Entertainment For Lively Minds
ATM: Dictaphones!
Posted by missIda on 25 October 2011 - 12:28pm.
Next year, I will be starting Uni in Liverpool, and, being from Denmark, I would like to make sure I get the maximum out of my lectures and so on.
I have reached the conclusion that a dictaphone is a must, but I wondered if any of The Massive have any recommendations? Obviously, it will have to be able to pick up speech clearly, from a distance, and a USB connection to a computer (Mac) is also very important. As to a price range, nothing above 50 quid, but I do hope that it won't have to go as high as that ;-)
Thanks for your help!
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Phones
Don't most mobiles have a "record" function now? Surely there's a decent app for that sort of thing if you've got a Smartphone.
And as first poster I'm allowed the folowing old chestnut.
"Can I use your Dictaphone?"
"No. Use your finger like everyone else."
I trust you're here all week?
Is there anything on the menu you'd recommend?
If you're going to be using it in a big lecture theatre,
then it might be worth investing in a directional mic which you can point at the lecturer, this will reduce much of the ambient noise - coughing, shuffling papers, etc.
Pity about the budget...
Because, if you could stretch to a bit more, the best way of recording lectures is with a Livescribe Pen. This is a magical device that uses special notepaper, and the pen records all of the writing and the noise that is going on at the same time. You can replay the lecture off the page, or sync it you your computer. It also syncs with Google Docs and Evernote.
I have one. It is a life-changer.
I've done some research
And WOW! This pen (and the things that go with it) sounds absolutely amazing! It's almost too good to be true, but I will definitely look out for it, if it should ever go on sale ;-) Thanks for the suggestion, it does seem like the future has arrived!
The price is an issue
But it pays back pretty fast. Why did I write that down? Tap on the page and hear what was said at that exact moment. It's one down from hovercars in terms of futuristic.
If you have an iphone
I would heartily recommend irecorder pro - i use it all the time and it syncs via iPhone explorer. It only costs about a quid, so you can spend the rest on pot noodles and speed.
No iPhone...
but I do have an iPod Touch, and I can use apps on that one, so I'll definitely check that one out. Thanks!
I've used iTalk
For recording speech, and it's been very reliable.
I use an Olympus
digital recorder. Mine was around £80.00, it's about the size of a cigarette lighter (if you remember them). You can plug a microphone or an earpiece (for phone interviews) into it. It's robust, discrete and does all of the things that you'll need. I use it for all sorts of interviewing and in lecture situations and it's great. Memory is around two and a half hours. Downloading files is via a USB connection built into the body of the device. Mine is a WS100 - not sure what the current equivalent is.
Olympus WS-331M is what I use
Not sure how up-to-date it is, but It's foolproof - and needs to be.
Old but still good...
Do you use a dictaphone? No, I prefer to use a finger.
Maybe someone in Academia would know
But would such recordings be legal?
And covered by the Data Protection Act or legislation of that ilk?
As someone in academia
You usually need to have a negotiated learning contract to tape lectures. However, as an overseas student you should probably be OK. Incidentally, I teach in Liverpool, so if you need some more advice, just holler.
In both my journalism and in my lecturing career I have used an Olympus recorder, which is superb for the money. You'll not be able to edit on it, but you don't need to.
As I'm sure Messers, sorry Messrs Fitzpatrick and Lewry would counsel, transcribe as soon as you can, don't leave the lectures untranscribed on your computer.