Despite the popular apps in the latest generation smartphones, even the least savvy among journalists knows that counting on a specific tool for recording the voice can make the difference between a successful piece and send upstream hours of exclusive interviews.
The price to pay to grab these tools that wink at a somewhat démodé technology is secondary if you think about the advantages that in some cases, and for some professions, in particular, this device is able to provide.
Just know that you need to consider some essential aspects that we will expose you in this guide to choose the model that best suits your actual needs.
Here we had listed out the best voice recorders with the latest and advanced technology are present below.
- Record MP3 Audio quickly and easily
- Up to 57 hours of battery life for extended recording (MP3 128Kbps stereo)
- Built in, direct USB Connection for quick file transfer to your PC
- 【High Quality Recording】: COCONISE Digital Voice Recorder adopts an intelligent noise reduction chip, equipped with two...
- 【Large Capacity Memory】: 64 GB recording device with super large capacity memory and storage space can store up to 16,000...
- 【Quick Record】: Audio recorder equipped with a quick record button, just press your thumb to start recording, you don't have...
- 【Voice activated recorder】: You can activate the voice-activated recording function. When there is sound, it will...
- 【High Privacy】: You can set a 4-digit password to prevent others from stealing your Voice Recorder content so that you can...
- 1536Kbps dual-mic PCM High quality recording✔--E36 voice recorder equipped with dual sensitive microphone and professional...
- 72GB(8+64) memory and high capacity battery ✔--Built-in 800mAh rechargeable battery,support up to 45 hours continuous...
- Simple designed,easy to use,lifetime software upgrade service✔--The most user friendly voice recorder designed by aiworth,all...
- Power-on password protection✔--3-digit password,8000 combinations,Without your password,no one could turn on the device and...
- Variable Play Speed✔ --16 levels to adjust the play speed,play faster,jump to the point you exactly want to playback;play slowly...
- Clear PCM Recording: Adopts upgraded noise cancelling microphone with professional recording chip. Capture 1536Kbps premium...
- 64GB Digital Recorder, Computers Compatible: stores 4846hours of recording, or 20,000songs, up to 54 hours of continuous recording...
- Voice Activated Recorder: This recorder device can set voice decibels at 6 different levels. Regardless the level of the volume,...
- Powerful Feature: Multi-usage as a voice recorder, an USB flash drive, and a Mp3 Player. Newly developed 4-folder storage(A/B/C/D)...
- Fast File Download: V618 can easily transfer files onto computers. A rechargeable voice recorder that can be quickly recharged,...
- 【64GB large memory storage capacity and long-lasting battery life】Voice Recorder of 64GB internal memory can store 270 hours...
- 【Bluetooth 5.2】This Audio Recorder has Bluetooth connectivity, with a Bluetooth recording reception range of 10 meters,...
- 【DSP digital noise reduction and high fidelity recording quality】This Digital Voice Recorder device with speaker has 512kbps,...
- 【Voice Activated Recorder】Once the sound reaches the level, the digital recorder will automatically start recording and stop...
- 【Various functions, easy to use】This dictaphone voice recorder has five recording scenarios: "off", "interview", "meeting",...
- PREMIUM SOUND QUALITY SIMPLE OPERATION: This recorder upgraded its higher sensitive microphones,means that you can enjoy premium...
- VOICE ACTIVATED RECORDER: Set the recorder to voice activated recording,catch the speaking words only.No more silent whisper or...
- A-B REPEAT FUNCTION: This is a great feature to help you study language,review lessons from selected starting point A to ending...
- EASY TRANSFER FILES: Voice recorder mac compatible. It supports recording files in MP3 or WAV format.You can transfer files easily...
- MP3 PLAYER: Not only a voice recorder,but a music player. Help you relax after your tired lectures, classes or meetings. Aomago...
- ✅【Notice】BrilliantHouse digital voice recorder is UPDATED VERSION compared with other same appearance item: 1536kbps →...
- ✅【More Accessories Than Others】: BrilliantHouse voice recorder comes with many of accessories, including Earphone,...
- ✅Advanced Quality & Long Using Time: The new design portable recorder with dynamic noise cancellation microphone can capture...
- ✅Simple Operation: With simple three-click recording, saving and playing, BrilliantHouse portable audio recorder is super user...
- ✅Voice Activated Recording: In this mode, voice activated recorder device starts recording when sound is detected and turn to...
- Enhanced sound quality
- Newly updated slimmer design
- Built-in stereo microphone and voice operated recording
- Three recording options: wide/stereo, narrow/focus and normal
- Quick charge; up to 1-hour recording time, with 3-minute charge
- 【Bluetooth Function】 This voice activated recorder has Bluetooth connecting function, and the Bluetooth recording reception...
- 【Dual Microphone Noise Reduction& 10 Meters Long-distance Recording】Dual microphone design, and built-in noise reduction chip,...
- 【64GB & Long Lasting Battery】The 64GB memory can store 1200 hours (512kbps) audio that can meet your any recording needs. The...
- 【 One-Click Recording & Quick response】 the useful one-click control device recording/playback function, which is very easy to...
- 【Multiple Functions in One】This recorder is so powerful that in addition to recording audio, the recorder features a rest...
