High-quality sound recording in a compact bottle: 5 voice recorders

Sony ICD-PX333

The Sony ICD-PX333 recorder is positioned as an entry-level audio recording device. Nevertheless, he can do a lot and writes really high-quality sound tracks.

The device has a wide frequency range of data recording — when recording in MP3 format with a bit rate of 192 kbps, it recognizes sounds at frequencies from 75 to 20,000 Hz. There is only one recording head, so when using the built-in microphone, the sound will be recorded in mono mode. Stereo can be obtained by connecting an external stereo microphone to the recorder.

The internal memory is represented by a 4 GB drive. The microSD card slot allows you to expand the memory by 16 GB, and some users in the product reviews also note normal work with 32 GB flash drives. The maximum recording time ranges from 44 hours at the best quality (192 kbps stereo) to 1073 hours at the lowest quality (8 kbps mono).

A number of buttons settled on the light and durable case of the voice recorder, which allows you to do without a menu in the process of recording sound. Shortcut keys allow you to quickly launch the recorder, enable noise reduction, loop recording, adjust the volume, or erase data. The noise reduction mode, dubbed Noise Cut, effectively muffles background sounds and allows you to focus on the main broadcast source.

The main audience of the Sony ICD-PX333 is students who need a solid "workhorse" for recording lectures. The recorder successfully handles with this task, even if the lecturer is several metres away from the microphone. And you certainly shouldn’t worry about batteries that have run out at the most inopportune moment — on a single charge of AAA batteries, the device is capable of recording sound for up to 96 hours in a row.

Olympus WS-832

Olympus is not only famous for its cameras. It is also a significant player in the medical equipment market and in the portable audio industry.

The Olympus WS-832 voice recorder is aimed at the business segment and is great for recording various conferences or seminars. The device has in its arsenal two highly sensitive directional microphones located at an angle of 90 ° relative to each other. This design allows you to more subtly feel all the features of the environment and understand the direction of the sound from the speaker.

Post-processing audio files is greatly simplified thanks to the presence of smart functions. The first of them is called "Voice Reproduction" — it helps to isolate fragments with speech from the recording, filtering out unnecessary pauses or music. The second "smart feature" called "Voice Balance" compensates for the volume of quiet parts of the recording. The third is called "Voice Filter" — it balances the levels of high and low frequencies. The fourth "bun" "Imitation of speech" makes pauses after recording, which allows you to repeat sentences after the speaker and thus facilitate the study of foreign languages.

Audio is recorded in WAV or MP3 formats and also played back in uncompressed PCM. The maximum recording length is limited to 4 GB of built-in memory and is 1000 hours. As expected, the memory can be expanded, for which you will have to purchase a microSD flash drive with a capacity of up to 32 GB.

The voice recorder has pre-installed software scenarios on board, upon activation of which it automatically sets the necessary sound recording parameters. As for the physical interfaces, a retractable USB connector lurks on the bottom of the recorder. With his direct participation, the device connects to the PC, while simultaneously replenishing the energy supply of the AAA battery. If a battery of the same type is used, it will not charge. One charge is enough for about 37 hours of recording in minimum quality.

Sony ICD-PX440

The recorder acts as a more experienced fellow recorder Sony ICD-PX333 . In terms of sound recording quality, both models are almost identical, but in terms of flexibility of settings, the older brother is half a head higher.

The difference from the younger model lies in the use of two microphones in the design of the recorder, which allows you to get stereo sound without the need to connect external buttonholes. The sound is recorded in MP3 format with a bit rate from 8 kbps to 192 kbps. At the minimum quality, the device is capable of recording videos for 1043 hours in a row, at the maximum — about 96 hours.

The recorder is equipped with an effective intelligent noise reduction system, which is designed to help reduce the stray effects of external noise. The wide frequency range covers values from 75 Hz to 20 kHz, which is enough for almost all everyday purposes.

Pairing with a computer takes place via a retractable USB connector, through which the recorder can replenish the battery charge (2 AAA little finger batteries). The USB interface also allows you to use the recorder as a storage device — 4 GB of internal memory and up to 32 GB of expandable memory open up all the possibilities for this.

Sony ICD-PX440 is the best solution for recording seminars and lectures. It will also suit novice journalists — the function of activating the recorder by voice will allow you to quickly start the recorder without taking it out of your pocket.

Tascam DR-22WL

The American brand Tascam specializes purely in audio equipment. All his solutions are of excellent quality, regardless of the focus on the professional or amateur segment.

The main "feature" of the Tascam DR-22WL recorder is the presence of a Wi-Fi module, through which you can share recorded files to third-party gadgets or control the recording process via a smartphone or tablet. To connect, you only need to download the DR Control application and connect to the wireless network distributed by the voice recorder. Paired devices will work within range of the access point.

The purity of the sound comes from two stereo condenser microphones mounted at right angles to each other to properly capture the right and left channels. For maximum volume and quality results, they are additionally equipped with preamplifiers. Sound files are written in MP3 or WAV formats with a sampling rate of 96 kHz in 24-bit resolution. You can record 2 channels at the same time.

The recording start key stands out from the rest with a red edging, which is additionally highlighted in the dark. Also on the front panel is a dial for selecting sound recording modes with pre-installed automatic presets (music, speech, concert, etc.) and manual access to adjusting settings.

The recorder is also quite good in the role of an MP3 player — paired with good headphones, you can achieve loud and clear sound. To store large volumes of music or data, it is advisable to additionally acquire a microSD memory card with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. The bundle comes with a 4 GB flash drive.

The English-language menu of the recorder makes it difficult to fine-tune the recording parameters for those who do not know the language. But if you understand it in detail, the wide functionality will make you admire the capabilities of the device.

Zoom H5 Price from 10 255 up to 21 273 ₴ →

The professional 4-channel recorder from the Japanese company Zoom is one of the most popular models among videographers.

The recorder is capable of recording audio tracks in WAV format (stereo recording with quantization at a sampling frequency of 44 kHz to 96 kHz and a resolution of 16 to 24 bits) or MP3 (stereo audio with a bit rate of 48 kbps to 320 kbps) . Sound quality in any conditions is ensured by regular condenser microphones with anti-vibration coating. The good news is that they are made in the form factor of a removable nozzle — paired with the recorder, you can use the entire fleet of Zoom microphone modules.

The front face of the device case is covered with protective metal arcs designed to protect the device when it falls. Under the middle arc are two analogue wheels responsible for manually adjusting the parameters of the right and left channels. Just below you can find four illuminated keys to control each track individually. The display is monochrome and minimalist — it is convenient to navigate through it in the process of work.

The slot for memory cards allows you to take on board the recorder flash drives in SD format up to 2 GB or SDHC up to 32 GB. The longest recording time reaches 15 hours, at maximum load and using numerous ports, this figure can be safely divided by 2. Power is provided by two AA batteries or from the USB port.

Zoom H5 carries and "smart" features that allow you to process sound directly on the device. At its core, the model is a slightly stripped-down version of the flagship Zoom H6 Price from 13 346 up to 15 999 ₴, which, when properly handled, is practically not inferior to its older brother in a variety of settings and presets for sound recording.