voice recorder

fleur-de-lis, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2007

There are many options out there. The one I got has a USP port that plugs right into my computer and I can download my lectures to my iTunes, then either listen to them on the computer while I type the notes (which is what I usually did), or put them on my iPod and listen while I go walking, etc. I could also listen on the recorder itself with headphones. I have no idea what brand/model it was, but I got it at Best Buy here in Texas. I loved it!

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 22, 2007

Make a phone call to the school first to see what their policies state. I have never had a school refuse recorders and think they can be a good study aid.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Jun 22, 2007

I had one that plugs straight into the USB. It's an olympus and was around $99. Loved it! I liked to listen too on the computer as it's easier to pause or fast forward, etc than on the recorder. It held lots of lecture, took 1 aaa battery. Very easy to use.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2007

Ask for permission from your instructor before recording. I recorded several classes when I was working towards my degree. Some instructors were fine with it, one or two said they would prefer I did not. One was fine with us recording classes but said they had to be off when reviewing tests.

I liked recording classes because if I nodded off after working all day, I could get what I missed! :)

RNDude · Jun 22, 2007

I tried two models, the Panasonic RR-US380 and the Olympus VN-960PC. The Olympus gave me better audio results, by far, and is the one that I kept to record lectures throughout nursing school.

Both models have a USB interface that allow you to transfer the file to your computer, where you can then do useful things with it such as transferring it to another type of audio player. In my case, after transferring to my computer I converted the file into an MP3 (takes up much less space that way!) using Audacity CleanSpeech (free, OpenSource). Then I would transfer the files to my PDA phone and listen to them while working out or during my long commute to school, with the phone connected to my car stereo. Yes, it would be playable on an iPod or other music player.

The Panasonic had the appealing feature of including voice recognition software to transcribe your speech into text after transferring the audio to your computer. Unfortunately, in addition to recording audio inferior to the Olympus, the voice recognition software with the Panasonic doesn't do a good enough job to make it useful. Here's an excerpt from a dictated case history, with names asterisked out (even though the names weren't even correct!):

The most consultation far enough a consultation for self amounts the how am I LL, D. as in *** *** said ads evidence fanciers and client and analysis are still at *** ballots and an apple I've said today and *** think about the field-efficient mean this is the fifth year old man & clinic with the blame some audio, named *** *** what pressure blood pressure 17 era

Interestingly, the software seems to know somehow if the file was recorded on the Panasonic. I was not able to get it to take a stab at processing a recording from the Olympus.

firstaiddave907 · Jun 22, 2007

I have a Olympus digital voice recorder and it has separate files in it so you can record different lectures in it but the only downside i have is that i have trouble deleting the old files off of there that i had from a past semester. but i love using my tape recorder especially if the teacher is a fast talker and you can't write the notes down as fast.

RNDude · Jun 22, 2007

I have a Olympus digital voice recorder...i have trouble deleting the old files... but i love using my tape recorder...

Uh, sorry for the confusion, but, are you saying you love using a tape recorder instead of the Olympus, or are you calling the Olympus itself a "tape recorder?" (It's not, there's not tape--that's the point of a digital recorder...)

As far as deleting files on the Olympus, it's very easy. I don't have it with me right now, but I think you just hit the delete button and then the enter key to delete the current file. In case you lost your user's manual, you can download it from Olympus here.

mediatix8 · Jun 23, 2007

I used some dinky tape recorder. I cannot tell you how much easier patho/phys was after I used it. I had a really cheap one and it was somewhat hard to understand what was played back. I had to rewind it a few times sometimes. But it was well worth it. That patho phys class was much more tolerable after using the tape recorder.

kjmathews · Jun 23, 2007

I have the olympus and LOVE IT!!!! I recorded A&P 1 and 2 and Micro. I would not have gotten the grades I got with out it.

I would record the classmwhile taking notes and when I got home I would re-write my notes while listening to the recorder adding anything that I missed during class. Another point of re-writing my notes was they were neater and easier to study. (Try using different colored gel pens when re-writing your notes. for example I would put the definition to a word in one coler while the word itself would be another) I start the program in September and I can't wait.

Good Luck.

momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN · Jun 24, 2007

First of all you have to get a digital recorder. Tapes are a big pain and can become confusing. I use mine for every lecture and just download the files onto my computer so I have space for the next day. This way they are saved and I can access them when and if I need to. The USB port makes the recorders pricer but I think it is way worth it. My grades have really improved from Cs to Bs and As since I started using mine. Here is the one I have: Sony ICD-SX57DR9 Digital Voice Recorder. Good luck to you :)

rngolfer53 · Dec 17, 2008

i am starting my pre-nursing courses in the fall and i want to get a voice recorder to tape lectures if colleges still allow that? If the allow it what type of voice recorder would be best to get? I am doing the BSN program and would like something that would make it through all 4 yrs.

Even if the college has no policy, or one that allows recording, make sure you ask each instructor you intend to record for their OK. They will appreciate it, and/or may get angry if you don't. None of us particularly want our workday recorded, cause we can sometimes sound pretty silly.

I had the same idea, and got a voice-activated digital recorder, which I used for about a week. I found I didn't really have time to listen to the lectures again, and it was difficult to find specific things on an hour's worth of class recording.