[TriLUG] Semi-OT: Digital Voice Recorders

[Andrew Perrin]

On Mon, 7 Jun 2004, Mike M wrote:

> On Mon, Jun 07, 2004 at 12:50:38PM -0400, Andrew Perrin wrote:
> > Anybody have one of these gizmos or can offer advice? I'm looking for one
> > that:
> >
> > - Can record a minimum of 2 hours;
> > - Has some facility for downloading to a linux box;
> > - Has an external mic jack so I can record phone conversations as
> > necessary; and
> > - Doesn't cost too much.
> >
> > Any advice?
>
> I had a Sony Voice Balloon.  A veritable piece of crap that one was.
> Used expensive button batteries and when through them quickly because
> the unit was always being turned on accidentially when it was in my pocket.
>
> The recording quality was poor.  I would record something and play it
> back immediately and understand what I had said.  When I reviewed the
> items a day or more later, very often I could not understand what I
> had said.  I would have to repeat the items and try to decipher my own
> notes.

Sounds awful.

>
> Things have probably gotten better since that experience a couple of
> years ago.  Probably even have 'em with USB connectors so they look
> like disk drives.
>

They do, but from googling it looks like they often use proprietary file
formats and/or software... bad!

> How about asking some MDs? They are always yaking into those
> things.  They probably have the best user opinions.


Good thought - married to one of 'em so I'll ask!

ap


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew J Perrin - http://www.unc.edu/~aperrin
Assistant Professor of Sociology, U of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
clists at perrin.socsci.unc.edu * andrew_perrin (at) unc.edu