Dictation Blogger

There are no two ways about it. If you want to dictate your content, you have to have the right equipment. It doesn’t matter if you are dictating books, blog posts, articles, video scripts, or anything else. You have to have the right tool.

Just as it doesn’t make any sense to drive nails through your walls with your shoe instead of a hammer, you should also be mindful of how you record your audio. I’ve got to admit I didn’t always follow this advice.

When recording dictations at home, I would often use my Blue Yeti microphone plugged into my computer via USB cable. Sometimes I even used my laptop’s default microphone, you know, the one that’s mounted right on the chassis of the computer.

While these methods have their advantages and disadvantages, I can get away with them because I’m recording at home. After all, it doesn’t make much sense to lug around a retro-looking Blue Yeti microphone to Starbucks. People will look and might even get confused.

These microphones, after all, are intended for podcasting and not regular audio recordings. Be that as it may, the reason I can confidently use these alternatives to the typical digital voice recorder or dictaphone is that I’m at home.

I don’t have to move around or worry about space consideration. I have a ready supply of power and everything is where it needs to be so I can experiment, mix and match if you will. You don’t have that luxury if you are looking to be a full-time dictation blogger.

To be a dictation writer, you have to record whenever and wherever the inspiration hits you. This is going to be a problem. It’s not like you can whip out your laptop, plug in your fancy condenser or high-end microphone and start working. It’s going to be inconvenient at the very least. This is why it’s really important to use digital voice recorders.

Inspiration Can Hit You At Any Time: Be Prepared With A Digital Voice Recording Device

The idea for this blog post hit me when I was on my way to Starbucks. If I gave in to the impulse to record, I would have a tough time because I only had my mobile phone with me. Thankfully, the main points I’m trying to make in this post remained fresh enough in my mind so I can dictate it using my home office rig.

But what if I had to juggle many different hot ideas at once? You’ve been through this. You’ve tried to remember a lot of insights that seem so amazing but guess what happened? That’s right, you forget some of them. They may well turn out to be much better than the ones you managed to remember.

That’s always the risk we run when we try to hang on to ideas in our minds. This is why it’s really important to record when the inspiration hits you. This is especially true for novelists. I’ve written several novels through dictation as well as manually.

Let me tell you, the difference between a great book and a not-so-great one often turns on a handful of ideas. What if you had the right ideas but they came in a cluster and because you couldn’t sit down and record while they were still fresh and vivid in your mind, you had to make do and force yourself to select one or two.

I know that’s gut-wrenching because that’s like being asked to give up your children. But what if I told you that it’s even worse? What if those ideas you forgot are precisely the ones you needed to turn your book into a bestseller.

At the very least, if you had remembered those ideas your book would be at a much higher level of quality, engagement, and value. This is precisely the dilemma that sitting down the moment inspiration hits you and recording deals with. But this opens up a whole can of worms.

Your Digital Voice Recorder Must Be Able to Do the Job When You Need It To: The Power of Battery Life

There are many different selection factors for digital voice recorders. If you’ve been reading the posts in this blog, you should have a fairly good understanding of what these are. Yes, microphone quality is important especially if you’re going to be recording interviews or meetings.

It’s also crucial that your digital voice recorder has data integrity so you don’t have to second-guess if your files are secure and can be retrieved. It’s also important that your gadget can support a wide enough range of formats so that when you attach some sort of cable to it or try to use Wi-Fi to extract files, you can do so easily and quickly.

Features like voice detection and intuitive control system are also important. All of these factors make for a great product. With all of that said, when it comes to the practical day-to-day reality of digital voice recorders, there is one key selection factor that you cannot afford to ignore.

I am of course talking about battery life. Again, you have to think about how you would practically use the device. You’re going to be out of your element. Maybe you’re going somewhere to meet a friend and you’re thinking about a project when all of a sudden an amazing insight hits you. You’re just beside yourself as to how you could have overlooked this amazing idea.

It seems so simple yet perfect because it puts everything you’re trying to do together. Everything just seems to fall into place and you get all emotional about how awesome this idea is. The worst thing that you can do at that point is to try to remember it because nine times out of ten, you will remember the emotional intensity of the idea but you will end up forgetting the details.

I say this with a lot of pain in my voice because this has happened to me far too many times. Every single time I forget a crucial feature of an idea I say to myself that it would be the last time I will be caught flat-footed. But guess what, it happens again and again.

That’s why it’s important to be ready when you find yourself in this type of situation. And it doesn’t take much to be prepared. A typical digital voice recorder that you can get off Amazon can fit in the palm of your hand.

Some models are even smaller. Size is not the issue. They don’t weigh all that much so you don’t have to worry about these devices crimping your style or being so bulky as to be hassles. There is one factor that you need to focus on which is battery life.

The Key Practical Realities Behind Battery Life

It’s very tempting to think that when you get any kind of electronic device that the default battery that it comes with, whether it’s lithium or the typical AAA or AA battery, is enough to take care of your needs.

