Recording device

[gregma]

I think it's time we all carry recording devices.  For all of our safety.  Question is...  Which one to get?  Personally I would have the following requirements...

1.  Must record for a minimum of 16 hours (that way I can turn it on when I leave home for work, and turn it off when I get back home.)
2.  Must be able to transfer recordings to a computer.
3.  Recording format must not be proprietary.
4.  Must be able to accept an external microphone.

Any suggestions out there?

[joeroket]

Most will do all of that greg. Some do record proprietary but thier software allows conversion to standard formats. I have used Sony and Olympus in the past and they actually seemed to have pretty good quality, at least the $100+ ones did.

[ConditionThree]

I got a Sony ICD-P250 at Office Depot for about $60.00. Recently I added a clip on microphone from Radio Shack for another $25.00. The noise created by movement and background sources almost makes it impossible to make out what is being said when it comes time to playback your recording at times. (This was while my recorder was activated and carried in a clip on cellphone holder adapted to that use.) I cant imagine what playback would be like if it were stowed in your shirt pocket.

My first recording was almost laughable because when I walked all you could hear was fabric moving and the creak of my new belt.

[Right Wing Wacko]

I picked up a small digital voice recorder at Wally World for < $30.
It has room for 25 hours of voice recordings, or 4:30 of High Quality recording.
It takes two AA batteries, and is small enough to conceal in your shirt pocket with no one even noticing that it's there.

[gregma]

I got a Sony ICD-P250 at Office Depot for about $60.00. Recently I added a clip on microphone from Radio Shack for another $25.00. The noise created by movement and background sources almost makes it impossible to make out what is being said when it comes time to playback your recording at times. (This was while my recorder was activated and carried in a clip on cellphone holder adapted to that use.) I cant imagine what playback would be like if it were stowed in your shirt pocket.

My first recording was almost laughable because when I walked all you could hear was fabric moving and the creak of my new belt.

How does it sound with the clip-on-microphone?

[gregma]

I picked up a small digital voice recorder at Wally World for < $30.
It has room for 25 hours of voice recordings, or 4:30 of High Quality recording.
It takes two AA batteries, and is small enough to conceal in your shirt pocket with no one even noticing that it's there.

Can you post the model number?

[ConditionThree]

Its dramatically clearer. Very much worth the additional cost

[gregma]

Its dramatically clearer. Very much worth the additional cost

Excellent, will have to get one.  I finally made my decision and went with the Olympus DS-30.  It was $111, but received very high reviews and remarks.  Will report when it gets delivered next week.