Best Audio Recorders

Portable audio recorders come in many shapes, colors, and sizes.  They range in cost from around US $20 to $500, depending on recording capacity and a long list of possible features.

What should you look for in a voice recorder?  First, it is extremely important to know how you are going to use it.  Browse the sections mentioned on the Learning page to get a better idea of how your recorder might be used, and some specific features to look for depending on each type of use.  On top of that, here is a list of features and recommendations that will probably be important no matter what specific use you have:

• Digital, Digital, Digital - Tape-based recorders (a.k.a. Analog recorders) are out!  Digital recorders feature so many advantages over analog recorders that unless you're in an extreme cash crunch, you really should opt for a digital recorder.  No more fast-forwarding and rewinding a tape to find the exact spot you're looking for!  Digital recorders store recordings in individual files that can be sorted into folders and renamed.  Some digital recorders also support bookmarking in the middle of a recording.  No more mixing up a stack of unlabeled tapes!  Digital recordings automatically have the recording's date and time attached, so even if you don't rename any files, you can still usually identify them.  Tapes take up a lot of space, too!  Digital recordings, on the other hand, can be stored on miniscule memory cards or the hard drive of your computer.  And a digital recording can be sent to someone else via email or a computer network much faster than sending the physical tape.  Finally, tapes are more sensitive to heat than are digital storage mediums.
• Recording Time - It's best if your recorder uses removable memory cards such as SD, SDHC, or xD.  That way, you determine its capacity, not the recorder's manufacturer!  A good rule of thumb is to have at least twice the recording capacity available as the total duration of recordings you plan to make in a single day.  The extra margin will be helpful when recording sessions go long or if you forget to clear old recordings one day.  Keep in mind that recording time is highly dependent upon which level of sound quality you are recording in.  Know what you will use, and beware that advertising materials usually follow the "bigger is better" mantra, showing the recording time for the lowest quality setting in order to give the appearance of high capacity.
• Battery Life and Power Sources - Recorders that use standard-sized, replaceable batteries are be preferable over those with built-in or unusual-sized batteries.  This way, it's easy to replace batteries if they get low and you need to keep recording.  Also, for environmental and economic reasons, recorders that come with an external power supply (i.e. an AC Adapter) are better.
• Computer Connectivity - No matter what the recording purpose, you'll almost certainly find a reason to transfer your recordings to your computer.  The best recorders for connectivity are those that store their recordings in standard audio formats like MP3 or WAV, using removable memory cards as mentioned above.  They also can be plugged directly into your computer via a USB cable.  And when plugged in this way, they function like a regular USB thumb drive or external hard drive.
• Headphone Jack - If you think you'll ever want to listen to your recordings in the presence of other people, be polite and get a recorder with a headphone jack.
• Recording Management - Mixing up your recordings is no fun at all!  As mentioned above, being able to rename your recordings and sort them into custom folders is a huge advantage.

Most importantly, get a recorder that meets your needs, but keep in mind that you often get what you pay for.  A good rule of thumb is to never buy the very cheapest recorder, because it could be lacking important features or it could have a shorter lifespan than you'd like.  Conversely, also beware of the Law of Diminishing Returns.  At the upper end of the price spectrum, you may be paying a lot more for features that aren't developed as well, or aren't as genuinely useful as the features contained in the mid-range models.