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Jayst84
15-03-2009, 11:21
Hi all,

Does anybody have any experience with digital voice recorders? I'm completely in the dark when it comes to what's good/ bad/ needed.

I'm thinking of getting one soon though, as I'm trying to get more serious about my documentary and journalism photography. So I thought it'd be good for general note taking, as well as for putting some multi-media pieces together.

So, can anybody point me in the right direction? I've had a bit of a look around and some seem to be crazy prices. Being a student who still owes five grand on camera gear, I can't afford anything too fancy.

Any help will be gratefully received. :)

Cheers,

Jamie.
CSB
15-03-2009, 11:25
For ultimate cheapness, use your mobile phone ;)
OutLore
15-03-2009, 11:26
How long will each recording need to be? And what kind of quality?

If you're on a budget, how about using a mobile which has an interchangable memory card?
Jayst84
15-03-2009, 12:05
For ultimate cheapness, use your mobile phone ;)

How long will each recording need to be? And what kind of quality?

If you're on a budget, how about using a mobile which has an interchangable memory card?

Very good point. Having a crappy $20 mobile I hadn't thought of that.

I'm looking for pretty decent quality for using in multimedia stuff. Saying that, I know exactly nothing about audio files, do you need 'good' quality for voice stuff? I'm thinking the kind of stuff you see on Burn Magazine, MediaStorm, et al. Voice over slideshows. Length of recordings would vary greatly I imagine, depending on the situation; from sound bites of a few seconds, to longer interview style recordings.
frostbear
15-03-2009, 12:13
There's a cracking Olympus one that comes with software converting voice into text, plugs straight into the USB port too. Sorry, not sure of the model or price, one of my mates swears by it. I'll post details when i speak to him later.
CSB
15-03-2009, 12:18
If you want to record a voice over I would do that at home with a proper microphone connected to a computer. You can get a decent microphone from Maplins and use some free software for recording and cleaning up your audio called Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)
Jayst84
15-03-2009, 12:22
There's a cracking Olympus one that comes with software converting voice into text, plugs straight into the USB port too. Sorry, not sure of the model or price, one of my mates swears by it. I'll post details when i speak to him later.

Sounds interesting, thanks for that.

If you want to record a voice over I would do that at home with a proper microphone connected to a computer. You can get a decent microphone from Maplins and use some free software for recording and cleaning up your audio called Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)

If I'm out on a shoot though, particularly if it's in a dodgier location, there's a good chance I won't have my laptop with me. I'm thinking subject voice over, not just mine.
frostbear
15-03-2009, 12:23
This is the one my pal swears by:

http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/2581_digital_recorder_ws-110_dns_19345.htm

About £80
frostbear
15-03-2009, 12:24
Sounds interesting, thanks for that.



If I'm out on a shoot though, particularly if it's in a dodgier location, there's a good chance I won't have my laptop with me. I'm thinking subject voice over, not just mine.

Sorry, just noticed you're in Australia, not sure how cost/availabilty works out down under
photon
15-03-2009, 12:29
Take a look at the Zoom H2
Jayst84
15-03-2009, 12:32
Sorry, just noticed you're in Australia, not sure how cost/availabilty works out down under

No worries, thanks for the link. :)
frostbear
15-03-2009, 12:42
No worries, thanks for the link. :)

No probs, hope you get what you're after:thumbs: