If you are a journalist or a student who needs to take notes or someone needs to record speeches from time to time, you clearly understand the importance of a quality voice recorder.
It is easily simple to think about why you would need to buy a separate voice recorder when your smartphone can do the same. But a smartphone’s voice recordings are nowhere near the quality compared to that of even a basic voice recorder.
In fact, in a test conducted by The Wirecutter, the iPhone6 failed in competition with almost all basic and branded voice recorders. The only time it performed better was in a high noise area (this is because of the iPhone 6’s noise extra cancellation feature)
A quality voice recorder would not only be able to record high-quality audio but also store and play it back better than a smartphone as well. This depends on a couple of factors such as:
- Memory:
Not all recorders come with a lot of inbuilt memory but most digital voice recorders come with a high expandable memory option. Ideally, 32-64 GB is sufficient for most journalists or media personnel. If you are using it for music or anything as such, then look for higher memory variants.
- Longer Battery Life:
Most voice recorders are AAA or AA batteries. Good quality recorders can give you as high as 12-14 hours of battery life on a simple 2 or 3 AAA batteries. This varies from brand to brand, the usual benchmark is 8-10 hours. Always carry an extra set just in case.
- Playback:
The third important feature to look its playback compatibility. Can it rewind and playback as fast as it can record or is it lagging? Playback can be a pretty handy if not an important feature as well.
While these three are important, there are a lot of other features to look for before deciding. These include how compatible is the voice recorder for you to hook it up to your computer or display or how easy is the interface. All of these and more have been covered in detail in the Buying Guide. Make sure you check that out as well. For now, let us jump into our review of the Best Digital Voice Recorders available in India.
Best digital voice recorder in India
| Digital voice recorder | Storage | Battery | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom H1n Voice Recorder | 32 GB | 10 Hours | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Sony ICD-UX560F Voice Recorder | 4 GB + Expandable 128 GB | 6 Hours | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| FiiO Voice Recorder | 16 GB + expandable to 2 TB | 24 Hours | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Zoom H6 Voice Recorder | 2 GB + expandable to 128 GBB | 20 Hours | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Zoom H1 Voice Recorder | 2 GB + expandable to 32 GB | 10 Hours | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Sony ICDPX470.CE7 Voice Recorder | 4 GB + Expandable to 32 GB | 62 Hours | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Sony ICD-PX240 Voice Recorder | 4 GB | 23 - 32 Hours | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| EVISTR Voice Recorder | 16 GB | ~10 Hours | N/A | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Homelae USB Voice Recorder | 16 GB | 6 - 8 Hours | 1 Year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
9 Best digital voice recorder in India: Reviews
1. Zoom H1n Handy Recorder
First on our list is the Zoom H1n Handy digital voice recorder. It is a handy device that does not come with an inbuilt memory.
There is a memory card slot using which can expand the memory up to a massive 32 GB capacity. As for the microphone, it comes with a stereo condenser that is built into the device. This microphone is placed at a 90 degree X and Y format for superior capture of the audio.
It also comes with a tone generator that is perfect for film making usage when you are using the device to double as a microphone for video cameras and DSLRs.
Studded with onetouch button controls, the device also has a micro USB port that will facilitate data exchange through to a computer. You can also use it purely as an audio interface.
It has a great playback speed control and a voice emphasizing filter and also stereo overdubbing functions that will be perfect for more than simple journalism or music creation.
The recorder comes with 1.25 inches wide and long display screen that lets you monitor and manipulate various aspects of the recording with great easy
The recorder can Handle up to a maximum of 120 dB SPL that aids in distortion-free recording. It also supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz of audio which is pure BWF-compliant WAV and also a wide variety of MP3 formats.
With a high functioning of 10 hours of operation, the voice recorder works on alkaline AAA batteries. 2 AAA batteries are required for this and both of them are provided in the packaging of the product.
