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Digital Voice Recorder For Mac: The Future of Audio Recording Technology



To narrow down the contenders, the first thing we looked at was price. Wirecutter colleagues agreed that $100 was the maximum amount that most people should spend on a voice recorder. These days, the audio quality and functionality that you can get from a recorder costing $100 or less is more than good enough to earn it a place in your kit if you record vocal audio fairly frequently and care even a little about sound quality. The only people who should consider spending more are professionals who need to publish the audio they record, and they likely already know which recorder is best for their specific needs.


For voice recording apps, we consulted 10 editorial roundups covering both iOS and Android apps, noting the apps with the highest review ratings, best-reviewed interfaces, and most-useful features. We also polled Wirecutter reporters and editors about the apps they use for work. We dismissed transcription and call recorder apps, since this guide is geared toward in-person recording of meetings, lectures, and interviews. We then used the following criteria to choose our finalists:




Digital Voice Recorder For Mac




For our 2017 update, we tested the voice recorders and apps in three settings: sitting at the back of a college lecture hall during class, in a loud coffee shop to simulate an interview, and in a quiet room to mimic dictation. We hit record on all the hardware recorders at the same time in order to directly compare how each captured the same audio; for the apps, we took turns recording with an iPhone 6 and a Samsung HTC 10. (Newer phones may have better microphones, but our experts said that on most smartphones, the app will have more of an effect on recording quality than the microphone.)


The UX560 is a small, compact recorder that feels nice in the hand, and its matte plastic and sleek design make it look a little less cheap than others that were tested. At just 4 inches tall, 1.5 inches wide, and 0.44 inch thick, the UX560 is the slimmest recorder we tested. It can easily fit into a shirt pocket or in the pocket of skinny jeans, while the other recorders are almost twice as thick and fit better in a purse or bag.


While playing back audio, the WS853 can compensate somewhat for problems you might have run into while recording: a noise-cancellation setting can reduce overall background hiss (though this comes at the expense of battery life), while a voice balancer setting can even out recordings that were made with the mic sensitivity set too low or high by compressing the overall level for a more even sound (though you might run into increased noise).


The Philips DVT2510/00 Voice Tracer is an entry-level model that offers fewer features than the competition. Its bright, color screen makes looking at folders and files easy. But it lacks a USB plug (it requires a USB dongle to connect to your computer), making it less convenient for file upload and storage, and has the fewest recording options of the stand-alone recorders we tested.


We eliminated the Olympus VN-722PC in the first iteration of this guide, as it received low scores from our original listening panel. This recorder has a neat built-in stand, but we disliked the fact that using this stand exposes the SD card slot on the side of the device.


Digital voice recorders are typically used in business to record meetings, seminars and lectures, or notes concerning them, as well as to capture project-related ideas and for dictating correspondence and blog entries. While several models of voice recorders are available to transfer data to and from a PC, it is somewhat more difficult to locate recorders that are compatible with MacBooks.


The Olympus WS-600S is compatible with MacBooks, and it offers 2GB of internal flash memory space and over 500 hours of recording time. The audio can be recorded in MP3 format, useful on Macs, and the voice recorder's USB direct-connect design makes it easy to transfer data to and from a MacBook. The voice activation sensors of the recorder can be programmed to record only when the microphone senses sound. Other basic-purpose digital recorders compatible with MacBooks include the Sony ICD-AX412 and Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital recorder.


The Sony ICD-SX712D recorder includes "Dragon Naturally Speaking" voice-to-print software, which transcribes recorded audio data into printed text. The device, apart from 2GB of internal flash memory, offers an additional slot to add an external memory card and expand the overall memory space. Audio can be recorded in linear PCM recording mode commonly used for CDs and also in MP3 format. The dual-microphone sensor system aids in noise cancellation, and the recorder has the ability to automatically detect frequencies and adjust the recording levels accordingly. Two other voice-to-print recorders suitable for use with MacBooks are the Olympus WS-400S and Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 Premium with Digital Voice Recorder.