You can even get polymer batteries. The issue here is not so much as what the battery is but whether it can do the job. And this is a tricky question because if you’re like most busy people, your number one priority does not involve checking whether your battery-powered devices have enough “juice”.

When was the last time you looked at the battery charge of your electronic devices? I can safely say that outside of your mobile phone or tablet, the answer would be every once in a blue moon or even never.

And this is where the danger lies because you can’t afford a false sense of confidence by assuming that your digital voice recorder would have enough battery life for it to record your hot insights.

The situation you’re trying to avoid should be crystal-clear. Imagine yourself in the same scenario as I’ve painted above: you’re all excited about an idea and you feel good that you have a digital voice recorder because now you’re ready for these flashes of genius.

You’re confident and ready to talk. You turn it on, start talking away, and you get all caught up in every fine detail of your idea. You jump into plot developments that came into mind, you get into the nitty-gritty of the character arc and possible interpersonal conflicts or you go on and on about the minute details of the hot blog post that you’re so excited about.

Whatever the content maybe, you’re not paying attention to the device because you’re all caught up with what you’re talking about. It’s all normal. It’s the way it should be. But when you look at the device to stop the recording, you find out to your horror that the light is gone. The battery gave out.

You don’t know at what point of the recording the recorder ran out of juice. Panic ensues. If you’re like most writers and bloggers, the sense of panic wipes out any lingering trace of the emotional hype that you felt about your idea.

This of course paves the way for you to completely forget about your idea. Now, you can’t wait to go back home, recharge your digital voice recorder or get new batteries for it and figure out where you are in the recording.

You may have recorded 25% or 80%, it’s anybody’s guess. Panic fills your mind until you get a clear answer as to how much you were able to record. Do you really want to put yourself in this situation? If the answer is no, pay close attention to the discussion below about how to identify the digital voice recorder with the best battery life.

Digital Dictaphone Batteries Are Not Created Equal

There are three types of batteries: polymer, lithium-ion, and regular AAA/AA batteries. Understand that these different types of batteries have varying battery life. Lithium-ion and polymer batteries tend to have longer battery life and they are rechargeable as well.

Look for Battery Versatility

Start with the battery type and once you figure out this information, look into the type of lithium-ion or polymer battery used by your device. Also, pay attention to whether the device is specifically designed for an exclusive type of battery.

You might be thinking that it’s a good thing if you come across a voice recording device that is specifically designed for lithium ions. Don’t get too excited because you’re basically tied to one type of battery technology.

What if you can’t buy it because it’s not available for whatever reason? Don’t assume that you will never find yourself in that situation. Maybe you’re traveling somewhere and the stores don’t have this type of battery and waiting for the online seller to get it to you is going to take forever. What do you do then?

Plan for the situation for looking for a device that can support the widest range of battery types. While you can’t be sure that lithium-ion batteries are going to be available wherever it is you’re going, you best believe that there would be at least some type of battery available there.

Battery Life Impacts Quality

Keep in mind that many batteries are optimized to go the distance. They would give you enough juice so that you can record and most devices are set up in such a way that they can withstand enough variations in electric signals to keep going.

This might seem like good news but you have to be very careful. When a device is on its last leg or the battery is about to give out, the quality of your recording might suffer because the device will make do with whatever electrical charge is left.

Don’t think that the audio that you recorded would be as crystal-clear and high-quality as when you started with a full battery.

Pick A Device That Is Especially Designed for Portability

When you’re looking for digital voice recorders, pay close attention to how portable they are. Battery life and portability go hand in hand because, for the most part, products designed to record interviews, meetings, lectures, or any other person to person interaction in a wide variety of settings last longer. They have to.

Be aware of design features that indicate that the recording device is supposed to be used only in a controlled environment. I’m not saying that you should not buy those types of digital recorders but you have to know their limitations.

You have to understand that for you to get the best value from them, you have to use them in a situation that is ideal. So this usually means that battery life isn’t their top priority. There’s always a tug of war between recording quality, microphone sensitivity, battery life, and other factors.

If you select a product that is geared towards a factor other than battery life, keep in mind that you may have to give up some of that portability.

These are the top voice recorder/audio recorders that have the longest battery life:

OLYMPUS Digital Solutions Digital Voice Recorder

This model can record 444 hours of uninterrupted audio recording in LP mode. It also features voice activation technology and a large LCD screen. Uses 2 AAA Batteries.
What makes this model stand out?

• Easy to use
• Excellent battery life
• Great sound quality
• No extra software
• No need to convert files

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Sony ICD Ux533blk Voice Recorder

This recorder has a 4GB internal. It has a recording time of up to 1073 hours. This recorder also features a MicroSD card slot / SD Card and an auto-record feature.

What makes this model stand out?

• Built in memory expansion
• 4GB memory
• 2 stereo microphone
• WAV, MP3 and WMA format
• 30 hour battery life

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Sony ICD-PX440 Stereo Digital Voice Recorder

This unit has 4GB of memory and a maximum of 1,073 hours recording time. Easy connectivity and transfer via USB connection. Expandable memory with a MicroSD slot and a noise-cancelling feature. Records MP3 Audio, and has automatic Voice Operated Recording.
What makes this model stand out?

