With all the various Voice Recorders in the market offering so many complicated features, how do you decide which is the right Voice Recorder for your needs?
Here are 10 simple steps to help you choose one that is right for you –
1. Firstly, choose an easy to use Voice Recorder with a sturdy solid build especially if you plan to use it on a daily basis. You want to make sure that it is not a technical challenge to just pick up and use this gadget on an everyday basis.
2. Lookout for units that offers more than 10 hours on a single charge especially if you plan on recording longer program material like conferences and elaborate presentations. Look for one that can accommodate standard AA batteries for compatibility.
3. If you are going to be doing a lot of recordings, look for a one that offers expandable memory by way of add on SD cards. This way you won’t be limited by the amount of recording space the recorder ships with. Choose a recorder that can accommodate 16 to 32 GB of add on memory for plenty of recording time.
4. If you plan on recording Music Material like concerts or band rehearsals as well, choose one with good quality Stereo Mics that can handle uncompressed PCM audio as .wav files. However, if you are planning on using this only for personal note taking, you can skimp on High Quality Stereo Mics and choose one with a basic Mono Microphone that offers lower quality mp3 audio instead. (lower quality MP3 recordings can be small enough to be emailed depending on their length. If you plan to use an external Mic, make sure your Mic and connectors are compatible with the device you choose
5. For those that are going to be recording longer presentations with multiple presenters, look for a unit with a Voice Activated Recording feature. This feature enables the recorder to start and stop recording automatically when someone speaks. This means you don’t have to keep pressing record every time a new presenter starts speaking. You save on Memory and your Recordings will be sound clean, free of unnecessary gaps and pauses.
6. Journalists and Podcasters who conduct a lot of interviews should choose a Recorder with a Pre Delay buffer feature. This feature ensures that you don’t miss out on the first few seconds of a recording even if you happened to press the record button a little late
7. Look for one that provides variable speed playback if someone else will be transcribing your notes later. This will allow others to speed up or slow down the playback speed of the recordings to aid in more effective transcription.
8. If you would like your Voice Recorder to double up as your personal mp3/music player, look for a lightweight/lower profile Voice Recorder that can snugly fit in your pocket.
9. Lawyers, Healthcare professionals and Business people looking to record notes for transcription by an assistant later, should consider a Dictation Recorder as opposed to a Voice recorder. Dictation Recorders come with a specific feature set that has been designed for professionals who rely on dictation/transcription in order to conduct their every day business.
10. Lastly, don’t be cheap and go for the cheapest Recorder available. If you are going to be regularly using this device for the next few years, put in the additional amount to find a High Quality Voice Recorder with features/specifications that can last and keep up with your developing needs.