Best Reviewed
Digital Voice Recorders
- Budget digital voice recorder Olympus VN-6200PC *Est. $60
- Best digital voice recorder with MP3 player Olympus WS-500M *Est. $100
- Professional-grade digital voice recorder Samson Zoom H4n *Est. $300
- Digital voice recorder for dictating and transcription Sony ICD-MX20 *Est. $250
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Budget digital voice recorder
- 1 GB built-in memory
- Easy-to-navigate menu system
- Affordable
- Works with PCs, Macs
- Non-expandable memory
- Cheap, plasticky feel
- Records only in WMA format, not MP3
Reviewers say that the Olympus VN-6200PC delivers good sound quality at a wallet-friendly price and that users looking for a solid digital voice recorder for lectures and meetings will be well served. Its 1 GB of built-in memory can hold up to 444 hours at the recorder's lowest-quality setting. We've seen some complaints that the device feels a bit plasticky, and some users say that converting the WMA files to MP3 format is slow and cumbersome. Overall, however, reviewers using the Olympus VN-6200PC for basic voice recording functions are overwhelmingly satisfied. If you have a bit more to spend, the Olympus WS-500M (*Est. $100) boasts a 2 GB memory for up to 545 hours of recording time and some additional features, such as a built-in MP3 player.
The Olympus VN-6200PC is cited as a top pick in roundup reviews at PCToday.com. DigitalVoiceRecorderReviews.com offers a brief evaluation by a student using it to record lectures. Detailed user opinions are plentiful on Amazon.com.
Our Sources
1. PC TodayDetails/Subscribe
In this article about what to consider when purchasing a digital voice recorder, the Olympus VN-6200PC is shown as a top pick for its 1 GB of built-in memory and the ability to transfer files to a computer without additional software.
Review: Digital Audio Recorders: The Pen Is Mighty, but the Recorder Is Faster, Tom Nelson and Mary O'Connor, November 2009
2. DigitalVoiceRecorderReviews.org
This review is posted by a blogger who used the Olympus VN-6200PC to record sessions of high school lectures. Overall, this reviewer says the VN-6200PC performed well for its intended purpose. Some downsides cited include a short USB cable and controls that are difficult to read in low light.
Review: Review: Olympus Digital Voice Recorder VN6200PC, "Macro", Nov. 18, 2009
3. Amazon.com
More than 100 customers weigh in on the Olympus VN-6200PC, resulting in an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Customers using the VN-6200PC to record meetings, lectures and dictation are largely pleased with the recorder's performance. Some negatives cited include difficulty converting WMA files to MP3 format, a short USB cable and a bit of a learning curve to understand all the functions. Users do say that once they are familiar with the features, the recorder is easy to use.
Review: Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC), Contributors to Amazon.com
Digital Voice Recorders Runners Up:
3 picks including: Amazon.com, O'Reilly Digital Media…
3 picks including: Amazon.com, O'Reilly Digital Media…
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