• 4GB memory
• 2 stereo microphones
• PC connectivity
• 96 hours battery life with AAA batteries
• Overwrite function

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

TASCAM DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder

This device records in MP3 Audio and WAV Format, Built in omnidirectional microphones, tempo change function. This voice recorder is powered by 2 AA batteries for at least 17 hours battery life and can also be charged via USB power or AC adapter.

What makes this model stand out?

• Built in condenser microphone
• Editing function
• Self timer
• Good audio quality
• Long battery life

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Sony ICD-UX560 Digital Voice Recorder

This product offers a quick charge feature that can charge up to 1 hour of recording time with a three minute charge. It is easy to use and has a microSD card slot for expandable memory.

What makes this model stand out?

• High-sensitivity microphone
• 4GB built-in memory
• Long battery life and fast charging
• FM radio
• Can record radio broadcasts
• Voice operated recording

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Sony Digital Flash Voice Recorder

This device features a 2GB flash memory and expandable MicroSD card Slot. Records in MP3 format, has USB connectivity. Has a long battery life of 72 hours.

What makes this model stand out?

• Easy to use interface
• Long battery life
• 530 hours recording time with it’s 2GB memory
• Voice Operated Recording
• Handy and portable

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

SOTA Surveillance Audio/ Voice Recorder

Along with its voice activation feature, it has a 576 hour recording capacity with the 16GB storage capacity. It can also function as a portable cell phone.

What makes this model stand out?

• Long battery life
• Built-in Microphones
• 16GB memory
• Secure
• Voice activated recording

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Zoom H2N Digital Voice Recorder

Small and portable digital voice recorder with surround sound feature, 5 built-in microphones, secure digital card, records in WAV and MP3 format. Has 2GB of memory, and 20 hours of recording with 2 AA Batteries. With auto-rec function, tuner and variable speed playback.

What makes this model stand out?

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

The Final Word on Best Battery Life for Recording Devices

Don’t get caught flat-footed by taking the RIGHT device with the WRONG battery life to content recording opportunities. In many cases, you only have one shot at getting the right content. Sure, you can dictate audio to high quality text anywhere at any time. Don’t waste this advantage by using low battery life recording equipment.

Image Credits

One of the best ways to create content is to record a meeting. It is as simple as that. Record what people have to say.

Of course, you would have to ask for their permission first. But once you get the green light, this is one of the easiest and best ways to create blog posts and articles.

You can then repurpose that into a wide variety of forms. Turn them into tweets, YouTube videos, infographics. Turn them into small bite-sized videos, which is appropriate for TikTok. The possibilities are endless.

And with each version, you tap into a potentially rich traffic source, which every blogger craves. What is not to love? And all you need is a digital voice recorder.

People have been using digital voice recorders to record meetings for decades. These devices are useful tools for students and professionals. They make note-taking during group discussions and lectures a breeze. Instead of listening intently and making decisions on which to write down and which to ignore, you can capture everything.

Just turn on your dictaphone and place it on the table close enough to the speaker. This way, you listen intently to the speaker instead of filtering a lot of stuff out as you frantically write down your notes.

The same goes for group interviews. These are like meetings, and it is easy for people to take manual notes and get confused.

During a meeting, how many times have you focused so much on a particular individual, only to learn somebody, from the other side of the room, said a few sentences that are the game-changer?

Believe it or not, it is more frequent than people care to realize. Well, you will not miss out on any of that if you bring a digital voice recorder to a meeting.

Similarly, if you are a secretary, this makes the job so much easier. Just record the proceedings, and make your notes regarding key points that you will focus on once you get the audio transcribed.

How To Get the Most Out of Meetings When Creating Content?

You want to pack as much value into your transcribed blog posts. What do you need? A plan. Before you even show up to the meeting, have a plan of action.

At the very least, know who will go there. What do they talk about? What do you expect them to say?

After you know the people going and what they understand, you can set up a series of questions that go beyond the surface.

Not All Meeting-Based Content Is Worth Publishing

When you go to any group meeting, often people talk about the same stuff. That is right. The things you talk about today are like the stuff you talked about yesterday. A transcript of yesterday’s meeting would not differ much from last week’s transcript.

Do you want to come up with game-changing or valuable transcribed content for your blog? Never settle for this. Your initial set of questions must rock the boat. They must push people up against the outer limits of their comfort zone.

If you are willing to do this, your digital voice recorder would be of use.

Here are some tips and tricks to maximize your use of the digital voice recorder in meetings.

Key interview content creation tactics

Focus on Controversial Topics

Everyone knows what topics are safe. These make for boring blog posts.

Start with a bang by asking about controversial topics in your niche. At the very least, you increase your chances of getting a unique take on the hot-button issues your blog community is excited about. Everybody has an opinion.

