I have taken to using an Olympus VN 3100-PC and what it loses in 'hi-fi quality sound it makes up for in ease of use and being compact. I can download the tunes onto my computer and store them easily.
The only 'against' is that files are not saved as MP3 or WAV and thsi restricts my ability to convert it onto CD - but as I never needed it for this purpose anyway it suits me fine.
re file formats: The Creative Zen V records in wav format with the pinhole mic, so you can drag-n-drop those files into Audacity.
The line-in feature uses wma format, so you have to "rip" (re-record) them with Audacity to be able to edit or tweak them. With my (somewhat dated) version of Audacity, anyway.
I just bought a Zoom H2, and I have found it to be exactly what I needed! It records in MP3 or WAV files. It has 4 microphones that can be used in several configurations including "surround-sound". It can be hooked up to a computer as a card reader, or as a microphone.
I bought one of those Olympus dictaphones, and it is really convenient, but the quality isn't there.
Thanks for the advice everyone. Not looking for high quality recordings, just something to use to record tunes to learn at home. In the past I used a Sony cassette dictaphone which worked really well but now looking for a new one.
I did try to record on my mobile phone, it has a voice recorder but the quality was awful. I guess the more expensive mp3 models work better.
I have an olympus dictaphone which i bought for this purpose. But the quality is bad, very bad and everything plays back flat. I have to tune down to play along with my recordings.
I also have a sansa MP3 player, which I bought for listening to music on, of course! It turned out that the recorder on this is great. Easy to use, easy to download, recordings are very nice quality and in tune. This was a nice bonus as I had not got this use in mind when I bought the item. I have even broadcast a recording from this recorder on the radio. If you don't also want an 8GB MP3 player, then this is not for you. But if you do, this is a good package. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandisk-Sansa-e280-Video-Player/dp/B000IT62UK
Just say away from the cheeper Olympus machines.
Argos do a good cheap cassette one for about 30 euros, i don't know what brand it is, but they have a selection of them, i got the cheapest one and its perfect for this kind of thing, i think it might be called talkboy
Sony do a good one,it costs around €50,but let me remind you that cassettes are rapidly going out of fashion and are becoming increasingly harder to get!
Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
Can anybody recommend a cheap (£40 or less) dictaphone which works well for recording sessions?
Thanks for the help,
Allan
# Posted on January 13th 2008 by ginjaninja
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
Have you looked at mobile phones that are also MP3 players ?Nokkia do some at a reasonable price through Virgin .
# Posted on January 13th 2008 by bazouki dave and the real tooty flutey
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
I like my Creative Zen V mp3 player with voice recorder:
http://shopper.cnet.com/mp3-players/creative-zen-v-plus/4014-6490_9-31960036.html?tag=pdtl-list
Also has a "Line In" port so you can record LPs or whatever, bypassing the pinhole microphone. And it is tiny--the size of cigarette lighter.
# Posted on January 13th 2008 by mickray
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
I have taken to using an Olympus VN 3100-PC and what it loses in 'hi-fi quality sound it makes up for in ease of use and being compact. I can download the tunes onto my computer and store them easily.
The only 'against' is that files are not saved as MP3 or WAV and thsi restricts my ability to convert it onto CD - but as I never needed it for this purpose anyway it suits me fine.
As for cost - I bought mine for about £34!!
D
# Posted on January 14th 2008 by Welshman
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
Welshman-
I wonder if you put them in Audacity, you might be able to export them in mp3 or wav format
# Posted on January 14th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
re file formats: The Creative Zen V records in wav format with the pinhole mic, so you can drag-n-drop those files into Audacity.
The line-in feature uses wma format, so you have to "rip" (re-record) them with Audacity to be able to edit or tweak them. With my (somewhat dated) version of Audacity, anyway.
# Posted on January 14th 2008 by mickray
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
I just bought a Zoom H2, and I have found it to be exactly what I needed! It records in MP3 or WAV files. It has 4 microphones that can be used in several configurations including "surround-sound". It can be hooked up to a computer as a card reader, or as a microphone.
I bought one of those Olympus dictaphones, and it is really convenient, but the quality isn't there.
# Posted on January 14th 2008 by GoatBasher
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
I'm waiting for my dic ta phone.
# Posted on January 14th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
Thanks for the advice everyone. Not looking for high quality recordings, just something to use to record tunes to learn at home. In the past I used a Sony cassette dictaphone which worked really well but now looking for a new one.
I did try to record on my mobile phone, it has a voice recorder but the quality was awful. I guess the more expensive mp3 models work better.
# Posted on January 14th 2008 by ginjaninja
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
I have an olympus dictaphone which i bought for this purpose. But the quality is bad, very bad and everything plays back flat. I have to tune down to play along with my recordings.
I also have a sansa MP3 player, which I bought for listening to music on, of course! It turned out that the recorder on this is great. Easy to use, easy to download, recordings are very nice quality and in tune. This was a nice bonus as I had not got this use in mind when I bought the item. I have even broadcast a recording from this recorder on the radio. If you don't also want an 8GB MP3 player, then this is not for you. But if you do, this is a good package.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandisk-Sansa-e280-Video-Player/dp/B000IT62UK
Just say away from the cheeper Olympus machines.
# Posted on January 14th 2008 by proinsiasrua
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
Argos do a good cheap cassette one for about 30 euros, i don't know what brand it is, but they have a selection of them, i got the cheapest one and its perfect for this kind of thing, i think it might be called talkboy
# Posted on January 14th 2008 by Rollix
Re: Cheap dictaphone for recording sessions
Sony do a good one,it costs around €50,but let me remind you that cassettes are rapidly going out of fashion and are becoming increasingly harder to get!
# Posted on January 15th 2008 by TradChic