Top Digital Voice Recorders

Livescribe Echo 8GB Smartpen

201 Reviews

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	Price: $149.00
	Price: $150.98
Microsoft Store	Price: $199.99
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Pros: Functional, Huge memory, Easy to use, Free subscription to Evernote Premium upon registration
Cons: Pricey, Requires Livescribe paper

Jotting down notes in the middle of a meeting or a lecture can be tiresome and at times, confusing. Even with the continuous rise of smartphones, netbooks and tablets, it would still be nice to have a more compact, dedicated device that makes taking notes a not-so-painful task. With the release of the Livescribe Echo Smartpen, you'll never miss a single thing. It allows you to record audio and save notes then listen to it afterwards through the use of your computer or mobile device. However, there are a few drawbacks. It is definitely not cheap and it can be considered more costly than other pens due to the fact that it uses Livescribe's own paper and not the normal ones. Also, only mobile devices with Flash–enabled web browser and Pencast Player App can access the content of the pen. Upon product registration, you can enjoy the perks of having a free one year subscription to Evernote Premium. It makes organizing a cinch to do and it offers more online storage. The package also includes two ink catridges, a starter dot paper notebook, two smartpen caps, 500 MB of personal online storage and a micro USB cable which permits easy data transfer as well as hassle-free charging. The Livescribe Echo Smartpen is widely compatible with major operating systems including Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 and Intel-based Mac with OS X 10.5.5 or later. Aside from an internet connection and an available USB 2.0 port, it also requires 300 MB of free disk space and a 600 MHz CPU or higher. Simply put, if you're looking for a handy yet reliable device, you need not to look further because this one does the trick. You can even save your recordings and notes on your computer through Livescribe Desktop or share them with your friends, family, fellow classmates and colleagues via Livescribe Connect.

Sony ICD-PX312 Digital Flash Voice Recorder

67 Reviews

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	Price: $49.95
	Price: $47.99
	Price: $49.99
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Pros: Handy size, Sensitive unidirectional mono microphone, 2GB onboard memory with expansion slot, Records in MP3, Battery-operated
Cons: LCD screen has no backlight, No alternative power options

Whether you are attending a lecture or conducting an interview, the Sony ICD-PX312 makes sure that you never miss important details. This handy audio recorder has space for almost a whole day's worth of audio recordings at highest settings or more than 500 hours for lowest with 2GB of onboard flash memory allocation - and the great thing is, with the addition of an optional M2 or a MicroSD card, the expansion slot on the PX312 allows you to have much more storage space than that. It records in MP3 format so there's no need for lengthy file conversions. It even mounts as a removable drive on your computer once plugged in via USB, making the process of retrieving files an easy and intuitive affair, so much that it can work without having to install the software bundled with the unit. At the front of the recorder are the main controls: A record/pause and a play/stop button, mode selection and rewind and fast-forward. Underneath them is the built-in speaker so you can review your recordings on the fly, while the top half has an LCD screen. The screen has no backlighting though, which makes viewing it in low-light environments pretty much impossible. There is a mini-jack stereo headphone output, a mic input if you want to use a second microphone and a mini-B type USB port. The power switch has an additional hold feature that locks down button input to prevent accidental presses and the microphone on the unit is unidirectional, but is sensitive enough to pick up even sound from a distance. This model runs off two AAA batteries that come supplied with the package and is remarkably low on power consumption. It has no other power options though, so costs for batteries need to be factored into the purchase. With regards to software, the Sony ICD-PX312 has intelligent audio-related features like its Noise Cut Technology that cuts down on ambient noise pickup and focuses on the material actually being recorded, as well as individual modes that automatically produce the best audio depending on the situation in which you are recording, similar to scene modes found in digital cameras. It also has nice additional details that complete its functionality; For example, it prompts for confirmation before deleting files and it has a customizable alarm.

