Audio recorder

I use an Olympus WS-311M. It's got a USB port, great sound clarity even in a loud environment, battery seems to last a long time, you can subdivide your files into multiple folders and you can play things back in three speeds.

 

I've two Olympus. They were very different but neither was difficult to figure out, so I would recommend going with them. Also, try to find one with a USB. I haven't had the good fortune of owning one of those yet, but I know some folks who do and they love them.

 

Most efficient way to roll:

 

Thanks for all the responses. I noticed the first couple of Olympus recorders mentioned were high up in the $150-200 range.
To be specific, I don't have many writing opportunities, so I only write maybe 2-3 stories a month. I was looking for something in the $40-60 range. I was looking at the Olympus VN-7600 PC, which is listed at $59.99 retail.

I would like one where I could segment my interviews, and I believe this does this. Is there anything wrong with this particular model, or can someone recommend me another one?

Thanks again for all the replies, I truly appreciate it.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1517

 

Yup, that'll do the trick.

 

Mine's a VN-5200PC, which is listed at the same price. No idea what the difference is, but I doubt you'll be disappointed either way.

 

Never disappointed with my Olympus recorders. Only have bought multiple to a) upgrade capacity and features or b) replace lost one.

 

I have an Olympus VN-4100PC, think it was $35-$40 or so. Among other things, it's been caught underneath a rocking chair and accidentally run through a washing machine. Still works fine, though the 'play' button is a bit off-kilter.

 

I use the Olympus VN5200-PC. They're all great. I'd recommend an Olympus recorder to anyone.

Stay far, far, far, far away from anything with RCA on it. To call it crap would be an insult to crap.

 

Exactly the model I bought yesterday at Target after my stone-age cassette recorder gave up the ghost. The batteries included, BTW, were dead, so I had to duck back into the store and buy a set of AAA's.

Worked absolutely great. Awesome quality and some nifty features. You done good.

 

A few months ago, my microcassette recorder died for good. Since our only real option here is Walmart, I looked there. Found a Sony digital recorder for about $35-40. It has a "divide" function so you can break up the interview into segments and also has an A-B loop function. You push the button at the beginning of the segment you need to hear and again at the end. It will loop though that continuously until you push play to resume normal function or stop. And even on super high quality audio, it can record 12 hours worth of stuff. There's different models, so you might even be able to find a cheaper one.

My first digital recorder was an RCA and it was crap. The record light was in the mike, which meant the interviewee could see it but I couldn't and I don't know how often it turned out the thing hadn't run and, of course, it didn't run during the part where my notes were the least coherent. That was why I had gone back to a cassette recorder.

 

The iTalk has had the best quality for me hands down. I can still make out what people are saying in a pretty high wind.