I'm looking for a digital voice recorder. Anyone have experience with any? Things I should look for?

Info:
-Small (2+ people) to large (30+ people) meetings
-Small to large rooms
-mp3 or other common format (no issues with PC playback)
-USB connectivity/drag & drop files
-20+ hours of high quality record time
-noise reduction

any thoughts?

found this one on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICD-PX820-Digital-Voice-Recorder/dp/B00387E5BM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298062059&sr=8-1

2/18/2011 3:58:50 PM

I have a sony stereo one I use right here on my desk. It gets the job done, but you want to be within about 5-10 feet. Lasts forever on a single AAA. Records to MP3 or WAV.

For a group you probably want to step up a model to something like the American Audio pocket record. Keep your SD cards under 4GB, format them to FAT32 and you'll be golden. Comes with 2 high-gain ambient mics, and 2 lapels. I use it for people who are talking at podiums - the ambient grabs the crowd reaction, the lapel does the rest.

2/18/2011 9:14:40 PM

thanks, but the reviews on those are horrible, and they're quite large/heavy... "pocket recorder" is a stretch. also, the inputs/external mics are useless to me.

2/21/2011 8:37:27 AM

^my experience is the people doing bad reviews don't understand how to format their SD card to the right format. We have one in use every week for coming up on 2 years, and we were confident enough in them to purchase 15 more that have been in use for coming up on a year.

If you keep it to a 2GB card and format it they're rock solid. If you buy something off the walmart shelf and stick it in you're going to have troubles.

Given, they aren't small - but they're a true stereo recorder with 1/4" inputs.

here's the model I use for desktop stuff:



It's older, but it's a tank. Have 2 of them.

[Edited on February 21, 2011 at 9:38 AM. Reason : link broke]

2/21/2011 9:37:12 AM