Audio voice recorders: Can anyone share their experience aith them?

I have noticed several jobs in my area requiring the shopper to audio record the visit. I want to purchase a recorder, but I do not know how to choose one. I plan to carry the device in a small side pocket inside my purse, so it needs to be sensitive enough to pick up through fabric (and leather too, I suppose.) Cost is not really an issue for me, but I do not pan to spend over $130.00. Please share good and bad recommendations. Thanks.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2015 02:08PM by Shopperfest.

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Just an idea, if you have a smartphone there are plenty of apps you can use instead of shelling out that much money. I use one for Android called Smart Voice Recorder. I had to tinker for a few minutes to get my settings right. I have used it for a few recorded shops and had no problem. I did test it on my own before shopping just to make sure I could catch what I needed when I did shop.

You will not get adequate voice recording putting the unit in your purse! Most women simply tuck it into their bra. I highly recommend a unit the has a retractable ubs connector on the unit so that you don't have to hunt for a cord when transferring audio to your computer. Excellent units are available in the $70 range on line.

ETA: Many audio recording guidelines specifically prohibit the use of your cell phone to make the recording. Especially for longer shops (which recorded shops tend to be) carrying around the phone is just too obvious.

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.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2015 02:49PM by walesmaven.

I have a Jenson MP3 player with a great microphone. It's more sensitive than a Samsung Galaxy with two mic's and it's really small.

You can pick up a very cheap recorder that is smaller than a USB stick to a full featured recorder with a phone line interface and stereo mic's from DealExtreme:

[www.dx.com]

scanman, what about using a key chain camera for audio recording?

I already have one that you recommended and it helped me to get many pics for one project... I do not see why not to use it for audio as well, but wanted to know your advice...
tnx

@EO wrote:

scanman, what about using a key chain camera for audio recording?

I already have one that you recommended and it helped me to get many pics for one project... I do not see why not to use it for audio as well, but wanted to know your advice...
tnx

I just checked the setup software. Interestingly enough, we can turn the microphone off and record video with no audio, but they have never had a request for the opposite. You could strip the audio out of the .mpg file, but you would be better off just buying a separate recorder for audio.

The audio only recorders can record all day long as it takes almost no processing power to just record audio.

I use a pretty simple digital tape recorder which gets excellent audio and has a usb as well to transfer to laptop.I used it recently for apartment inquiries and also handy for car dealerships where I have to quote people verbatim. I have never had a problem with it being too bulky. Not a smartphone user.

I purchased the SONY ICD PX333 Digital Voice Recorder- it was ~$20 for an open box model on Amazon (they are selling the new ones for just under $50). I have been very satisfied with it and use it just as you described- by putting it in a pocket of my purse.
Whichever one you choose, make sure you set the hold switch after you turn on the recorder to prevent the recorder from accidentally switching off.

Shopper since 2009
MSPA Gold Certified

I do audio recorded shops for a car wash, using "Easy Voice Recorder" app for Android, with excellent results. I put my phone in my cup holder, mic side up, or in my outside pocket on purse, and it records really well even from conversations outside of my auto. Easy to upload WAV files to desktop for reports.

I just use a cheapo Sansa MP3 player. It works perfectly even when I clip it into my side pocket inside of my purse. The mic is pretty sensitive - I can even be away from my purse and it still can pick up the conversation. The display shuts off after a second so even if someone can see in my purse all they see is a dead looking MP3 player. It could not be easier to use - turn it on, select voice, select record and it starts up. It is really hard to unintentionally turn off. It was inexpensive 4 years age when I bought it and now they are probably $10 on Amazon. I can use my phone as well but if someone calls me while I am recording it shuts down the voice recorder automatically.

I swear by my Olympus recorder. They have a variety of models, some you can download and some you cannot at different price points. My first one lasted about 5 years. I have a smallish pouch purse on a long string that I can wear cross body and it picks up well. In the bra does not work well if you are "well endowed".

I use a USM digital recorder. Works great, charge when connected to PC, and has lots of time. Now I can't remember the name, but will find it. Fits in my shirt pocket, or I pin it inside the buttons.

I also like the Android "Smart Voice Recorder." I voice record all of my shops to help me remember, than once the shop is accepted, I delete it. Once, I thought I turned it off, but had not, and that recording showed it went on for 4 hrs. Great app!

If you live in the midwest and do the recorded shops for Service Connections, they will send you an excellent Olympus recorder to borrow for the whole month. As long as you do at least one of those shops a month (they have numerous locations around central Indiana and parts of Ohio), you keep the recorder and if you supply the batteries (I use the ones from the Dollar Tree!), you can use it for your regular shops too. It seems to have better sound quality than the recordings from my smart phone.

Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.

