MP3 Voice recorder

[ichigo partygirl]

Hey All

I'm looking for some recommendations for an MP3 voice recorder.
I am going to be conducting alot of interviews so i need something with very good quality, clarity, and a decent memory size (either inbuilt or expandable).

I don't want something top end, just something that gets the job done.

Can anyone recommend something they use?

Thanks for your help.

[American Oyaji]

iPod Classic with a microphone attachment.

[Charles]

iPod Classic with a microphone attachment.

I'm not sure the newest iPod Classics work with the usual attachments. Here are a couple of reviews of iPod recorder accessories, from my favorite iPod site, iLounge. There are plenty of other reviews of voice recorders on the site. I hear the flash-memory iPods (like the 2nd gen nano) do a little better job recording as they don't pick up noise from the hard drive spinning up and down. Of course the downside is smaller recording capacity.

Or you could try a Dictaphone. If it was good enough for my Dad..

[Kuang_Grade]

There seems to be a fair number of kind of cheap looking stuff at the $50-70 range and then good (but often a bit bulky) semi pro units at the $200+ range but not much in between those two points.

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/01/ces-belkin-podc.html
This item won't be out until june but it looks interesting.

Without prying, does it have to be MP3? You probably can pick up a fairly cheap olympus digital recorder such as this one...
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-VN4100-Digital-Voice-Recorder/dp/B000OVPBA4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1202980413&sr=1-7

I believe some of the more expensive models include software that lets you upload/convert/edit the sound files.


Also, while not the most cutting edge, you probably can find fairly cheap minidisc recorders as well..Small, good sound on many of the models...Pop in a mic and you are ready to go...also since a good number of Sony's models can work off AA batteries, no worries about losing power half way through a session. I wouldn't recommend the sony software but you can always just convert it to MP3 (albeit in real time only) by just plugging into your computer via the mic input and recording it in real time. It won't help your tech street cred, but you pick up a nice unit often with discs and sometimes a mic for less than $70 on Ebay in the US. The MZ-R700 would likely be a good, affordable pick, although that might have been a US only model (unlike J minidisc recorders, it had a AA battery compartment built in internally, while most recent J units had optional attachable AA battery compartments and built in internal gumpack battery compartments).

[ichigo partygirl]

no, it doesnt have to be mp3 i guess, but im most familar and comfortable with that form of media. I just don't want to buy something too cheap and find it doesnt record with good clarity, and i don't want to spend too much when i don't have to.

[Greji]

no, it doesnt have to be mp3 i guess, but im most familar and comfortable with that form of media. I just don't want to buy something too cheap and find it doesnt record with good clarity, and i don't want to spend too much when i don't have to.

As AO says IPG, the Ipod route is for you! You don't have achne anyway (unless you changed a bunch since you went back to sheep country)'