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Digital Recorders and Background Noise

June 28, 2012 05:19PM
I just purchased a RCA VR5330R digital voice recorder. You can set it for Dictation or Conference mode, and you can set the sensitivity for LO MED HI. With the Automatic Voice Recording (AVR) on, it works great with one-on-one secenarios.However, in shops such as casinos the background noise is such that the recorder stays on. Maybe a good external microphone would work, but then you have the problem of concealment. I suppose a high-tech ($500?) would work, but can't justify the price. Ideas? Thank you.
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More About Equipment for Mystery Shopping
June 28, 2012 05:52PM
CFK,
I just leave my Olympus on. It helps with timings and I can always speed up the playback on the computer. The battery life and recording space are both very good. Hours and hours at a time, if needed. It was under $100 at BestBuy and a lot less on line.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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June 28, 2012 11:32PM
Females can readily have an external microphone hung across the center part of a bra or even tucked in 'between the girls'. Males should be able to use a safety pin inside a shirt in the collar area to hold the external and conceal both the pin and the bulge with their collar. In either case run the cord down to a pants pocket under your shirt and keep the DVR in your pocket. Practice a little and you can hit record and pause without ever taking the unit out of your pocket.
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June 29, 2012 12:19AM
Flash, thanks for the heads-up. Have you found a good noise cancelling microphone? Practicing the hit/pause would be good; probably a dead give-away if you held it in the open, lol.
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June 29, 2012 12:33AM
I am a big fan of the Sony ECM-CS10 condensor microphone. I don't know if they are still made. They used to sell for $50-$60 ea but then someone in Taiwan started selling them such that with shipping they came out to about $10 ea. They are knockoffs but I think they work even better than the Sony version and the 42" cord is more flexible than on the real Sony.
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