When you’ve used traditional voice recording equipment and transcription for years, making the switch to digital can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are experts—like the experienced staff at Efficiency, Inc.—who have plenty of experience differentiating between the different features that traditional and digital recording equipment provide. Whether you work in a medical setting or need help with municipal courtroom recording in Seattle, WA, we can help.
All Equipment Is Not Equal
There are three main categories of digital voice recording equipment: dictation recorders, voice recorders and conference recorders. Dictation equipment is meant to be used with recording devices held close to the head (like a headphone/microphone combination). It’s ideal for “hands-free” environments, like doctors and other professionals who can’t necessarily spend time taking handwritten notes. Many offer multiple channels, so you won’t have important parties talking over each other, which can cause you to lose important information.
Voice recorders are typically the least expensive kind of recording equipment. Before you purchase an average audio/voice recorder, you should make sure there’s a way to connect it to your computer and easily transfer the files. The downside to voice recorders is that, oftentimes, they are battery powered only. Professional voice recording equipment will generally have an AC adapter so that you never run out of juice when you need it most.
Conference recorders often have a high-quality microphone installed—which is a good thing—and have options for high- or low-quality recording. High-quality recordings will pick up more sound, but you’ll be limited by memory space. Lower-quality recordings, of course, will use less space but may pick up less of the important audio. Some equipment will allow you to compensate for this by allowing memory card storage.
Consider the Controls
Ease of use is an important part of any digital recording system, so make sure you can understand how to use your new digital voice recording equipment. That’s where we come in. Efficiency, Inc. is happy to not only help you decide which equipment is best for your business or personal needs, but we also offer on-site training so that you’re never left wondering what’s going on during a crucial moment.
Transcription Equipment Is Different
The last thing you need to understand is that digital voice recording is different than transcription equipment. With transcription equipment, presumably, you’d like to have a written record in addition to a digital audio record. Some digital recording equipment can even allow your digital files to be automatically uploaded and sent to a legal secretary or professional transcriptionist, streamlining the process. There is also software that helps support a transcriptionist’s duties—but even with the advances in technology these days, you should be aware that there’s no substitute for a real live human who can listen to your recording and accurately put it down on paper.
Need cost-effective audio processing equipment and maintenance? Efficiency, Inc. is a woman owned and operated business. We have provided cost-effective solutions and committed customer service for any of your voice recording needs since 1954. Contact us today to learn more about the latest technologies in professional audio in Seattle, WA and how we pair them with our unparalleled client support.