If you have a smartphone, you’re already walking around with a digital voice recorder in your pocket. However, while it’s great for everyday use on the fly, it’s not necessarily suitable for professional recording or when you need more options than “on” and “off.” Today’s digital voice recorders are smaller and offer a larger range of features than their predecessors, making them more portable and valuable than ever.
Whether you want a digital voice recorder to preserve your family stories or need it for professional note-taking, the following is an overview of what a digital voice recorder is and how they work in Tacoma, WA:
- What they do: This type of recorder takes audio input and creates a digital sound file, which can be transferred between electronic devices and played back. The user can connect to a computer to transfer the file from the recorder to their computer or storage device. They can be burned to CDs or moved to thumb drives and any other type of digital storage you prefer to use. The files can also be edited or enhanced using digital recording software.
- How they work: Most digital recorders use flash memory within the device itself. Some also offer additional removable memory so that you can record for hours at a time without running out of space.
- What they’re used for: Digital voice recorders are used by a number of different industry professionals and hobbyists, from journalists and musicians to doctors and lawyers. They can be used to record music on the fly or capture spoken word, whether interviews, speeches or patient notes. Their size and flexibility make them an excellent investment for many professionals.
- Price range: Most compact digital recorders used professionally range from $100 to $1,000, although higher end models can go up as high as $10,000. Depending on what you need from your digital recorder, you should be able to find a model that suits your needs for much, much less than $10,000.
Audio quality and file format
Most recorders distinguish between spoken word and music formats—the devices geared toward music are often designed to block out outside noise in the environment (ambient noise), whereas spoken word recorders are more sensitive and will pick up on a variety of different sounds. When evaluating a recorder, note that the higher the file’s bit rate, the higher the quality. However, the higher the quality, the bigger the file. If you’re not recording music, opt for something middle-of-the-road that will offer a smaller file size and decent quality, so you get more battery life and storage space.
Other features
There are a multitude of additional features available, which include external jacks for headphones and microphones, noise-filtering software, additional memory slots and occasionally editing software from the manufacturer. For most people, “record,” “stop,” “play” and “seek” buttons will be all you need, but for advanced users, you might look for a more robust model.
Efficiency, Inc. can help you find the right digital voice recorder for your needs. For more information about how digital voice recorders work, call our Tacoma, WA business today!