Pit Personalities Against Each Other

In any meeting, there will always be at least two personalities with little or no rapport. Sometimes, they rub each other the wrong way. One’s views, presentation, or mannerisms leave an unpleasant taste in the other person’s mouth, and vice versa.

Take advantage. Come up with polarizing views that may lead to an exchange. See to it that people argue passionately and provide useful information.

Play the Devil’s Advocate

If everything else fails, bite the bullet and take the role of the bad guy. You are aware of what is controversial or weird in your niche. Be its advocate. Shake cages. See what opinions they come up with.

Never use trick questions. It must go beyond cheap tricks like that. Instead, look for positions. Look for people to tell you and your fans something beyond what you know.

That is the key to working meetings. Make no mistake. If you only bring a recorder and expect to find gold, you are wasting your time.

People flood YouTube with interviews. They ask the same cliché and boring questions and get the same robotic answers. Those videos are forgettable as they are numerous.

Talk about generic content. You want your dictated blog to stand out. Be different. Using the techniques above, you will throw people off enough to get some gems out of them.

How To Select the Best Voice Recorder for Meetings

Now you understand how to make the best use of your voice recorder and how to generate useful responses from people.

Let us get down to the business of selecting your equipment.

If you want to find the best recorder, be methodical in selecting. The following factors are non-negotiable.

Let me put it this way. You are not making an informed decision if you do not consider these factors when buying a digital voice recorder.

Does It Come in a Convenient Size?

When you are recording meetings, do not assume that you will lay the voice recorder on a flat surface near the speaker.

Things will get heated if you know how to work a meeting. You might have to move it around. Things can get out of hand.

For this reason, it is crucial to pick a high-powered voice recorder that has a small, compact form. You want a voice recorder that is easy to pick up and hide, just in case.

Can It Store Enough Data?

How many hours of audio storage a device has? Knowing this is non-negotiable.

When you are recording a meeting, things can drag on. Hours can pass before people get to the good stuff. Even if you are using the tips provided so far, you still have to wait.

These low-quality exchanges take up storage space. Your voice recorder must have sufficient internal storage.

Is the Audio Clear Enough To Be Transcribed Manually?

A lot of dictation bloggers take their recorded audio and transfer it to their computer. They then run Dragon NaturallySpeaking or other forms of audio-to-text software to transcribe their files. As mentioned in my review of the different transcription methods, this method has its own set of pros and cons.

If you prefer the highest level of quality, have your audio transcribed by another person. For this to happen, the audio has to be clear and loud enough. So sound quality and audio playback quality are important.

This is directly related to my next point: recording quality.

Does It Pick up the Right Sounds?

Choose a digital voice recorder that picks up what it is supposed to record. During a meeting, your device should pick up voices talking over each other. It helps the transcriber makes out who is who.

It must not pick up somebody shuffling papers halfway across the room. That recorded sound is noise. It will not improve the quality of your blog post, article, or even the book that you are writing based on a recorded meeting.

Recording quality is crucial because it has to zero in on voices. You are not just buying an audio recorder here.

Does It Use Condenser Microphone Technology?

Condenser mics record high-quality voice audio. As much as possible, only buy digital voice recorders that have condenser mics or superior technology.

Anything else will be a waste of money.

Will the Device Run Long Enough?

Suppose you have a dictaphone that does an outstanding job of picking up the right sounds and delivering crystal clear audio. It is all good, except that it cuts off after thirty minutes. What is the point?

Ensure that the digital recorder you are buying has the right battery technology while maintaining a compact form. Battery options range from AA, AAA, and lithium-ion batteries.

Is It Easy To Control and Figure Out?

If you need a degree in electronic engineering to work your recording device, you are in trouble. Make sure the device is easy for you to record, stop, playback, and transfer information.

If it is not that intuitive and you need to go through a labyrinth of menus, skip that unit.

Is It Voice Activated?

It is vital to avoid dead air. If you follow the tips I give you above on how to run a proper meeting, you will not have this problem. But if you are just getting started or just figuring things out, there will be dead air.

Not only is dead air going to cost you money as you get your audio manually transcribed, but it’s also a waste of resources and battery life. Therefore you must pick a device that turns on and off depending on when somebody speaks.

Does It Support Most Automated Transcription Technologies?

All digital voice recorders support manual transcription. Of course, some are better than others as some models produce crisper and clearer quality audio. But manual transcribers can pick up a significant amount of information from even the worst and cheapest dictaphones.

The question is, If you will not take that expensive transcription route and choose instead to use software to transcribe your audio, can you do it?

Transcription technology is handy in this situation. Look for devices that work smoothly with audio-to-text conversion software like Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

It can save you a ton of money down the road.

Does Your Audio Device Allow You To Edit Your Audio?

Admit it. When you record a meeting, chances are, you expect where the good stuff is going to be just from the first few minutes. Maybe you have another appointment to go to after this recording. Perhaps you want to save storage space.