Coming with a streamlined and aesthetically pleasing body that has a matte finish and a protective enclosure for the microphone, the Zoom H1n digital voice recorder comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Pros
- Visually appealing and ergonomic design
- Can handle up to a maximum of 120 Db SPL
- Distortion free recording
- Supports 24 bit or 96 kHz of audio
- BWF Compliant WAV and MP3 format saving
- Requires 2 AAA batteries that are included in the packaging
- 1.25 inches wide screen
- Expandable upto only 32GB
- 90 degrees X and Y format recording
- Microphone comes with a stereo condenser
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Cons:
- No pre built internal storage
2. Sony ICD-UX560F Digital Voice Recorder
There simply cannot be a list of audio related products without the mention or presence of a Sony product. The Sony ICD UX560F is perhaps one of the most versatile digital voice recorders.
Compared to the Zoom, it wins in the product design, reliability and usability, whereas the Zoom is microphone centric. This makes it perfect for not just audio/music practice but also for using it as a dictaphone as well.
Coming to Sony, it has an inbuilt 4GB memory and a direct PC connectivity. The maximum number of storage files you can place on this is 5000 but this again is totally dependent on the size (Because of the limited 4GB storage). Maximum files per folder are 199. You can also expand the storage of the device using an SD card as well thanks to the SD card slot with expandable to 128 GB
The microphone is not visible outside but it is inbuilt in nature. This microphone is a stereo SMic and the recording format is linear PCM. It can also store the audio in the format of MP3 too.
As for the playback audio format, it can playback the audio in LPCM, MP3, AAC, WMA too. It has a low cut filter and also a VOR sync recording function. The screen/monitor will display and let you edit or control the digital pitch of the audio. You can also select or manipulate for noise cut and clear voice. There is also a graphic equalizer and an easy search within the display.
The display can also be used to select, replay, edit, rename,copy, move and delete recordings without connecting the device to your PC. As for the battery, it has an inbuilt battery which requires you to charge it from time to time and can give you a 5 or 6 hours of run time.
Now talking about the device, it is very sleek looking. You can also use the device to listen to music and also to FM radio as well.
With a good battery backup and the trust of sony, the device comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty from the date of purchase.
Pros
- A Sony product with good quality.
- Sleek and good looking
- Easy to use
- Has a large display screen for editing, playing music and also to listen to FM radio
- Great recording quality with VOR sync functions
- Can give output in LPCM, MP3, AAC, WMA formats
- Noise reduction
- 4GB inbuilt and also has expandable SD card slot up to 128 GB
- 5000 file storage and manipulate within the device
- Directly connect to the PC without any extra USB cable
- Connect to phone as well using an OTG cable
- Inbuilt battery with superior battery and fast charging
- Good customer support
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Cons
- The sound editing software that comes with the recorder is only compatible with Windows OS and thus can be a problem for MAC or other OS users
3. FiiO M3K HiFi Metal Shell Music Player
Next on our list is more of a music player than a direct digital voice recorder which happens to have a good recorder. The M3K HiFi metal shell music player by FiiO has a very low noise floor that has immersive musical experience.
Made specifically for music enthusiasts, the M3K’s core is powered by Ingenic’s X1000E processor. It provides a high and great performance and that too at a very meagre power consumption.
This audio player uses AKM AK4376A, a DAC that has been proven and rated well to be able to decode up to 384kHz or 32-bit audio at a low noise floor as mentioned before. This lets you listen to music at a high clarity and quality.
As for the battery, it has a high battery life of up to 24 hours. When it comes to standby, it can last up to 38 days. For instance, you can use the device for 3.5 hours a day and it can go up to 1 week of performing.
Now getting to the recording points, the M3K has a very high quality microphone that is located on the top right corner of the device. This lets you record any type of audio anywhere thanks to its high fidelity recording and playback. The audiophile audio playback hardware, the M3K has high recording functionality. It stores directly to the micro SD card.
This SD card has a whooping high storage expandable capacity of 2TB, higher than any device in the list. Apart from these, it has high quality capacitive touch buttons. An ultra modern and cool looking UI of the TFT screen. You can also tailor the playback music with the graphic equalizer as well.
