It didn't take long for the world to cotton-on to the potential of digitally recorded music. Despite the best legal and technical efforts of huge corporations and their allies, the MP3 format has changed everything from how we listen to music to the way we buy it.
Until now, digital voice recording hasn't managed to generate anything like as much fuss. Even so, the past three years has seen a quiet revolution in the way people capture the spoken word. Cassette tape and minidisk recorders are on the way out as journalists, students and executives turn to solid state devices for recording interviews, lectures and dictation.
Digital voice recorders store audio in memory chips just like solid-state MP3 players. As you'd expect, there are many similarities between the two hardware families; in fact, some of the MP3 players on the market offer limited digital voice recording functionality. You'll also find mobile phones and PDAs and even digital cameras that can be used to record short bursts of speech. However, if you're serious about capturing voice you'll need to buy a specialist device that will perform much better than hardware designed for a different purpose.
Because they are solid-state devices, digital voice recorders can be made very small. In practice, they tend to be a little larger than music players because they need to accommodate a microphone, a display, a speaker, at least one connection socket and a few additional control buttons. Typically, they'll be the size and weight of a small mobile phone - you can generally carry them comfortably in a shirt pocket and hold them in one hand. The best recorders can be operated one-handed with just your thumb and index finger.
One of the biggest advantages of switching from tape or disc to solid-state recording is that there are no moving parts. As with other solid-state hardware, this makes things a lot more reliable. It also means that digital voice recorders require much less in the way of electrical power - most devices seem to use two standard AAA batteries. You may find rechargeable models on the market, but these days you can buy a AAA recharger to save you buying new batteries each time.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of doing away with the moving parts is that there is no longer any mechanical noise to contend with. Anyone who has used a cassette recorder will know the background hum of motors can be very distracting. Manufacturers used to get around this with remote microphones attached by a lead, but voice recorders can capture very clear sounds using built-in microphones. Many recorders also have noise cancellation features that improve the captured sound still further. You may be surprised how good these devices sound, but remember they are geared towards human speech; they don't generally have the necessary range for recording music.
Recording times vary hugely and depend on two factors: the amount of memory available and the quality level.
Internal memory can range from 16-32MB. This can be boosted greatly if the recorder accepts a flash memory card. For example, some Sony models use the Memory Stick, while others use technologies such as SD cards. These are great if you plan to keep a lot of recorded material on you.
And there's usually a trade-off with sound quality - lower quality means longer recordings. At one end of the spectrum you might find a device that can capture a little over two hours of high quality speech. Pay more and you may be able to store as much as 22 hours, though at a lower quality.
Most recorders allow you to store multiple recordings in folders, erase old recordings and jump quickly to important passages. You might also find voice activated recording and adjustable microphone levels.
Most recorders have a USB port so you can move files to a PC. In many cases, you'll find PC software to manage your voice files - for example, you may want to send a voice message to a friend via email.
Another reason for linking to a PC is to use voice recognition software so you can turn your speech files into text documents. It's not 100 per cent accurate, but modern voice recognition technology is surprisingly effective, particularly for personal use.
Philips Pocket Memo 9350
Philips has opted to use a 16MB removable SD memory card in the 9350, which is great for swapping information with a PC but allows only four hours of recording. The device is exactly the same size and weight as the 9220 but has a metallic case and a nifty four-way switch that eases single-handed operation. The three-line backlit LCD screen looks old-fashioned but gets the job done.
It might not look as slick as the MS515, but in practice the ICD-P17 proved to be the most comfortable to operate and the easiest recorder to use. There are a lot of controls, but they are clearly marked. On the downside, the five-line LCD display is cramped and lacks backlighting. It comes with a decent-sized speaker and a volume control making it easy to play back recordings. With 16MB of memory, you can store about four and a half hours of material.
Smaller and lighter than a mobile phone, the ICD-MS515 features Sony's removable Memory Stick technology. If you're already using Memory Sticks elsewhere, this makes a lot of sense. If not, there's a USB connector. You can pack five hours and 47 minutes on the 16MB memory stick supplied with the unit or almost 48 hours on a 128MB Memory Stick. Sony's software lets you play files or convert them for email.
Philips Pocket Memo 9220
Measuring 127 by 51 by 16 mm, Philip's Pocket Memo 9220 is bigger than most mobile phones but lighter at 87 grams. It offers a fixed 32MB of memory, which is good for up to five hours recording at normal levels and eight hours at a lower quality - the lower quality is still better-sounding than most tape recorders. The controls are simple enough to use without consulting the manual. The loudspeaker pumps out more than enough sound for reviewing messages.
The two Philips digital voice recorders are mainly aimed at business users or professionals in areas like medicine or law. They are designed to work best for companies installing more complex voice-based technologies. However, Sony's ICD-P17 is the best-value recorder of the lot. As well as being the most affordable, it has a good range of features and enough software to get you started.
Microsoft has launched voice recognition software that allows users to speak commands into a hand-held computer or smart phone. Voice Command has been designed primarily for car drivers and lets users call up applications, check contact details and automatically dial them without using their hands.
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