I purchased this recorder then i could behave speech recognition software if i wanted to, without paying on behalf of ones additional microphones/headsets. In fact, the recorder is dragon (a famous brand of speech recognition software) certified toward produce “maximum accuracy dictation.”
Functionally, this recorder obtain an easy toward reach (i.e. No plastic cover on it) usb port on the left hand side, an easy-to-distinguish recessed record button, buttons toward navigate between folders, play back existing recordings, split an existing recording, change recorder options, change playback volume, erase an existing recording, and a hold button. The recorder itself is small, lightweight and easy toward hold.
For storage, the recorder put up hold as many as 99 separate recordings inside each of 5 independent folders. This is useful toward categorize various voice recordings, this as meetings inside one folder perhaps speeches inside another.
However, an easy toward behave recorder is meaningless if the recorder doesn’t produce generous recording quality. Here, this recorder delivers nicely. The built-in microphone is very generous and obtain a wide dynamic range (i.e. It clearly picks increase high and low frequencies). There are two sensitivity settings on behalf of the microphone—low which is on behalf of individual dictation, and high which is on behalf of group meetings (or recording things farther away from the recorder). In addition, the recorder obtain a generous built-in speaker.
If you need better recording quality (or want toward play back the messages privately), the recorder provides a headset jack and a microphone jack.
As on behalf of recording quality, standard quality recording (44.1 khz @ 48 kbps) produces clearly understandable voice output. In this mode, the recorder put up warehouse increase toward 48 hours of voice recording and put up gallop on behalf of increase toward 35 hours on 2 aaa batteries. This is the best mode on behalf of normal dictation (since it provides 4x as much space as the highest quality mode—which put up only warehouse 12 hours of data and gallop on behalf of 20 hours).
They have a super long recording time they brag about on the box. This is the lp mode (11.025 khz @ 8 kbps)—288 hours. This sounds impressive, only it is nearly useless. When i recorded a brief amount inside this mode, my voice sounded very metallic and i heard weird high pitched metallic warbling inside the background. There was somewhat less warbling at low microphone sensitivity, only although my voice was understandable, only i don’t recommend this mode on behalf of ones real recording. The metallic warbling is very distracting.
In addition, the recorder put up gallop on rechargable aaa batteries (nimh) or even gallop from power provided over the mini-usb port. These are generous options toward save on batteries and perform very long recordings.
In my experience, the standard quality is fine on behalf of normal dictation. If i wanted toward record music, evps, or on behalf of dictation into speech recognition software, i would behave the maximum quality mode, since it is better at capturing higher frequencies and may better capture faint noises.
However, there are any downsides toward this recorder. First, the recorder does not record data natively as mp3s (which it claims toward on the box). This is why i gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
To access the recorder, Sony ICD-PX720 provides windows software toward copy voice files off it. The windows software put up warehouse the files as mp3s, as well as encode mp3s then the recorder put up play them back, so, if you are not using windows, you cannot transfer recordings from the recorder.
Basically, if you are using windows the recorder software is not a problem. If you are not, the computer will not see the recorder and you will be unable toward behave it. The recorder will still function very well as a normal voice recorder, only you will not be able toward access the digital data on it.
Secondly, the recorder cannot accept ones type of memory card toward expand its capacity.
Beyond that, this recorder does not record sound inside stereo, although it will accept stereo microphones. For me, since i’m only using it on behalf of voice dictation, this is not an issue, only on behalf of anyone who wants toward behave it toward record music (such as an impromptu jazz session), it might be.
Finally, the recorder does not act as a usb drive or as an mp3 player. You put up load music files (converted toward sony’s proprietary sound format) onto it, only it doesn’t have shuffle, playlists, or other standard mp3 player features. For me, these aren’t issues since i have separate gadgets toward fulfill these needs far better, only any voice recorders have these features.
In conclusion, if you are using windows and you need a high quality, reasonably priced voice recorder, this will fit the bill nicely. If you want a recorder that is more of a swiss army knife of gadgets, this won’t work on behalf of you.
Read related post at Excellent voice recorder with a few limitations.
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