While these are all there, the issue lies in some of the promises made by FiiO. Its battery seems to be working fine (not to the 1 week mark though) and its output audio may not be the exact 32 bit as mentioned in the product description above. Reviews suggest that is is somewhat askew.
Coming to the warranty aspects of the device, the music player comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty from the date of purchase.
Pros
- High fidelity recording
- Decent quality microphone
- Ultra cool and stylish UI and product design
- Great audio playback quality
- 38 days standby and 24 hours of playtime
- Capacitive touch screen
- 2TB of massive expandable storage
- 1 Year manufacturer’s warranty
Cons
- Needs to improve product reliability
- Audio playback quality needs to improve
4. Zoom H6 6 Track Portable Digital Recorder
Next on our list is perhaps the best and most comprehensive Portable Digital Recorder on our list. Yet another Zoom product, the H6 is a 6 track digital recorder that is perfect for not just note taking or journaling, but also for podcasts and much more.
With the ability to record up to 6 tracks each of 24 bits or 96 kHz, the recorder can broadcast WAV audio simultaneously. It also has a -12dB safe backup tracks that can be captured using the attachment mics or other input.
The main body of this portable recorder has 4 XLR and TRS combo sockets. These can each be assigned with phantom power independently of others. Each input has its very own control dial that is hardware level. This is on high quality order making it a professional location level recorder with a 020dB pad switch
There are the X/Y, M/S and shotgun microphone system options and also a dual TRS/XLR combo attachment. All of these microphone attachments have pad switch matching and a hardware level control.
It has two primary input microphones in the comprehensive packaging. The M/S and X/Y capsules are included as the standard along with a foam wind-shield that fits both of them comfortable.
The X/Y capsules can be set at either 90 or 120 degrees which are mounted onto a moulded metal piece. This feels very solid as it protects them from any side knocks. But they are still vulnerable from any front impacts.
As for the packaging, it comes with additional mic set, a big carry case and cables that go along with all of these. When it comes to battery, it requires 4 AA batteries and they too are included in the packaging.
The memory is expandable up to 128GB and 2 SD cards along with the adapter are provided with the packaging. On an overall, the Zoom H6 is a great buy for anyone who is into serious amateur or semi professional recording. Zoom also provides 1 year of manufacturer’s warranty for India.
Pros
- Comprehensive microphone setup
- 4 input ports
- Hardware level control dials
- X/Y 90 degree and 120 degree alterable microphone set up
- 2 different additional mics provided
- Requires 4AA batteries that are included in the packaging.
- Backlit screen for toggling and viewing
- Easy playback
- Sturdy carry case provided
- 1 year warranty
Cons
- None found to mention
5. Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder
The H1 Handy Recorder from Zoom is one of the simplest and most portable professional digital voice recorders ever. From musical performances, rehearsals, to journalism,seminars and conferences the H1 can give you clear and clean stereo audio effortlessly.
The H1’s onboard microphones have an X/Y pattern configuration of 90 degrees that give a clean and clear stereo imaging. As both of the mics are on the same axis, they stand equally apart from the sound source thus create perfect localization and thus result in no phase shifting. This results in good quality stereo recordings with accurate imaging and a natural depth.
The interface of the Zoom H1is new and very easy to record and use. The functions such as track marker, auto record, low cut filter, volume control and so on can be controlled with the onboard buttons with no menu options required.
Such intuitive controls make audio capturing a very easy task. The total recording flexibility ranges from the basic 16-bit or 44.1 kHz to a decent 24-bit or 96 kHz in both MP3 and WAV formats. The quality of these goes from simple 48 kbps to as high as 320 kbps
The recorder makes use of a single battery (That is included in the package) and can run for about 10 hours without interruption. It also comes with a 2 GB microSD card and is expandable to about 32 GB.
You can easily mount this device on top of your DSLR or other camera equipment to double down as an external microphone for an amplified audio experience. The display is backlit and lets you know of the playback, recording and much more.
Steinberg WaveLab LE software is also provided within the package for better manipulation of the audio. Additionally, you are also given a USB cable and a mic clip adapter.