Sony Notetakers ICD-BX112 Digital Voice Recorder (2 GB Flash Memory - LCD - Portable)

30 Reviews

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	Price: $29.95
	Price: $29.95
	Price: $39.99
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Pros: Compact audio recorder, Excellent sound capture ability, Impressive file management features, Uses AAA batteries
Cons: No connection interface

Compact audio capture devices like the Sony ICD-BX112 digital recorder are slowly winning the favor of people like writers, journalists, podcasters and the like who need a means to keep track of thoughts and ideas that occur to them. Its pocket-friendly size being smaller than an ordinary mobile phone, the bantam BX112 packs a solid set of features for everyday recording. The high-sensitivity microphone that this recorder has is capable of picking up sounds clearly even if the source is some distance away, all the while eliminating interference like ambient noise. If needed be, a separate external microphone can be attached via a jack on top of the recorder. The BX-112 has a small speaker output on the front in addition to a headphone output jack for an optional listening device. The LCD screen on the Sony ICD-BX112 is large and backlighted, which makes it easy to read even in low-light conditions, such as those found in lecture halls. The screen allows users to quickly browse through the contents of the recorder's built-in 2 gigabyte memory. Audio clips saved by the Sony ICD-BX112 are saved in MP3 format with bitrates of between 8 to 320 Kbps. Being digital, the files have greater flexibility than clips recorded with an analog tape recorder. For example, the BX-112's Add recording feature splices additional clips at the end of a recording by pressing the Record button during playback. The Dictation Correction on the other hand allows on-the-fly overdubbing of additional clips onto the existing clip. The Sony ICD-BX112 digital recorder is a convenient, not to mention affordable, way to organize ideas for future reference. That being said, the lack of any way to transfer recordings from this device to another has definitely reduced the usability of the product. A simple USB connection would be enough to do the job. Using AAA batteries as a power source may give a little convenience, but if you need files to be transferred between the recorder and your computer, it may be better to look at other models.

Sony ICD-SX712 Digital Voice Recorder (2 GB Flash Memory - LCD - Portable)

20 Reviews

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	Price: $118.39
	Price: $149.95
	Price: $117.13
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Pros: Handheld recorder with expandable 2Gb capacity, Adjustable stereo microphones, Digital audio enhancement, Uses AAA batteries
Cons: Flimsy stand, No wrist strap

Equipped with twin microphones that can both be adjusted to directly ahead or at 120 degrees on its top part, the Sony ICD-SX712 Digital Flash Voice Recorder comes off as a solid choice for an audio recorder. The slim, compact SX712 fits nicely within your hand for quick recording sessions, or you can use the included plastic clip-on stand for longer ones. Since the stand has a threaded tripod mount, you can use third party camera tripods to position the SX712 better. The SX712 recorder comes with a 2GB onboard memory allotment, which is enough even for audio files recorded at the unit's highest quality settings of LPCM 44.1Khz or 320Kbps MP3. If more space is needed, simply add a Memory Stick Micro, MicroSD or MicroSDHC card of up to 16 Gigabytes capacity to increase the capacity from 500 hours to over 4000. The mic units on the SX712 are armed with Sony's new S-Microphone System technology that not only increases the sensitivity and clarity of pickups, but adds distance and three-dimensional spatial imaging while removing background noise and hiss. The fully digital recording system on this recorder guarantees high quality audio and allows for quick transfers between the recorder and your computer. What's more, special software comes bundled with the SX712 that increases the overall functionality of the unit. The entire front of the Sony SX712 recorder has the controls and an orange LCD display. It has different scene modes that automatically configure the recorder's sound quality settings for the best possible file output. On the reverse side, you have the ports for microphones and earphones, as well as the mini speaker and MicroUSB port, while on the right side, you have a slider for on/off/hold settings, volume toggle and erase button, which seems to be placed a little too close for comfort. It may be better to keep the slider on the hold setting to prevent accidental erasures. Sony's ICD-SX712 recorder uses AAA batteries for power. It comes with its own, but you can use rechargeable cells for more savings since battery life on this unit is quite good. A nice thing about using rechargeables with the SX712 is that if you plug the recorder into the USB connection, it automatically starts charging, giving you a near-limitless supply of energy. What's more, you can even use AC-USB adapters to top up the stored power on this unit. The Sony ICD-SX712 Digital Flash Voice Recorder is a well-reviewed unit with positive user opinion going strongly for it. IF we had to make a call about any negative points that this unit may have, it would be the plastic stand, as it feels a bit flimsy. We would have also wanted the hole for attaching the recorder to a tripod be located on the model itself for more strength. Finally, it could do with a wrist strap. Other than that, the SX712 comes highly recommended for everyday recording purposes.