Dictaphones & Voice Recorders

Voice Recorders and Dictaphones

When you have long-term or on-the-go recording needs, a voice recorder or Dictaphone makes a great companion. All it takes is a small recorder in your pocket or bag to have instant access to a clear microphone and portable storage. You wont have to worry about carrying around clunky equipment or taking up space on your phone or computer.

The simplest function of a voice recorder or Dictaphone is to capture audio, whether at lectures, meetings, family functions, or any number of events. Most machines come with record and playback functions for ease of use; simply press record when you want to start or stop, and press play in the file browser to select a file for listening. You can also keep music and recordings on hand with these features.

While both types of recorders can be used for a variety of audio capture applications, Dictaphones are particularly designed to pick up one persons voice at a high quality when voice recorders might not do so. Digital voice recorders often save recordings as larger files but in more common formats. Be sure to consider how you plan on using either kind of device when making your choice.

Some recorders and Dictaphones use DSS or DS2 files. These formats allow you to insert or overwrite voice files without sacrificing quality, making them great for dictation. You may need to convert them into more commonly used file types, but many readily available programs can do this with no problems.

Most recorders use MP3 files as their base format. MP3 audio provides good quality without taking up much space, so it works well for everyday uses. If you need to record certain amounts of music or audio for more professional purposes, you can turn to recorders that accept other files, including the following:

• .WAV
• .AIFF
• .AU

The number of recordings you can store on your device depends on the file format and size, as well as how many files you plan to save. Most digital voice recorders of either sort have at least 2GB of space, and 8GB is standard. Many models offer more. Depending on which voice recorder you choose, you may have the option to expand storage with memory cards.