A simple and easily affordable digital voice recorder on the list, the Zoom H1 comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty available from the date of purchase
Pros
- Comes with a X/Y 90 degree configuration for perfect stereo image capture
- Steinberg WaveLab LE software (LE8 and LE9)
- Has the same frequency and SPL handling as the Zoom H2
- Can record and Broadcast in WAV at 96kHz or 48kHz or 44.1kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit
- Records MP3 from basic 48 bps to massive 320 kbps
- USB Port 2.0
- 1 AA alkaline (included) or even a NiMH rechargeable battery can work,
- 10 hours of battery life
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Cons
- None to mention specifically
6. Sony ICDPX470.CE7 4GB Digital Voice Recorder
Yet another Sony device on the list, the Sony ICDX470.CE7 is a portable and handy 4GB digital voice recorder.
It comes with an inbuilt 4GB memory which can be expanded to about 32 GB. As for the connectivity, it comes with an inbuilt USB much like the other sony products listed here. These inbuilt USBs let faster file transfer.
As for the microphone systems, the recorder has an S microphone system which has the ability to record distant and quiet sounds very clearly.
It can record in MP3 and also in L-PCM formats. Unlike the previous sony product, it makes use of removable batteries. It needs 2 AAA size alkaline batteries. It can also work on Ni-MH rechargeable batteries as well but none of the both are included in the packaging.
Coming to the capacity of recording, the digital voice recorder has a large recording time of 159 hours and as for the batteries, they can run along as far as 62 hours.
It has a neat backlit screen, highly sensitive microphones too. It does not have voice activation recording mode but does have a recording monitor. It does not have a limiter but has a low cut filter to it. It also has digital pitch control and also can cut out any external noise.
As for the product, Sony provides a 1 year seller based manufacturer’s defect warranty from the date of purchase.
Pros
- Sleek and stylish design
- Inbuilt USB stick
- S microphone system with low cut filter
- Backlit display with recording monitor
- Digital pitch control
- External noise cut
- Can record in MP3 and L-PCM
- Makes use of 2 AAA size batteries
- 1 year warrantyformats
Cons
- 4GB internal memory and can be expandable to 32 GB
7. Sony ICD-PX240 MP3 Digital Voice IC Recorder
Yet another Sony product on our list, the ICD-PX240 is a portable digital Voice Recorder that i lightweight and mostly an inexpensive device.
The Sony ICD-PX240 Voice Recorder gives you a staggering 31 hours of recording at a go but this cannot be true at all cases. It also comes with a USB inbuilt to it much like the other Sony devices on the list. It can be directly plugged into the PC without any much hassle.
It has an internal memory of 4GB that generally equals to about 1043 hours of audio or dictations. There is a large LCD panel screen that will display the battery life, the playback options, and also lets you manipulate the folder system. This lets you organize, rename, delete and manipulate all the recordings without the need for a computer.
Getting to the speaker, Sony packs a punch with its 300mW capable speaker. It has a very powerful inbuilt stereo input type microphone. Hardware buttons on it are of great size and convenient font that fit in your arm for better use.
The Sony ICD-PX240 can record in 4 different modes, one is Super high quality mode, High quality mode, the Standard play mode and the Long play mode. In the Long Play mode, you can record a very low quality MP4 audio at the rate of 2kbps where as in the Super High Quality mode, you can record a decent quality MP3 at the rate of 192kbps. But here is the catch, the ICD-PX240 can only record in MP3 format and nothing else.
As we said before, the battery discharging is an issue that needs to be taken care of. It comes with 2 AAA batteries that are included in the packaging.
Good to be a dictaphone, the Sony ICD-PX240 comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty available from the date of purchase.
Pros
- Simple and handheld
- 300Mw Capable Speakers
- Powerful inbuilt stereo microphone
- Needs 2 AAA batteries that are included
- Comes with an inbuilt USB
- Records in 4 different modes
- Comes with an LCD display that lets you know of the battery, shows files and can manipulate them
- 1 Year warranty
Cons
- Quick battery drainage
- Has a 4GB internal storage but can be expanded to 32 GB only
- Can record only in MP3 fashion
8. EVISTR 16GB Digital Voice Recorder
Next on our list is the EVISTR. It is the only voice activated digital voice recorder in our entire list.
