Recorders

iPod or iPod Nano with a recorder attachment.

Works great. Hard to delete on accident. Jumps to the PC or MAC when you plug it in.

Does a good job and can be very compact and handy.

 

If you cover a Nick Saban team, you'd better save every interview somewhere. There will be days when you will need them. Don't scoff. I know what I'm talking about.

I called it my quote cellar. Many a time a guy who shares the beat with me would ask something like, "Do you have anything in a vintage blitz package quote?"

And there are all kinds of other advantages I'm too tired to list.

 

Well, you can always post interviews online ya know ...

 

I don't know why I never thought of using the headphone jack --> mic jack idea before. Just tried it and work. Wow, that's great.

I'll have to check on the phone thing too, as well as laws in FL.

 

IPOD. Also, I keep every interview and archive it. That's after I transcribe it (only on my beat, not all subjects).

IT'S INVALUABLE. Type up your notes and keep them. The audio files are great when you need something about 6 months ago.

 

OK, I have it narrowed down to the Olympus VN-3100PC and the iPod thingy. What will be the lucky item?

 

If you're expensing it, go with the ipod.

 

We may be talking about different gadgets, then. Mine has a pass-through connection for the phone line and mini-plugs for the recorder's microphone and headphone jacks, along with a two-position switch on the pass-through allowing me to choose between recording and playback. Theoretically, I could also play things back over the phone but I've never used that function.

 

That's the thing I was talking about originally. What didn't you get about it? Just curious if I explained something wrong.

 

Is there any way the file can transcribe itself?

 

I think I saw one listed on Radio Shack or Best Buy's site. It comes with software and whatnot that you put on your computer, but odds are that is mangles half the stuff, especially if you're dealing with someone that doesn't have a great command of the English language.

And it probably shorts out when Mad Dog Russo attempts to use it.

 

Is this heaven?

No. It's a recorder that transcribes itself.