Whatever your reasons may be, invest in a device that will allow you to edit the audio quickly and easily. It enables you to free up space or create a final file containing only the good stuff.

Does the Device Allow You To Play Back Audio Easily for Possible Editing?

You might playback your audio to get a good idea of what you recorded, or perhaps you are thinking of cutting out bits and pieces. Your device has to playback what you had recorded.

You should be able to do this with no hassles. The playback feature should also be very intuitive. You must not jump through several hoops or go through different menus and screens so you can playback.

Is the Device Fully Compatible With Your Operating System and Software?

It should be an afterthought, but I include this because you cannot be too sure.

Some digital voice recorders are niche products. They have been designed from the ground up to meet the exclusive needs of some industries. For example, certain voice recorders are for insurance claims.

Some of these devices have their unique way of transferring digital data to a computer. You want maximum flexibility on this point.

Whatever device you get, it should enable you to transfer, edit, and upload voice recordings and other audio files from its data storage to your computer.

The fewer steps there are, the better.

Keep the selection criteria above in mind, so you can be sure that you have bought the very best product for dictation blogging and other dictation-based content creation using recorded meetings.

Best digital voice recorders for meetings

Sony SX Series MP3 Digital Voice IC Recorder

This recorder series features the NeeGo Microphone, and Sony’s Intelligent Noise cut function. It has a built-in 16GB memory with up to 159 hours of recording time, excellent audio quality with its 3-way directional microphones, Micro sd card slot for expandable memory. Records in PCM or MP3 format(Mp3 recording), digital and stereo recording. With a lithium battery that can give you up to 30 hours of battery life.

What makes this product stand out?

• 16GB flash memory
• NeeGo Lavalier Lapel Mic
• Bluetooth Control
• Expandable memory
• Long battery life

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Sony ICD PX333 Digital Voice Recorder



This unit has a 4GB internal storage capacity like the Ux560 that can give you 1000 hours of recording time, expandable memory with microSD card slot, excellent battery life powered by aaa batteries, records in MP3 files. This voice recorder has a voice-activated feature, intelligent auto mode, noise cancellation for quality recordings, easy transfer with USB connection to Mac or PC features a noise cut technology and repeat function.

What makes this product stand out?

• 4gb Flash Memory
• Intelligent noise cut feature
• PC compatibility
• Expandable memory
• Exceptional Sound quality

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Zoom H1N Handy Digital voice recorder



This model is one of the best voice recorders in the market. It is very handy and small enough to fit in your pocket and can record high-quality recordings. Zoom H1n has alkaline batteries that can give you a 10-hour battery life, just enough for a long voice recording session. This voice recorder features built-in stereo microphones, easy to use, and you can easily transfer files to your computer. This voice recorder has playback speed control, which is ideal for voice recordings such as meetings, lectures, interviews, etc.

What makes this product stand out?

• 16GB memory
• Compact device
• Easy to set up and use
• Decent sound quality
• Expandable memory up to 32GB

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Zoom h6 Portable digital voice recorder



This model has a storage space of 128GB with microSD card /SD card for direct recordings, stereo microphones, excellent battery life, USB audio interface for MAC and PC via USB cable, 2 inch LCD screen. Zoom h6 has advanced features, noise isolation, changeable input capsules, and stereo microphones that are great for recordings. A musician would love this because of its superb sound quality and can play 6 tracks simultaneously.

What makes this product stand out?

• Memory up to 128GB
• Direct recording
• Compatible with PC, Mac and Ipad
• USB connectivity
• Records in WAV or MP3 format
• Excellent for recording live performances
• Rechargeable batteries

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Sony ICD Ux533blk Voice Recorder



This recorder has a 4GB internal memory like the Sony ICD Ux560, it has a recording time of up to 1073 hours. This recorder also features a MicroSD card slot / SD Card and an auto-record feature. Transfer files easily via USB connectivity to your Personal Computer or Mac via USB port. The Sony ICD Ux533blk digital voice recorder is ideal for school music recordings (records audio files in mp3 format), and has a superior recording quality, and produces less background noise. It is also easy to use with its audio and recording playback feature with excellent battery life.

What makes this product stand out?

• Built in memory expansion
• 4GB memory
• 2 stereo microphone
• WAV, MP3 and WMA format
• 30 hour battery life

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Olympus Linear PCM Recorder LS-P4



This is the first voice recorder that can record audio in FLAC for recording and playback for high quality and seamless recording. MP3 format and high-resolution audio. This recorder features a TresMic System- a three-microphone system that reduces background noise for high-quality audio recordings. Uses aaa batteries and also has a USB charging option. With Micro SD card external memory, Bluetooth, and 39-hour battery life. The 8GB memory can store up to 253 hours of audio files and recordings.

What makes this product stand out?