An updated design, the EVISTR comes with a 16 GB internal storage. The new and updated model seems to have a dynamic noise cancellation microphone. This lets it capture audio as high as 1536 KBps WAV format thus giving you crystal clear audio.
Apart from that you can set it to any recording quality you wish for. Apart from the high range, you can even go for an MP3 of 128 KBPS or 48 KBPS. The device is both Windows and MAC compatible.
With its unique voice activated technology, you can capture the audio only when a person is speaking. This will reduce the blank snippets of whispering. But please note that when the voice activated mode is turned on, you keep it somewhat near to the source where it is high and audible. The mode will ignore low decibel noises thus low whispers cannot be caught.
There is a micro USB cable that can be used to charge the device and also to link it to the computer to transfer or download files. A great gift for people who do a lot of note recording and also acts as a great dictaphone too.
It also comes with a large LCD screen for you to manipulate, edit, rename or delete files without the use of a computer. The package comes with a set of earphones as well which you can use to listen to the recorded audio playback.
While all of these are cool, the device does disappoint a little when it comes to battery backup. Also, there is no warranty for the product which is kind of a bit disappointing.
Pros
- Voice activated portable voice recorder
- 16 GB internal storage
- Can record in max 128 KBps MP3 and a max 1536 Kbps in WAV format
- Large LCD screen
- USB cable based charging
- Also comes with a set of earphones for easier playback
Cons
- No warranty
- Battery backup is not sufficient
9. Homelae USB Mini Digital Voice Recorder
Straight out of a Bond movie, the Homelae HL-039 is a true surveillance type digital voice recorder that comes with dual USB and a decent 16GB storage. It can work as both a digital voice recorder and also as a USB thumb drive as well
First up, the device comes with a strong and powerful battery that will work non stop for a whole day. There is no playback feature but you can directly plug up the device to a Windows or Mac computer and listen to the files in an instant. There is a small micro USB which lets you listen to the audio even on your Android phone too.
The device can record high quality and professional audio at the rate of 128 Kbps in MP3 format which gives clear and crisp audio. There is one key to record and one to hit save thus is simple in operation.
The memory, internal, is 16 GB and can store up to a maximum of 300 hours of audio. Roughly about 2500 songs, it can run for as long as 6-8 hours. This is due to its lithium ion based internal battery of 150mAH capacity. For a full charge, it hardly takes about 2 hours and there is a backlight indicator which will blink when the capacity of the battery is below 10%.
In cases of shut down, the drive automatically save the audio recorded till then. It comes with a beautifully crafted metal case that you can easily hide and carry in your pocket. It comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty for any product defects due to making.
Pros
- Easy to use and portable design
- Acts as both a thumb drive and a voice recorder
- 150mAH internal lithium ion battery that takes 2 hour to full charge and can run for about 6-8 hours
- 300 hours of audio power
- A low battery indicator blinker
- Dual USB ports one for plugging into a PC and another for using directly for the mobile.
- 1 year manufacturer’s warranty
Cons
- No display
- Cannot work as a fully professional device except for spying and surveillance
- Comparatively low memory of just 16 GB
Digital Voice Recorder Buying Guide
A cheap digital voice recorder might sound like a deal to take but often can lead to disasters. What if you are in a criminal lair trying to tap a gangster who is about to confess something big and your recorder fails to power on or worse, run out of batteries?
In this buying guide, we are going to walk you through all the important aspects that will help you pick the best digital voice recorder.
Dictaphone vs Digital Voice recorder:
Before we jump into the mayhem of how to pick a voice recorder, you need to understand that a digital voice recorder is different from a dictaphone.
A voice recorder (or) a notetaker are devices that are used to record multiple speaker audio sessions such as interviews, lectures, meetings and large groups etc., These are audios that need minimal interruption and are usually go long till the need is fulfilled.
