Best Voice Recorder for Mostly Mac User
September 19, 2013 7:28 PM   Subscribe

I am looking a voice recorder that is less than or around $100. It needs to be compatible with a Mac and PC. It needs to record both interviews and large classroom lectures. I looked at this thread but the models recommended are either too expensive and/or out of date. http://ask.metafilter.com/201610/Best-digital-voice-recorder-for-a-Mac-user-doing-PhD-research.
posted by turtlefu to Computers & Internet (11 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
How about plugging a mic into a Mac, iPhone or iPad? I'm sure there would be lots of models to choose from.
posted by kdern at 7:39 PM on September 19, 2013


I don't own one but I've seen a number of people using this (or very similar) Sony recorders. They seem to be simple and get the job done. The only thing I don't like about its specs is that it uses a Mini-USB instead of the now more common Micro-USB. But that's a pretty minor issue.

The main things to avoid, speaking as a fellow Mac user, are recorders that use a proprietary format. I'm pretty sure most of those are gone from the market (my ancient Olympus records to something called "DSS" format ... avoid it like the plague if you see it). But from looking over the current models they finally seemed to have abandoned that nonsense in favor of MP3/WMA and sometimes WAV recording.
posted by Kadin2048 at 7:57 PM on September 19, 2013


Digital recorders in general have gotten so much better for the price that I would just get a recorder like a Zoom H1 or Zoom H2 rather than something that is specifically for voice. The voice recorders (olympus) I've heard have terrible sound quality compared to a Zoom.

Iphones can also sound quite good. Better than the last generation of voice recorders.
posted by umbĂș at 9:54 PM on September 19, 2013


Look for ones with two microphones pointing in different directions at the top. This Tascam meets all your requirements.
posted by 2ghouls at 9:55 PM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]


I've got a very similar model to the one Kadin2048 posted which is great. Cost me $80 AUD when I got it new a couple of years ago; the best thing about it is that it seems to be more or less unbreakable. I've treated it horribly and it still kicks along.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 11:21 PM on September 19, 2013


I bought a Sly USB MP3 Player 2 GB with Voice Recorder several years ago. The recording quality is surprisingly good. It looks like there's a similar 8GB version available on Ebay.
posted by zinon at 12:12 AM on September 20, 2013


A smartphone with a recording app and a little microphone does as good a job as most dedicated recorders. On Android a good recording app is "Tapemachine." I am sure similar apps work on iPhones.
posted by feets at 12:44 AM on September 20, 2013


Caveat: "as good as most dedicated recorders in your price bracket"
posted by feets at 12:45 AM on September 20, 2013


Thirding Kadin2048's Sony. ms scruss has one, and it's almost the equal of our Marantz 620, and much easier to get a decent recording out of with minimal fiddling.
posted by scruss at 4:26 AM on September 20, 2013


The Zoom is excellent, I agree.
posted by shivohum at 4:48 AM on September 20, 2013


I have used many portable recorders over the years. Hands down the best recorder for under $100 is the Zoom H1. Fantastic quality, easy to use.
posted by Lutoslawski at 10:05 AM on September 20, 2013


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