Digital Voice Recorder
July 23rd, 2005 by Steve Pavlina
Email this article to a friend
I recently bought an Olympus WS-100 digital voice recorder. This particular recorder was recommended by a contributor to SpeakerNet News.
I like the Olympus WS-100 for several reasons:
- It uses flash memory, so I don’t have to fuss with microcassettes or mini-CDs.
- It only weights a couple ounces and is about the size of two packs of gum.
- It uses a single AAA battery that supposedly lasts about 13 hours of recording/playback time.
- It can record 27 hours of audio at the lowest quality or 4.5 hours at best quality.
- It plugs into a USB port, so I can easily download anything I record to my PC or laptop — I access the unit just like an extra hard drive, no extra software required, and audio files are stored in WMA format.
- I can upload WMA audio files to it and listen to them on the unit, and I can even plug in headphones and use it almost like an IPOD, but with only 64MB on it, I’ll stick with my 1GB IPOD Shuffle as a listening device.
- I can save multiple recordings in up to five different directories (labeled A, B, C, D, E) and play individual recordings sequentially or jump to a specific recording.
- The recorder has a small screen to select recordings, and I’ve found it easy and intuitive to use.
While I can use this device to record ideas when I’m out and about, my main reason for buying it is to record speeches. The device has a plug for a microphone, so with a small lavalier mic (which I still have to buy), I can easily record one of my speeches and then save it on my PC. If I get an omnidirectional mic, then I’ll be able to pick up the audience reaction too. Someone recommended the Radio Shack 30-3013 omnidirectional mic, so that’s one I’ll be considering.
One reason I need to record speeches is to create a decent audio demo for professional speaking. Also, Toastmasters’ Accredited Speaker Program requires an audio demo recorded in front of a live audience. Accreditation is difficult to achieve, but I might want to aim for it because it’s a nice stepping stone on the way to professional speaking. Out of about 200,000 Toastmasters members worldwide, there are only 50-some accredited speakers. Two of them live in Las Vegas, and I’m in a club with both of them. One of them is my mentor.
Down the road this digital voice recorder should also make it easy for me to record speeches and share them on this web site. To me that was a key incentive for buying the recorder because then I can share speeches with many more people than the original live audience.
With a small lavalier mic, this recorder makes it easy for anyone to record speeches, presentations, meetings, etc. and then share the recordings with others in digital form. I think it could make for a nice productivity-enhancing device if used intelligently.
July 23rd, 2005 at 11:30 pm
I’m sure the olympus being primarily a recording device has a better interface for recording but I have a 1GIG Creative MuVo N200. It was $20 more than the 1GIG iShuffle but it has display, radio, audio in and builtin mic so I can use it to tape meetings, speeches etc and I only have to carry 1 device.
July 24th, 2005 at 8:50 am
That would be very cool if you share speeches here. Hopefully it would be in MP# format instead of wma though. That way it could be played back anywhere by anyone.
July 24th, 2005 at 12:24 pm
You caught me out of town and my info is back home, so I won’t be able to provide names, but there is a digital recorder that comes with voice recognition software for your computer that will actually transcribe your words into documents. Nice for dictating letters and memos on the run. It also will note key words that are unique for calendar entries and will schedule items into Outlook. When I return home, I’ll post the name of the product or some of you who may already know it can provide it!
July 24th, 2005 at 1:58 pm
I have used a digital voice recorder for years during job interviews (as interviewer and interviewee), when I speak on panels at conferences and when I teach at college so that I can critque my style and self-correct when I return home. It is also allows me to take copious post-event notes without actually having to take them during the talk. Irrelevant of the voice recorder you use, I have only three pieces of advice for you:
1. Buy a good microphone.
2. Buy a good microphone.
3. Buy a good microphone.
The microphone will dictate sound quality far more than what it is plugged in to. Spend at least $50 on a decent microphone, preferably spend at least $150 on a really good microphone. Most of the high-end Sony microphones are good. Also talk to various companies that actually record conferences (such as the one that covers GDC), for what lapel microphones they use.
July 24th, 2005 at 8:11 pm
I would like a Steve Pavlina podcast. =)
July 24th, 2005 at 9:14 pm
Steve,
How’s the sound quality? I had to buy a voice recorder on short notice a few months back, so was stuck with the selection at the local electronics store. I bought and returned a couple that had USB capability due to lousy recording quality, and ended up buying a Sony ICD-B26 because the sound quality (without a mike) was extremely good.
However - transcription of voice notes has become a major bottleneck for me, so I probably need to upgrade… I find that I use it quite regularly, especially for recording thoughts that occur to me during long drives or walks as well as meetings, and it fills up very quickly.
Thanks for the great blog, and for sharing any info!
Bryan
July 25th, 2005 at 9:18 am
Steve
Contrary to what you will hear - do NOT buy an omni-directional lavaliere - buy a cardioid pattern lavaliere. The term cardioid mean “heart” shaped - think of the pointed section of the heart pointed thru the top of the mic and “tucked” in section at the bottom of the mic.
What this creates is a pickup pattern the is designed to pick up your voice or anything else that is above the mic and NOT pick up what is happening below the mic - paper noise, you tapping or hitting the podium.
If you are looking for good mics - Sony ECM, Audio Technica, Shure are some brands - I am a fan of the Audio Technica AT-831c series that I use on my wireless system.
July 25th, 2005 at 11:39 am
Hi there-
You mention that you have loaded wma files from your PC to the recorder and played them back. I find that when I do so, the recorder doesn’t recognize the files, though when I look at the drive in explorer, they are in the correct folders. Any advice?
August 14th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
Steve,
How about an Internet transcription service ? Have you looked into those ? I’m looking for one of these with good rates/service, any advice ?
Leo