A dictaphone, on the other hand, is an instrument that is ideal for multiple interruptions and a single person speech. As the name suggests, dictaphone lets you dictate some notes at regular intervals.
In a voice recorder, once you hit the record button and stop it, you essentially create a new file. Whereas in a dictaphone, you pause and record again, you are essentially continuing the same file. Like you are dictating a letter or an essay with pauses to think of more words.
Voice Recorders record voice in multiple formats such as MP3, PCM, WMA or.WAV which requires large file sizes. This is cause recording for longer durations of time requires far fewer interruptions and thus increasing the size of the file. Dictaphones, on the other hand, save files using .dss or .ds2 audio formats. They are small and can easily be sailed across the internet via email or messages.
Now that you have understood the difference between either product, let us look at the important factors you need to look that help you pick a good voice recorder.
1. Sound Quality
The first and foremost thing that you look for in a digital voice recorder is the quality of sound it will give you. And this is decided by the type of input your voice recorder takes in. Is it stereo or mono style output?
By default, a stereo input is considered superior compared to a mono input. But then again, there is no need to spend mounds of money on the stereo when your needs are mono. How do you know that?
If you are an amateur user; i.e, a simple student who needs to record notes or some corporate/business person taking their memos/reminders, go with the mono input basic sound recorders.
But if you are a press reporter looking to take in quotes or a serious journalist or someone who would later repurpose this audio file, then go with stereo input.
Modern digital voice recorders come with mixed input styles. You can switch from stereo to mono to save a lot of card memory too depending on your usage.
2. Microphone
While the mono and stereo input decides the quality of sound, the real quality is decided at the source. What can decide the input quality than the microphone itself?
How sensitive and directional your microphone decides the quality of input your audio is going to be. There are various bi and unidirectional microphones and also 360-degree microphones as well. While there is no specific use case on as to how to choose which microphone, understand that a 360-degree omnidirectional microphone is a bit expensive.
So if you are simply a note-taking person, then you can take a bi or unidirectional microphone and be done with it. If you are a professional journalist, then you may do good with a multi-directional microphone.
3. Battery Power
The next important aspect that you need to look for in a digital voice recorder is its battery power. Digital voice recorders do not come with inbuilt batteries. They make use of regular AAA or AA batteries. As a rule of thumb, more battery means more power. As the energy storing capacity of a battery is directly proportional to its size, Try going for AA size than a AAA. Then again, if your recorder comes with 3 AAA than 2 AA, it is fine too.
4. Memory storage capacity
Apart from the battery, the next big important thing that you need to think about is its memory. This is the question of how much of the device are you going to use. Are your needs too heavy and the files too big that you need a large memory device or are you flexible?
There are a lot of digital voice recorders that begin with 8GB or 16GB of memory capacity. But these are non-expandable in nature and may cause you to constantly upload and refresh your device. Nowadays, a lot of expandable variants are available which let you expand the memory on your device
You would need an extra card reader or need to place the disk on another device to read it on your computer. Apart from that, these models are more available in non-branded devices. Most of such models come with unreliable microphones are other aspects (the functionality of those are unrelated to the memory but this has been an observed phenomenon)
5. Operating System Compatibility
The next thing that you need to look for in a digital voice recorder is its compatibility with a computer. Most of the digital voice recorders come with USB ports that increase their compatibility with computers. You can plug them in and upload or manipulate your recordings with ease.
Higher compatibility gives your digital voice recorder greater flexibility. They can even double as a dictaphone as well. Such featured digital voice recorders even come with various features that let you convert your audio into the text as well. Pretty handy for students, journalists and people within the research community.
6. Playback Features
When you are recording using a digital voice recorder, you need the device to be able to playback your recordings to you. This rewind feature lets you get a quick recap of what you just recorded. Generic voice recorders may not hold a lot of playback features.
But good quality voice recorders come with multiple playback features. These include a normal speed, speed variation, specific voice recording recall etc.,
7. Frequency and Input manipulation settings
Apart from the microphone and the input audio quality, there are certain other factors that decide the overall recording quality. There are multiple other settings such as the frequency shift, mode setting and shifting among others. These features let you record, manipulate and store your audio in better quality.