If you already own an iPhone along with a MacBook, a inexpensive option involves downloading a voice recording app called iTalk Recorder. When activated, the application transforms your iPhone into a voice-recording device.The iTalk app allows you to record audio at three levels of quality. You can transfer the recorded data into the iTunes library on your MacBook, and you can also email recordings from iTalk. The built-in search function makes it possible to locate recordings by title. Other voice recorder apps for iPhone include Recorder and Audio Memos.


The Roland R-05 is a high-quality, high-end voice recorder with the ability to record detailed, clean and uncompressed stereo-quality data -- including music recordings. The recorder offers a "rehearsal mode" in which you fine-tune the quality of audio being recorded. The MP3 format is suitable for use with the MacBook, and you can edit your data on the recorder before moving it to the MacBook. The recorder automatically adjusts audio levels during recording, and the battery life allows for 16 hours of continuous recording. Other high-end recorders include the Olympus DS-2400 and Sony PCM-M10.


Just guessing, but try plugging in to your Mac with a USB cable, or with whatever cables and slots that the recorder has. You should see the recorder's icon pop up as a new drive on your desktop. Double click on it and you should see a way to access the recordings on the from the recorder. Once downloaded to your Mac you can drag the recording into an iMovie project.


For those clinicians who prefer to work wirelessly, and need to be able to make dictations for transcription later, the digital voice recorder is an excellent option. Where there are limitations of time, attention, space, technology or location, a DVR can offer a straightforward wireless recording experience on the go.


Before you jump in with both feet, you should be aware of a significant, but not insurmountable, limitation of DDM4M. Any voice recorder you choose needs to be able to record in one of these file formats:


The digital voice recorders that we prefer with DDM4M are the Philips DPM8000 and the Olympus DS-7000. Both devices have high-quality microphones and the ability to record files in either WAV (PCM) or MP3 formats.


Then, plug your DVR and download the training file to your desktop. Your digital recorder should show up on your desktop (as a white drive icon), or in Finder > Devices. Open it up and drag the appropriate file onto your computer.


In order to make dictations easy to find, create a dedicated folder on your desktop. When you dock your recorder, open it from the desktop or Finder and select your files. Drag them into your dictation folder on the desktop.


Over the past 16 years of working for SpyCentre Security, I have personally watched the transformation the hidden audio market has made. From large pens with 3 hours of battery life that could MAYBE download to your Windows 2000 or XP machine (and if you had a MAC, you had to trade it in for a Windows computer if you bought one of these digital voice recorders because there is no possibility it would have download to anything Apple!)


The audio quality wasn't bad at all; you just had to be about 5 feet from what you wanted to capture due to the low-quality components used on items back then. Hidden audio recorders have improved tremendously. Below I have included some of the most important things to look for in a recording device.


Now you can get a spy pen that can last for 31 hours on a full charge, downloads directly to a MAC or PC, and the audio quality is the same format that iTunes (MP3) uses on all of their music files. This pen is great for high-definition audio recording from 40 feet away in optimal conditions. Before we jump into the top 8 hidden recorders, I would like to mention that a cell phone is a great option for recording conversations.


Digital voice recorders are much more discrete and effective. Also, most of these listening devices offer unmatched battery life and voice-activated recording, allowing them to record for days discreetly -- even when you are away. The comparison table below highlights some of our favorite devices.


Microphone Quality: The quality of the microphone is essential. It makes a difference between clear recordings and muffled ones. The recorders on this list have the ability to hear up to 40 feet in optimal conditions. The less background noise, the further and clearer you will pick up voices and make them out when playing back the recordings.


Battery Life: Having a long battery life is crucial to making sure you are ready when you need to be. While it may mean a bit of a heavier recorder, it will also mean less downtime spent charging.


Voice Activation: A great feature for conserving storage space, a hidden recording device with voice activation will begin to record if it detects noise and will stop recording if no noise is detected for a period of time. I also want to point out that many of today's audio recorders offer both voice activation and continuous recording, which can be helpful with varying noise volumes or if you do not want to miss a single thing and don't mind playing through longer media files. 2ff7e9595c


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