lectures so I will willing to pay some money for a good one.

But I just dont know which one is good! LOL

Marilyn

kats · Aug 29, 2003

kardut, I spoke to a guy at Radio Shack about downloading to a computer to put on cd. I am going to get one as soon as my school's financial aid dept. gets us our loan checks. Anyways, make sure to get one that has a USB port somewhere on it.

meandragonbrett · Aug 30, 2003

Originally posted by marilynmom
Brett that was what I was kinda thinking as well. I am taking 4 classes this semester but the only one I really need it for it Physiology and maybe Micro. But I dont want to get a cheap one or one that doesnt record enough mins that it wont last me through nursing school (which I will be starting next year).

I am the type who REALLy likes to record my lectures so I will willing to pay some money for a good one.

But I just dont know which one is good! LOL

Marilyn

Marilyn,

I bought one last night. I bought the Olympus DM-10. It will record 22 hours in LP and 11 hours in SP. It also will connect to your computer (Mac & PC). I will let you know as soon as I get it. I hope it's worth it! I paid 199$ for it. AHHHHH We'll see!

Brett

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Aug 30, 2003

Brett- ya for sure let me know what you think of it. I think I will go look at Radio Shack tomorrow as well then. I went to Best Buy today but they only carried a few and the only one they had that you could downloan onto your computer had 90 mins on it (way to little).

But let me know what you think of it. Is it a problem to take these back do you know if we use them and are not happy with them??

Marilyn

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Aug 30, 2003

OK I just got back from buying a Olympus DS-330 digital. It records for 5.5 hours so that should be enough.

I haven't tried it but he said I have a 30 return period so if I dont like the sound quality of it or whatever I can take it back. It was $150 so I didn't think that way to bad.

Marilyn