8. Audio Fidelity
Audio Fidelity is all about how accurate the sound is when recorded via digital medium. This depends on two major factors. They are the bit depth and the sampling rate of the audio input.
Apart from these, the mono and stereo input type of audio also decide the audio fidelity of the recording. Better audio fidelity is achieved at higher sampling rates and for stereo outputs.
9. Other features
When you are holding a dictaphone or a voice recorder, it is no good if it could simply record voice. It should be able to do a little more than that. There are a wide range of other options that are available in most digital voice recorders.
There are recorders with dedicated buttons that when pressed, stop the recording, save it and go create a new recording to progress. Features such as screen (which gives you a real time update on your recording progress), file viewing, file deleting etc. are a few prominent features to name.
Types of Digital Voice Recorders
Not a lot are available but there are three major types of audio recorders available in the market.
- Dictaphone
Used to dictate notes and what not, as mentioned before they are totally if not somewhat different from that of a typical audio recorder
- Voice activated Audio recorders
Mostly used during surveillance and by law enforcement, as the name suggests, they are activated by voice. Placed in un-conspicuous places, they have very sensitive and highly trained microphones. The moment they hear voices (not noise but sound by humans), they get triggered and activated.
As amazing as they are, they do come with drawbacks. For instance, they are only good for surveillance. The voice activation may be delayed or by default is not a good piece of equipment for dictation or for musical recording.
- Digital Voice recorders
The prime products, a digital voice recorder records more than just voice. It can record and store audio for later usage. They even have modulators among many other features a typical dictaphone lacks.
They also come with LCD screens that let you know of the charge left, change recording, ease up playback and much more. As the name suggests, they can be easily hooked up to a computer and be dealt with too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dictaphones are devices that let you record and sometimes even convert audio into text (only few models). Mostly they began as recording devices for business executives to dictate audio that has to be later typed into an essay, a letter, a message or an entry.
In order to hooking up your dictaphone or digital voice recorder to your computer, you would need a USB cable. After you plug it up, you would be able to access the recorder device as a folder within your computer. Through simple copy and paste actions, you can transfer these files.
There are voice recorders which do not come with a USB connectivity but come with an SD card. In such cases, you would need an SD card reader. You would place the card on this reader and then plug it into the computer.
A digital voice recorder comes with a dedicated microphone which has the ability to record even the minute audio detail, exclude noise and provide you a quality audio file. A mobile microphone is not built for noise cancellation. Thus even though you receive a good quality of audio, it is not on par with that of a dictaphone or a digital voice recorder.
Moreover, for people who use these devices seriously, a digital voice recorder is much simpler to use than that of a smartphone.
The Homelae USB mini digital voice recorder is by far the easiest and simplest voice recorder. It does not have any screen but can be used as a sleek spy equipment that can be hidden anyplace like a USB drive. It also doubles as a USB drive too.
If you are looking for a professional and comparatively high end recording device, then the Zoom H6 6 Track Portable Digital Recorder is the pick to take. It is high end, comes with 4 different input ports, separate handlers for all microphones with it own hardware level control and a detailed screen setting. Perfect for audiophiles, podcasts, journalists and much more.
Wrapping it Up
If you are a journalist, a medical professional or anyone with serious need of keeping track of someone saying something, a digital voice recorder is the device to pick. Of all the incredible devices in the list, the Zoom H1N Digital Voice Recorderis the best digital voice recorder to pick based on multiple reviews and ratings. It has visually appealing and ergonomically built design and can handle upto a maximum 120 Db SPL. With distortion free recording, 24 bit audio support of both MP3 and WAV quality along with its 1.25 inches screen, it also comes with a 1 year warranty as well.
While those were our picks, we are eagerly waiting to hear your thoughts and opinions. Did we miss out on anything? Or do you wish to add something? If you have any questions relating to digital voice recorders or any other tech product, feel free to write to us in the comments section below. Our product expert team will write back to you as soon as possible.
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