Digital voice recorders ... I'm shopping

[Pilot]

My beloved Olympus DS-330 crapped out on me the other day after lasting a long time. I quickly ran out and bought a Sony B-310F, which I figured would do me just fine, but it's being a piece of crap and I think I'll need to return it.

Now that I'll have a little more time to actually look around rather than buy the first thing I see, does anyone have any advice? Has anyone looked into them very much recently?

I liked the Olympus, but I don't really care about brand. I'd rather not spend a ton of money, but want something that will tape a long time, hook to a computer (I'd like it, but not a must) and be easy to navigate through files with.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'm telling you... Use your iPod...

 

[Clever username]

I use a Sony ICD-P320 and it's great. It has great sound clarity on the high quality setting and doesn't need to be stuck in the person's face. It has a ****load of memory too, even on the high setting. I haven't used it in a post-basketball game setting yet, but it worked great in the wind after a football game. And it's only $40. At least it was when I got it in late July.

 

[moonlight]

I have the Olympus VN-240 PC. It comes with software to upload your sound files on to your hard drive. I like that feature because I can save everything, and if you work for an editor who wants you to keep your notes and stuff, this helps. The only downside is that it only records for about 90 minutes. Costs about $80.

 

[HoopsMcCann]

i have an olympus ds-2. love, love, love it. download everything onto my computer.

 

[awriter]

If you can afford it, I highly recommend a Sony minidisc recorder. It's what the radio guys use. It's expensive, but it's money well spent.

 

[happygirl]

Call me weird, but I frequently notice what recorders are being stuck in someone's face, and the Olympus brand is most prevalent. I've had a VN-480 that's worked perfectly for more than two years. It has amazing battery life and great range and sound quality. A colleague uses an Olympus that downloads files to his computer, as noted above, and he loves it.

 

[HeadFirst]

The IPod downloads to your computer, too -- and has sound quality that crushes all of the digital recorders. And you'll never need batteries again.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The IPod downloads to your computer, too -- and has sound quality that crushes all of the digital recorders. And you'll never need batteries again.

You'll also never worry about running out of space... It also allows to you write off your iPod as a business expense...

 

[HeadFirst]

That's a great idea, Mizzou. I've been using mine for years, but I've never used it as a writeoff.

 

[PaperDoll]

Where was this thread last week, when I followed The Boy into a Circuit City and picked up yet another tape recorder? (Yes, I did say tape!) The cheapest digital cost twice as much, and I briefly pondered buying it, but I figured I should wait and see the latest reviews.

Thanks! Now I can rethink my purchase and upgrade before the holiday chaos. I've got a whole "off-season" to figure out how the new toy works. ;D

Anyone tried a digital recorder with a Mac? Are they all cross-platform compatible?

 

[Del_B_Vista]

Anyone tried a digital recorder with a Mac? Are they all cross-platform compatible?

I just changed to a MacBook and the Sony recorder's software doesn't work on it in Mac mode. I haven't bothered trying to figure out Bootcamp or the other ways to run PC software on it, but I'm sure it's possible.

 

[cranberry]

i have an olympus ds-2. love, love, love it. download everything onto my computer.

Me, too. Small, light and pretty intuitive.

 

[HoopsMcCann]

Anyone tried a digital recorder with a Mac? Are they all cross-platform compatible?

the olympus ones usually do work fine with a mac. i've had two olympus recorders and both worked flawlessly with my mac

and on the minidisc, i used to use amindisc and i like the size and convenience of the digital recorder better -- same with the ipod. plus i don't want to run down my upod battery using it to record. much better to always have aaa batteries as backup for my digital recorder

 

[Jam3131]

I agree with everybody in here about the Olympus - they are pretty pricey...but worth it.

I have never tried the ipod though - is it really that good?

 

[BYH]

I'd recommend the Olympus DS-330. Oh wait.

How long did yours last, Pilot? I'll be a sad camper when mine goes.

Olympus has been very good to me (this is my second one) so I think I'll stick with them down the road.

The best thing, to me, is the ability to download everything on the computer. No more piles of tapes to sort thru. I can't believe anyone still uses tape. [/digital snob]

 

[HeadFirst]

I have the Olympus as a backup -- but I never use it, because the IPod crushes it in every meaningful measurement. The only thing the Olympus can do that the IPod cant is record telephone calls via a RadioShack attachment.

 

[Pilot]

The IPod downloads to your computer, too -- and has sound quality that crushes all of the digital recorders. And you'll never need batteries again.

You'll also never worry about running out of space... It also allows to you write off your iPod as a business expense...

Can I do it with a mini? That's the only Ipod I have. I've seen the microphone attachments for the big ones, but never for a little one.

 

[HeadFirst]

No, as far as I know, there is no attachment for the Mini. But the Apple store would have a definitive answer on that.

 

[Pilot]

I'd recommend the Olympus DS-330. Oh wait.

How long did yours last, Pilot? I'll be a sad camper when mine goes.

Olympus has been very good to me (this is my second one) so I think I'll stick with them down the road.

The best thing, to me, is the ability to download everything on the computer. No more piles of tapes to sort thru. I can't believe anyone still uses tape. [/digital snob]

I got it early on in college, from my parents right after I got my first (what I tought was a real) job at the campus paper. So, like probably about five years. I loved the noice cancel effect, and the fast playing or slow playing part. I didn't love how it didn't have a ton of space. The Sony I'm using at the moment (and want to return) does have a ton of space, but it sucks in many other aspects.