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Hunting for the best digital voice recorder? We researched the market before buying the top 11 options to test side-by-side. Then we started recording, capturing audio notes in the car, bird songs, guitar practice, interviews, and controlled test scenarios. We compared microphone and audio quality, battery life, file sharing, ease of use, and playback editing features. Below, we share how each of these voice recorders shines and falters. Whether you want to record your classes or create world-class podcasts, our comprehensive review will help you find the best digital voice recorder for your needs and budget.
Whether you're recording for work or pleasure, the market is full of office devices that will help you enjoy your audio productions in style. Our in-depth reviews cover everything from the best wireless speakers to top-rated bookshelf speakers. If you're looking for a more personal listening experience, we've tested the best noise-cancelling headphones as well as the top wireless headphones. And when it comes time to transcribe your recordings, we've done thorough testing and a writeup of the best keyboards.
Our favorite overall digital voice recorder is the compact Sony ICDUX570. This effective, simple tool features an easy-to-read display and intuitive operating system. We appreciate its automatic recording templates that ensure the two stereo microphones work well for the task at hand, be that a voice memo, music recording, meeting, or lecture. You can also set mic sensitivity levels and reduce background noises manually. Though the recorder picks up background audio in modes like dictation and interview, we found them less brassy and distracting than in several other models. The Sony records in uncompressed WAV files (which it labels as LPCM, for linear pulse code modulation) at a 44.1 kHz sampling rate and a 16-bit rate. It also records in compressed MP3s, which saves on storage space. You'll have plenty though, with a microSD card you can store up to 32 gigabytes (GB).
The recorder features a T-mark button to bookmark important moments in your recordings and an A-B repeat function to loop the playback between two chosen points. Additionally, you can slow playback for easier transcription, and integrated filters enable you to clean or jazz up the audio. A USB plug slides out of the Sony ICDUX570, which allows you to share your files at all times. The claimed battery life of over 20 hours for the highest quality audio recording is fairly short for a recorder of this type. Despite being easy to understand, the audio is below par for professional broadcasting. The device offers a mini-jack for an external microphone, which can improve your recordings. Overall, the Sony ICDUX570 will take your notes for you and could serve as a backup for production audio in a pinch. If you require professional audio quality, the Zoom H5 performed better in this metric, though the battery life is slightly more limited.
The Zoom H5 is a popular audio recorder in the radio and podcasting world. It also includes tripod and camera mounting threads to integrate into a filmmaker's setup. Its audio quality is top-notch, taking advantage of an integrated and detachable XY microphone with a shock mount to reduce handling noise. You can also buy accessory options like an attachable shotgun microphone or an extra two XLR/TRS mics or external line inputs. The H5 comes with two XLR/TRS inputs already, so if you spring for the extra two and choose to record optional backup tracks, you can capture six tracks at the same time. The real benefit that the H5 offers over the Zoom H4n Pro is that each of three optional microphones (the integrated XY and the two inputs at the bottom of the housing) has easily accessible knobs to control their gain, which controls the amplitude and thus the volume of the microphone's signal. It's a critical element to make sure you nail your levels, which is kind of like focusing a camera. The H5 also helps you capture great audio tape by allowing you to compress or limit your levels or add a low-cut filter to remove bass sounds like humming building sounds.
One of the shinest new toys in the audio world is this compact little powerhouse from Zoom, the Zoom F3. Its main selling point is that it records in 32-bit float WAV format. Since most recorders use 24-bit, this device collects more data, giving you much more control over the volume of your final product. Perhaps the bigger deal is that Zoom claims that is impossible to clip your audio files while using it. Clipping happens when an unexpectedly loud event blows up your levels, say when someone slams a door during a sedate interview. We tested this device at picking up whispers and saw success that borders on spycraft. Then we took it to the gym, recording random convos and background pop music amid slamming weight machines. It handled the scene beautifully. It's also impressively compact and is easy to attach to your gear or your clothes with included tripod threads and mounting bars.
Part of what makes the F3 so portable is its lack of an integrated microphone, so you need to purchase one separately to use it. That means you'll have to throw down a little more money in addition to its already steep price. Since 32-bit float technology records such a large volume range, the advertising around the F3 emphasizes your ability to hit the record button and not worry about your levels. For reference, recorders like the Zoom H5 require constant monitoring to get good tape. We found the F3 remarkably independent in most circumstances, but we ran into feedback at higher sampling rates at the gym. Therefore, we recommend utilizing the F3's monitoring headphone port and its nifty remote-control app (F3 Control). Considering all these attributes, we were blown away by the richness and texture of the soundscapes this small device produces. We also like the Zoom H5 for its integrated and detachable microphone as well as the impressive audio quality.
The Zoom H2n brings a lot to the table. Underneath the mesh screen, there are five microphones. Two form an X/Y configuration. The others cover the mid-sides. As a result, the H2n truly shines with an ability to record in surround sound. It actually differentiates between sounds coming from up, down, and all around you. In four-channel mode, it produces two individual tracks per recording meant to be routed to each side of a stereo system or each ear of a pair of headphones. If you have the equipment, software, and know-how, this model is fully capable of recording spatial audio to be used for fully-immersive VR videos. With such a complicated premise, we are pleasantly surprised that the buttons, dials, and switches are large, well-label, and easy to use. A dial on the top of the cover allows you to quickly select between four recording modes, which range from mid-side stereo up to that four channels surround sound.
If you only require basic functions to record college lectures, meetings, or job interviews, you probably don't need the complex capabilities of the H2n. It offers the most basic digital voice recorder capabilities, but it might be more recorder than you need. It is also heavy, bulky, and not meant for storing in a purse or pocket. The user interface is easy to use once you learn it, but it is far from modern. Compared to the newest, simplest, pocket-sized recorders, the H2n feels like a bit of a dinosaur. It is also limited to its five internal microphones, as the device lacks inputs for additional mics. Despite these shortcomings, the Zoom H2n is the way to go for recording 360-degree spatial audio for VR video creators. For folks shopping for a more portable model, the compact and easy-to-use Sony ICDUX570 is a simple tool for note taking.
The Olympus WS-853 is a fairly compact recorder with reasonable sound quality and all the basic functions you need, including an external microphone jack and a built-in speaker. And we love that it comes with a carrying case. The operating system offers pre-set scenes optimized for typical scenarios like telephone recordings and conferences. It also has an intelligent auto mode that adjusts the recording level based on the volume of the incoming sounds. Adjustable playback speed makes it easy to navigate your recordings quickly. Where the WS-853 really shines, however, is in storage and battery life. It achieves its (claimed) 110 hours of battery life by recording in highly compressed MP3 files at 8 KBps. These files are tiny, so they don't take up much space or juice. You can also add a microSD card to increase memory capacity up to 32 GB.
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