- 【Simple Operation】- switch on your voice recorder, one button for recording. press the "REC", start the recording, press...
- 【Clear Voice Record】- high quality recording with noise redution, you will get super clear recorded voice, the sensitive...
- 【Voice Activated Recording】- automatic voice reduction function, it starts recording when sound is detected or turn to standby...
- 【MP3 Player Function】- this voice recorder can be used as an MP3/music player, you could enjoy the music after your tired...
- 【High quality and long time】 uses DSP noise reduction technology to filter out environmental noise, has high-quality...
Buying Guide to Select the Best Voice Recorders
Technological Innovations
Magnetic tape microcassettes or bulky devices that were once necessary to capture the voice and imprint it on a memory medium are now a thing of the past. The new era of dictaphones involves the introduction of the most popular digital archiving and data transfer systems directly on the PC.
Compare prices and you will find that the best performing models are those able to combine a good data storage capacity with a battery autonomy adequate for the recording hours that can be stored on the device.
Small Is Better
The ranking of the best-selling models is led by the more compact ones that allow them to be transported easily in all circumstances. This is because a voice recorder is usually used outdoors, to record a lecture at the university or to fix an important conversation on a storage device that can take place anywhere.
Here the reviews often highlight the handling of the tool associated with the ease with which it can be used. Few keys and clearly identifiable functions make the use of these accessories very intuitive and immediate.
Another detail not to be overlooked is the way in which the data collected is transferred to the PC, the simpler it is, the less work will be to archive the soundtrack later.
The models that have an integrated USB output allow immediate and intuitive use of the device, but also the other solutions equipped with a cable with which to start the connection are equally valid.
Recording Quality
The quality of the microphone supported by the voice recorder is directly responsible for the success of the recording, there are several proposals on the market, but the best brand is the one that offers a range of activities within a few centimeters up to 7/9 meters of sensitivity.
The microphone is often external and its technical characteristics must make it able to accurately detect the sound to be brought back on the track to be used later.
Inputs and Connections
The inevitable USB input allows you to directly connect the recorder to your computer; the cable is included. The recorder is recognized as external memory: from here it is possible to copy files and folders simply by dragging them onto the PC.
The microphone input allows you to connect another microphone in addition to the integrated monaural one to increase the recording range and the overall sound quality but, according to user reviews, this is a little practiced solution. There is simply no need: there is no comparison with the audio recorded by the smartphone.
It is possible to connect headphones that, as mentioned, are used to monitor the recording or listen to it with greater concentration even in an environment that requires maximum silence such as a library. There is instead the slot to insert a memory card that would have allowed to multiply the storage space.
Storage Space and Battery Life
The recorder has an integrated 4 GB memory. But how many hours of recording can be stored? This depends on the quality you choose. The files are recorded in MP3 format: if you select the highest quality, you get 43 hours and 25 minutes; with the recording at high (not very high) quality it is possible to reach 65 hours and 10 minutes; going down one step, it reaches 173 hours, while with the lowest quality level the recording time even exceeds 1,000 hours. As for battery life, it ranges from 32 hours at 8 Kbps up to 65 hours at 128 Kbps.
How to Use a Voice Recorder?
In an era in which smartphones represent real multimedia platforms that make it possible for us to take photos, videos and also record ambient audio, it seems strange that devices such as voice recorders may still exist on the market. Yet this tool is still highly appreciated by many people who, for reasons of study or work, make it widely used.
Digital technology has also made it possible to do without cassettes, which were used as a medium on which to record audio tracks, and the new models of voice recorder available on the market.
By now, we are almost all equipped with an internal memory on which to save the tracks in digital format, making it much easier both the functionality of the recorder and the work of transferring and reorganizing the recorded material.
Digital Evolution
Magnetic tape microcassettes have become mere collectibles now; thanks to digital technology today you only have to carry the recorder with you and, consequently, you can do without transporting the supply of microcassettes, saving further weight and bulk and avoiding the risk of frustrating the work done, in case of loss or accidental damage to the engraved tapes.
Almost all voice recorders record in MP3 format and are equipped with a USB input so that they can be connected to an external memory medium, or to the computer, and immediately store the data contained in the resident memory when it fills up.
The capacity of the storage memory is certainly the element that most affects the price, the budget models have a capacity that can vary from 4 to 8 GB, equivalent to autonomy from 200 to 400 hours of recording; Recorders with a higher memory capacity can be found if desired but at a significantly higher cost.
Types
The models on the market are truly numerous, and available in every price range, from the cheapest to the most expensive ones; not all, however, offer the same performance and functionality, and since the latter are multiple and specific depending on the type of use required of the instrument.
They are not necessarily linked to the price range. This means that, depending on your particular needs, you may find a dictaphone with excellent performance even among the models belonging to the cheaper range.
Some, in fact, prefer the qualities of portability and practical functionality, for which they are more compact and lighter and tend to be equipped with table stands so that they can be used during conferences or desk interviews.
Others, on the other hand, are larger and more robust, made to withstand more field use; these models tend to favor battery quality and life a lot, just to give a practical example.
The sound quality of the microphone and speaker, as well as the effective range and the possible presence of filters to eliminate the frequencies of background noise, or to improve the quality of the recordings, are all elements to consider based on your needs.
