Top 10 dictaphones

The portable recorder from Zoom today is the top model in the manufacturer's lineup. The recorder supports six-channel recording, although with a number of restrictions on the use of channels (read the instructions carefully, so that there are no questions later!), It has four balanced inputs with phantom power for external microphones, and linear input / output for standard 3.5 mm jacks. Thus, the choice of configuration options for recording here is more than sufficient, and the sampling frequency of 96 kHz with 24-bit audio coding provides high quality sound. If desired, Zoom H6 can even be used to record one man group, repeating Vidar Vojer (Ildjarn) with his famous four-track tape recorder in the forest.

Compared with the previous H5 model, not only the number of recording channels increased (from 4 to 6) and the autonomy of work (21 hours against 15 on one set of batteries), but also the opportunity to power the recorder from a USB port: you can record it by connecting it to a power bank. sound at least 24 hours a day.Another great feature that is activated in the menu is parallel recording with 6 dB attenuation - loud sounds that can overload the recording at current settings will be stored in the backup without distortion.

Small dimensions caused only one noticeable drawback: a compact display is not very convenient when you have to work in the menu. And do not forget that the plastic case does not shield the internal preamps: turn off the phone when recording so as not to spoil it with characteristic trills.

The compact recorder weighs only 75 grams, and this is with the AAA battery installed (by the way, take it with you right away - it will “suck out” one battery quickly enough). Therefore, it will be of interest primarily to those who often have to carry something like this with them. The case, we note, metal - this is a plus for both practicality and reduction of radio interference reaching the sound path.

As befits a device of this type, two microphones are used here for recording stereo sound. But, unlike the "advanced" models, where their direction can be changed at will, here the microphones are rigidly fixed, which immediately gives the entry-level model.

It is difficult to find fault with the recording quality of a dictaphone - a good dynamic range, worthy of the sensitivity of microphones, is quite sufficient for recording music, unless of course you are in Grighallen. The recording format is MP3. There are manual adjustments to the sensitivity of the microphones, and it is really useful - the standard automatic gain control function is only suitable for speech, it will “lick” the music, like a normalizer in the hands of the student who discovered Fruity Loops.

The most noticeable deficiency in this model is the insufficient sound insulation of the microphones from the case, the sounds of touching the keys, the friction on the case can be clearly heard on the recording.

Zoom H1 is a high-quality voice recorder from the manufacturer, for which recording and sound processing is a business mission. Highly sensitive XY microphones provide high definition and depth stereo recording in WAV and MP3 format. High maximum frequency response, comfortable operation, backlit LCD display, support for memory cards up to 32 Gb, built-in speaker, auxiliary microphone input, stereo line-out, USB interface for connecting to a PC, a low-pass and high-pass filter, a track marker function Here is an incomplete list of the technical characteristics of this recorder. The device’s functionality is complemented by a two-gigabit memory card in the kit, an AA-size battery with a ten-hour life and the possibility of using a voice recorder as a regular USB flash drive.

The very case when the "older" model is inferior in the rating of the "younger" precisely because of the price. Nevertheless, the dictaphone itself is good both cleanly (in design and assembly) and in characteristics.

Refusing to finally use AA batteries in favor of a non-removable lithium-ionnik, the manufacturer made the recorder very light and compact - for a man's hand, perhaps, even too compact. To connect to a computer or a power bank, you don’t even need a power cord - the standard USB-A “dad” extends straight out of the case, like in some flash drives. If we take into account that the voice recorder supports fast charging and in 3 minutes is able to gain enough energy for an hour of work, the use of the built-in battery doesn’t hamper the possibilities.

Settings allow you to independently set the type of focus - narrowband or broadband, which is useful both for conferences and for teachers who like to pace back and forth around the audience. Recording is carried out in MP3 format on the built-in memory (4 GB) or additionally installed flash card.

In short, the recorder really came out comfortable, functional and high-quality. However, its price can force many to look in the direction of more affordable models: when, when, and in their student years to spend a few thousand there is always what.

Due to the low price, this recorder deserves its share of attention, and the lack of the possibility of changing memory cards in it is more than compensated by 8 gigabytes of internal memory, which can hold almost 600 hours of recording in a low bitrate (32 kbps). The 4 GB memory option is a bit cheaper, so it’s worth paying for the double increase in volume.

All that is required to record lectures is in this voice recorder - both the sensitivity setting, noise filtering, and even the lavalier microphone are added to the kit. Automatic start of recording by voice sounds has a good reaction speed, without “eating” the beginning of speech. Recording is done in the WAV format instead of the standard MP3 for dictaphones - this “eats up” the memory, but there are no losses on a small bitrate, which is a known problem for MP3 codecs. Play the same voice recorder can MP3, and WMA, so that, together with headphones, it can work and player.

Another interesting feature of the model is the ability to switch to the hearing aid mode. This is useful rather to lovers of sitting in the back rows than to people with impaired hearing, at least if you use the complete headphones. Strange only the decision of the manufacturer to disable the ability to record in the hearing aid mode - we still have first of all a voice recorder.

With the extended USB connector, the RR-610 can be confused with a regular USB flash drive - the voice recorder's case is very small, and thanks to the use of a lithium-polymer battery, it weighs only 35 g. At the same time, the built-in memory is enough for 583 hours of low quality recording or 49 . Of course, I would like a higher-quality microphone, but in such dimensions it would be difficult to enter something besides the usual primer on cell phones.

If necessary, you can expand the memory card microSD, and the ability to play MP-3 and receive FM-radio can be useful on the road. The voice recorder can be activated by voice or timer, although the speed of the autostart reaction would have been better - perhaps the microphone noise cancellation algorithm is to blame, which creates a noticeable delay in processing.