How to Select Digital Voice Recorders: The Comprehensive Guide
Recording quality
Taking into account that the last function of a recorder is to record sounds, the quality of the recording you make will be the most important factor when choosing. In order to obtain the best possible quality, the recorder should have two microphones that process the audio from different points and in parallel.
Even at the risk that audios take up a lot of space on your recorder, we recommend that you opt for one in which the sound quality is optimal and that has noise-blocking systems to clean the result. The formats that best preserve sound quality are WAVs and FLACs, although they take up more space.
Recording format
Currently, almost all voice recorders record audios in MP3 and WAV format. The most common is the MP3 and WAV formats. As we have said, although they are heavier files, WAV and FLAC formats are considered the best in terms of sound quality.
Autonomy
If you are going to use your battery for long periods of time you will have to choose a long-lasting battery. The batteries of these devices use milliamps as a unit of measurement. The more milliamperes they have, the more hours the recorder will hold up running without you having to charge it. A good recorder holds between 10 and 15 hours recording or, what is the same, its battery has between 100 and 150 milliamps.
Storage capacity
Storage capacity is another important factor when choosing a recorder. In this case, the more files you can save, the better. Remember that the quality of the sound you record is linked to space it occupies, so the better your audios, the more space they will occupy in the memory of your recorder.
In today’s market, you will find that most recorders have storage of between 4 and 8 gigabytes. With this capacity, you could get to record around 150 hours of sound, although this depends highly on the quality of the sound and the format you choose. If they also have a memory card, you may find models that reach 32 gigabytes.
Connectivity
Note that you can easily connect your recorder to your computer or to the device where you want to store your files. For a good recorder, it is almost mandatory to have a USB port, both for charging and for transferring data.
It should also have an audio output (or “jack”) of 3.5mm, which is the most frequently used for speakers and headphones. If you also want to connect your camera to other professional recording equipment, such as a camera, it should have 6.5mm or XLR ports.
Size and weight
The portability of the recorder also matters when choosing the best one. If you are going to be transporting it frequently, it is important that it takes up little space and does not weigh much, without this reducing connectivity or quality.