• Usb Rechargeable AAA Batteries
• TresMic – three microphones system
• Bluetooth compatibility
• Editing functions
• PCM, FLAC MPS recording

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Sony ICD sx712



This voice recorder has a 2GB internal storage with 500 hours of recording time (it has less storage than the Ux560 model). It features two stereo microphones for high quality recording, SD cards, USB port/ USB connector, and is compatible with Dragon Software. The Sony ICD sx712 has an LCD backlit screen, easily recording audio with direct play, stop, pause, record, easy to navigate menu options, search and select options. This voice recorder uses aaa batteries for up to 25 hours of battery life. This recorder also has a via USB port for USB connectivity to your computer. You’ll have superb voice recordings with its stereo mic input. The Sony sx712 is one of the digital best voice recorders ideal for a wide range of voice recordings like taking notes, lectures, music recordings, mp3 recordings.

What makes this product stand out?

• 2GB flash memory
• 2 stereo microphone
• S Microphone system
• Compatible with Dragon Software
• Noise Cancellation

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Olympus DS-2500 Digital Voice Recorder



This model is one of the compact voice recorders of the Olympus Brand. It is one of the best voice recorders for meetings. This recorder features a professional quality microphone and different recording modes for that superior audio quality. The memory is expandable to up to 32GB which can give you up to 300+ hours of recording. It is easy to use with its simple file management and folder menu, easy connectivity to the PC via USB connection. This recorder also has Variable Recording modes to help you capture superior recording quality. You can get up to 37 hours of recording with the rechargeable AAA Batteries. Automated recordings with the Variable Control Voice Actuator Recording Mode.

What makes this product stand out?

• Small and Compact
• Professional Microphone
• Expandable memory up to 32GB
• Rechargeable AAA batteries
• Compatible with Dragon Dictate

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Olympus DS9500 Professional Digital Voice Recorder



Safe and secure with 256-bit encryption. This voice recorder features intelligent dual microphones to get the best audio quality and has 2GB of internal memory. This Olympus model has wifi technology and a noise isolation/ noise cancellation feature that helps decrease background noise for better recording or high-quality audio voice recording. This Olympus Voice Recorder also has a shock-resistant body and slide switch menu.

What makes this product stand out?

• 2GB memory
• Intelligent dual microphones
• USB connectivity
• MP3 format

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

Olympus WS-801 Voice Recorder



This model is one of the easiest to use digital voice recorders for meetings. It features two condenser mics to effectively capture sounds and recordings at different levels. This voice recorder has a 2GB internal memory and expandable MicroSD memory slot of up to 32 GB. The 2GB memory can give up to 514 hours of recording time. PC Connectivity using a USB direct, or USB Connector. The Olympus WS 801 recorder records in MP3 and WMA formats, has a variable control voice activator, noise-cancelling and scene select feature for any background noise problem.
What makes this product stand out?

• 2GB memory with removable/expandable MicroSD Media
• Records in MP3 and WMA format
• Variable control voice actuator
• Noise cancellation feature
• Simple and easy to use

Check for availability and latest pricing on Amazon

The Final Word on Dictaphones for Meetings

Meetings can be a gold mine for content creators. The problem is you have to be ready for all the distractions, technical, and logistical issues you’ll face when recording meetings. Check the listed models above to make sure you bring the right tool to turn group dynamics into crispy, on point content.


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As you probably already know, digital voice recorders are small electronic devices that can record sound or speech. They are normally handheld so you have a wide range of options in terms of distance and speaking and recording style.

The recordings start out as sounds coming from your mouth. This is the analog stage. The sound you hear is created when you speak which travels through the air at certain wavelengths. This is all analog.

A digital voice recorder picks up on those sounds and converts them into a digital format. This is then stored in a digital audio file.

You can play it from the digital voice recorder itself or you can export the file to your computer. From your computer, you would have a wide range of software that you can use to listen to the file.

Older voice recording technologies

Fairly recently, voice recorders used audio tape; these are also called tape recorders. The sounds you make, as well as the audio you hear, are stored using magnetic tape.

Digital voice recorders blew away this old technology because they’re able to pack more information in a much smaller space.

Audio tape recorders use magnetic tape which degrade in quality the more you play them.

This is not the case with digital voice recorders. The audio that you stored in digital form 5 years ago is going to sound just as crisp, clear and lively as the day you recorded it.

Digital voice recorders also have a much smaller footprint because it doesn’t have moving parts. Everything is stored on chips. The smaller these chips get over the years, the more compact the footprint of your digital voice recording device will be.

No wonder why writers, bloggers, authors, content creators and other types of content creators prefer digital voice recorders. You can use them to record audio clips, music, office memos, notes, interviews and even novels.

Voice Recorder is also known as digital dictaphones, and can also be used to record high grade music.

How do digital voice recorders work?

Recording sound with digital voice recorders is pretty straightforward and basic. The sound source puts out sound waves, which are then picked up by the microphone. It’s built into these devices.

The sound waves or audio signal is then converted by a unit called ADC (Analog to digital voice converter). This digital information is then stored on a chip inside the recording device.

Digital information, as you probably know, is broken down into zeros and ones. What started out as music or speech is broken down by the ADC into a series of zeros and ones that can be recorded, stored and then retrieved by the voice recorder device.

