Looking for a digital voice recorder

Special Interest Groups Recording Equipment
1

Hello. I’ve become overwhelmed looking at different recorders, and I thought I would finally just seek help.

I’m looking for a recorder with the following features:

  • To be mostly used to record interviews, but it would be nice if it could also record high quality musical performances as well.
  • Has some kind of voice activated mechanism.
  • Has the ability to index/bookmark files.
  • Has the ability to insert comments over/into interviews (preferably without altering the original recording).

I’m not sure if such a device exists, but if it does and you know what it is, please help me!

Thanks so much.

2

Many people on and off the forum like the Zoom recorders. Search the forum and Google.

Koz

3

Stumbled across my own solution: Olympus DS-2400. Seems to fit all my criteria.

4

Does the Olympus use a proprietary format? Can you get the files off of it onto your computer?

– Bill

5

From the Olympus website:

“Recordings are saved in the high-quality DSSPro format and users have the choice of various recording modes including the new extra-high-quality QP mode. … Files can be downloaded quickly and easily to a PC or Mac via Hi-Speed USB and integrated in the office workflow thanks to the included DSS Player software.”

i.e. you can download the files to your PC, but you will need a separate converter to convert them to WAV or other standard formats, if you want to edit them in Audacity (or any other audio editing program). Googling DSSPro returned links to a number of sites offering converters.

POL

6

Well… Maybe too late for chipacles,… but who knows if someone else stumbles upon this thread:
the tascam DR-100 could help you for 3 out of 4. I don’t believe there’s capability for the “overdubbing”,… but the rest is available.
What I thought was super is the possibility to connect two external mics (2x xlr entry),… so your options for mic quality are open.
The built-in mics to choose from:

  • 2 condensors directional: i was pretty impressed with the result, though an external XLR connected (even phantom powered if needed) XML-990 (LDC mic) accompanied with a Shure SM58… (more cables, and stuff to take with of course). impressed me even more.
  • 2 omni-directional. the omni… I would leave for what it is…

recording can be selected among different formats (WAV/MP3) and quality
I believe in all formats though there’s a high-top on 16kHz.