I purchased a Sony digital recorder for $65 from Best Buy. It is small, fits in an upper pocket of my purse so the mike points up and is able to record conversations. It even performs well in semi-noisy locations.

I use a Sony DVR. It was about $50 at Best Buy. I just wish I had purchased one with a built-in USB connector instead of the cord. Excellent sensitivity although I have used it with an external mic on occasion.

"To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful." Edward R. Murrow

Thou shalt not steal. I mean defensively. On offense, indeed thou shall steal and thou must.--Branch Rickey

I once used my iPhone to record a shop and when someone called me, the recorder went off without me knowing it. Oops. I just use my basic Sony ICD. I'll be getting a new one soon though since it tends to run out of space.

Mystery Shopper since 1998; Author of Make Money Mystery Shopping available on Amazon in the Kindle Store.

I use Smart Voice Recorder on my Android. If you switch to airplane mode during the shop, you can avoid the problem of an incoming call interrupting the recording.

@sandyf wrote:

I swear by my Olympus recorder. They have a variety of models, some you can download and some you cannot at different price points. My first one lasted about 5 years. I have a smallish pouch purse on a long string that I can wear cross body and it picks up well. In the bra does not work well if you are "well endowed".

I with Sandy (on the Olympus, not the being well endowed). Wait...that came out wrong. I'm not saying if I'm well endowed or not, but as a male, that would not affect my ability to conceal the recorder.

The important point is that I use the WS-700M. I like it because it's rechargeable via USB and I've only replaced the battery once in over 5 years. It has a small hook area where you can add the wrist strap, and I have modified that with a loop so I can add the recorder to any necklace and wear it inside my shirt. You just need to add a small piece of dark electrical tape over the record light so that it doesn't show through your shirt. This is a good solution for men and lesser endowed females, I guess.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@sandyf wrote:

The important point is that I use the WS-700M. I like it because it's rechargeable via USB and I've only replaced the battery once in over 5 years. It has a small hook area where you can add the wrist strap, and I have modified that with a loop so I can add the recorder to any necklace and wear it inside my shirt. You just need to add a small piece of dark electrical tape over the record light so that it doesn't show through your shirt. This is a good solution for men and lesser endowed females, I guess.

I will try the hang inside the shirt thing but perhaps your recorder is smaller than mine and/or men's shirts are generally looser and thicker material than women's. I think unless I wear an over sized button down shirt it would look bulky. But an added benefit for mystery shoppers who print everything out (I do not) is that you can recycle your toner cartridges at office depot for a credit of $2 each and then use the proceeds to purchase your olympus recorder there. Mine was quite inexpensive with my recycle money saved up over a few months.. You do not need to buy your cartridges there to recycle them.

I'm in a one-party sate, so I record all my shops. Yet I find that I am relying less and less on the recorder. It's nice to have as a backup, but I'm finding that I'm getting better at remembering the details.

I'm not a fan of recorders in a purse or pocket. I'm also in a one party state and record everything as a back up. I've gotten fooled several times when the recorder or my phone has picked up noise from things like keys.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

I use an Olympus (cheap) recorder. It goes into the breast pocket of my Jeans jacket and so far has picked up conversations very well. It helps when you have to report the exact statements, the salesperson made. Be careful, in some states it is illegal to record conversations, without the permission of the person you are taping.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2015 11:08AM by Kr.

To the person who said your phone won't get a good quality recording from your purse---hogwash. I use it all the time like that in an outer pocket. Works great, and with the Android Voice Recorder app, the file is easy to upload. Why spend more?

Kona Kathie

I use an older Samsung Galaxy S2 with it's standard Voice Recorder app. I put it in my shirt pocket and it works great.

I use voice recorder from my Samsung smartphone. I put the phone with the mic side up in my coat pocket (or even the side pocket of my purse). The sound is very clear even in a busy loud place, I can always make out the conversations I need. I've been recording most of my shops ever since I started doing it. I even voice my notes and comments afterward. I've cut down my shop time by half since I've been doing this. It has helped a lot.

Not bulky at all. The bride used it once inside her blouse. It is the size of my index finger.

I have a Sony digital recorder and it works great. I'm in a one party state. Some MSC seem to say they do not want you to use recorders. I find it very helpful.

victoralpha

Just replaced my Android (HTC ONE) with the iPhone 6+. Having difficulty finding a voice recorder app like Smart Voice Recorder that works like the Android one. Any suggestions on an EASY voice recorder for the 6+? I am not a techie! Thanks.

How about the voice recorder on the phone, assuming it's still on the newest version? I never use my Olympus anymore. All audio is either with my iPhone on the existing app or with my PV-500.

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Audio voice recorders: Can anyone share their experience aith them?

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