Once retrieved, we’re able to enjoy it in a form which is in a form that we can use, which is sound or speech.

These unique numbers are also assigned to the file of the recorder. When doing a digital voice playback, the unique numbers are read by the Digital to Analog Converter or DAC.

Once the device successfully reads the digital code, it is then turned into sound which is processed by an amplifier. This creates a sound wave which listeners can readily recognize. It’s either music, sounds or a speech, or a combination of these three.

The basic cooperations of digital voice recorders breaks down to the conversion of air pressure (sound waves into electric current which then are broken down into zeros and ones are digital code and stored on a device).

These codes can be retrieved and converted into sound output.

How voice recorder storage works

Audio and music files at the storage level are indistinguishable from each other. They’re all made of digital codes consisting of a sequence of zeros and ones.

They take up very little space when they’re in digital form. However, once they’re converted from this digital state, there are a wide range of formats they can be converted to.

This is the storage format of audio files. The format has a big role to play in the overall sound quality bitrate per second and other features that can impact the size of the file as well as its overall quality.

Here are just some of the most common different file formats for digital audio recordings:

M4A audio

This digital audio format produces the best audio and sound quality among other compressed audio formats. Its file size is smaller than mp3 files, but its sound quality is superior.

You will be able to maximize your recording time and not take up much space in your digital voice recorder or audio recorder, if you store it in the M4A format.

MP3

The MP3 file format is one of the most common file types for both sound and voice recording files. It also adds popularity to its great combination of relatively small file size and higher than average audio recording quality.

Compared to older formats, MP3 files size is smaller. So you can pack a lot more of these files into your digital voice recorders storage space.

It’s not as good as M4A, but it definitely holds its own against older recording formats.

MP4 audio

Generally speaking, people don’t record audio in MP4. This format is primarily used for video files.

Its sound quality is excellent compared to mp3, but it is usually used in conjunction with video. Interestingly though, a lot of voice recorders are offering MP4 audio only format. This is due to the fact that its quality is superior to MP3 and its file size is not too heavy.

FLAC

FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. This is a compressed audio file format that has a bitrate per second which varies depending on the device you use it on.

Many recording professionals consider the quality of this format to be quite good.

WMA

Also known as the Windows Media Player audio format. These formats are specially designed for Windows-based machines.

Overall, it makes for great sound and audio quality, although the file sizes can become unmanageable depending on your storage limitations.

AAC

One of the newer audio recording formats available, Advanced Audio Coding features higher audio and sound quality due to its specialized coding.

It is an up and coming format that isn’t universally supported. Still, an increasing number of devices are getting on the AAC bandwagon.

WAV

Now,this is one of the older audio technology formats. It’s been around for quite some time, and it does produce very high audio playback quality.

Its main downside is its size. You would need quite a bit of storage to adequately store your collection of WAV files.

If your device has a very limited storage capacity, it might not be a good idea to select this format. You may be better off with other more compact audio file types.

What are the advantages of using a Digital Voice Recorder instead of a smartphone app?

While phone recorders and smartphone-based apps can deliver quite a bit of convenience, dedicated digital voice recorder devices offer many beats, smartphone apps and mobile phones on the following factors:

Longer battery life

When you’re using your mobile phone to record your dictations, you’re using an app that pulls from the same battery as your phone’s other applications.

If you haven’t fully charged your phone or you use many battery draining apps, this can be a problem.

You avoid this issue altogether, when you use a standalone digital voice recorder. Its only function is to record your voice, and that’s it.

Compare this with a mobile phone that drains dangerous batteries as you use it for phone calls, taking notes, dictations, playing games, playing music and a wide range of other functions.

The more you use your phone, the more you drain its battery juice. You don’t have that problem with specialized standalone digital voice recording devices.

Better sound quality

Voice recorders are designed for better sound quality. Since digital voice recorders and similar audio devices are intended to record speech and sound for future playback.

You best believe that they record and playback better sound. They do all of this in a pretty easy and intuitive manner.

You click the record button, you can also select race, start, stop, as well as playback is smooth and easy.

Most digital voice recorders or dictaphones have very easy to navigate controls. This is not automatically the case with your typical smartphone voice recorder app.

You not only have to find the right app icon, these apps can differ quite a bit from each other in terms of how they lay out their user interface, and how many features you can access from the apps first screen.

You don’t have any of these problems with the design of the typical digital voice recorder.

Voice recorder controls are easier to access

Voice recorders offer an LED user interface where you can navigate through several layers of intuitive controls to manage or playback your files.

Specialized digital recorders, feature high quality microphones. When you use a mobile phone to record your voice, keep in mind that the microphone you’re speaking to is very small and is primarily designed for making phone calls.

When you look at a typical digital voice recorder, the microphone component is actually much larger and has built in features that cancel out background noise and other distracting sounds.

This is not the case with the typical mobile phone. The noise cancellation features of voice recorders are more sophisticated, and they end up improving the overall sound quality of your recordings in a wide range of situations.

Digital voice recorders are designed with the assumption that you will be whipping out your device in a lot of different social situations and locations, and they especially designed microphones that will record well in these wide ranging circumstances.

Dedicated voice recording devices have built in voice specific features. Voice recorders not only specially tuned to record your voice well, they also include built in editing features that you can use to enhance the quality of the audio files you are recording.

In fact, many of these devices can be activated by your voice. You can command them to start and stop at certain points.

Full format support

Finally, digital voice recording equipment can store your file recordings in a wide range of formats.

If you have a preference for a specific high quality format, there’s a high chance that you will find that safe setting with a digital dictaphone compared to a mobile phone app.

How to transfer files from your digital voice recorder to your computer?

Disconnect your recording device using a standard USB cable. The wire needs to be connected to your computer on the other end.

A prompt will appear. Just follow the prompt to find and set file locations, you can then access and transfer the recording to a specific folder on your computer.

You can also transfer your audio files from your device by using its SD card or flash memory card. Take out the card and put it into an adapter and slip it into your computer.

You can transfer pre recorded files this way, or you can insert an SD or flash memory card until your recorder records the audio and then take out the card and plug it into your personal computer.

How to pick out the right digital voice recorder

When searching for the right device that fits your needs and personal circumstances, pay close attention to the following factors:

• recording time
• battery life
• recording quality
• microphone quality

It’s important to make sure that you focus on finding a device with a high quality microphone. Even if the gadget you find does an amazing job of storing information and can last a very long time as you dictate into it, it still won’t do you much good if the microphone is substandard.

Start your search with the quality of the mic. The top brands for digital voice recorders are Sony and Olympus, because they feature devices with high quality microphones.

They differ from each other in terms of specific recording features as well as recording capacity and duration and price. But what sets them apart from other brands is the quality of the microphones their models ship with.

Select for volume level recording

When picking among different digital recorders, you need to keep in mind that sometimes you will be recording at different volume levels.

Pick a model that will be able to smoothly record your voice regardless of how loud the background sounds become. It has to be sensitive enough to pick up on your voice but not so sensitive that it amplifies background noise. You also have to consider a voice activation.

You don’t want a device that continues to record dead air. As much as possible, you should pick a device that you can activate with your voice, so you can save its battery life and maximize your recording time.

Based on these factors, the most commonly selected digital voice recorders are these Sony UX533 and the Olympus DS-3500.

These are topnotch, high performance units that can deliver high quality recordings for the long haul.

Why the Sony UX533?

If you’re looking to dictate audio files that will eventually be transcribed, this device has you covered. It’s very easy to use.

Its microphone is sensitive enough to produce quality recordings in a wide range of locations and background noise levels. It is also very light, portable and intuitive.

You can easily whip it out. Do a quick recording as you come across ideas and insights. It’s also pulling audio files from it, which is also a breeze.

You don’t have to jump through many hurdles to retrieve audio files from this device.

Check for Sony UX533 Latest Price and Availability

Why does the Olympus DS-3500 make sense?

I’ve used this device quite a bit and when it comes to a dollar for dollar comparison with the Sony UX 533, this device actually produces the best voice recording. On top of that, it is also quite affordable considering its performance and durability.

It has voice activation features, and its display is very intuitive and simple. But don’t let its simple and easily accessible user interface fool you.

It packs quite a bit of efficiency and file handling features in a tight, compact and simple to use or form.

Check for Olympus DS-3500 Latest Price and Availability

Consider these factors if you want to save money

If you’re looking for more affordable models, you might want to consider Dictopro voice recorders. It is quite well known for its low price point and easy interface.

Many dictopro models are below $50 so it’s not going to burn a hole in your pocket.

Don’t let the low price point fool you though. It comes with a very sensitive microphone. Just how sensitive is its mic? Well, it can pick up sound from as far as 60 feet, that is sensitive.

But, it doesn’t just pick up a random sound, you’re not going to be stuck with noise because it has an automatic noise filtration and reduction system.

On top of that, if you are paranoid about somebody accessing your digital voice recordings, it offers password encryption so nobody can easily access your files.

You can easily store and retrieve information through its USB hardware interface.

The final word on digital voice recorder operations

Digital voice recorders convert sound waves into zeros and ones. But there’s quite a variation in how the different devices made by a wide range of brands do their job.

Pull these all off. What you should look for is a device that works best with how you typically record voice files. Do you need long battery life? Are you looking for the lightest device as possible? Is your budget tight?

Just how much noise do you normally encounter when you record your voice? Do you find yourself getting flashes of inspiration in the most unusual and noise prone places?

These are the kinds of questions that you need to ask when picking out the digital voice recorders. It’s not enough to understand how they work but it’s also equally important to have a good understanding of which device features you should focus on, so you can buy the right device.

The information I’ve shared with you above gives you everything you need to know so you can make a fully informed buying decision.

Featured Image Credit

“Microchip PICkit2 rev” by Uwe Hermann is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0