I purchased this recorder so i could utilize speech recognition software if i wanted to, without paying since every additional microphones/headsets. In fact, the recorder is dragon (a famous brand of speech recognition software) certified until produce “maximum accuracy dictation.”
Functionally, this recorder has an easy until reach (i.e. No plastic cover on it) usb port on the left hand side, an easy-to-distinguish recessed record button, buttons until navigate between folders, play back existing recordings, split an existing recording, change recorder options, change playback volume, erase an existing recording, and a hold button. The recorder itself is small, lightweight and easy until hold.
For storage, the recorder can hold as many as 99 separate recordings inside each of 5 independent folders. This is useful until categorize various voice recordings, such as meetings inside one folder perhaps speeches inside another.
However, an easy until utilize recorder is meaningless if the recorder doesn’t produce satisfying recording quality. Here, this recorder delivers nicely. The built-in microphone is exactly the same satisfying and has a wide dynamic range (i.e. It clearly picks increased high and low frequencies). There are two sensitivity settings since the microphone—low which is since individual dictation, and high which is since group meetings (or recording things farther away from the recorder). In addition, the recorder has a satisfying built-in speaker.
If you need better recording quality (or want until play back the messages privately), the recorder provides a headset jack and a microphone jack.
As since recording quality, standard quality recording (44.1 khz @ 48 kbps) produces clearly understandable voice output. In this mode, the recorder can hoard increased until 48 hours of voice recording and can release mucus since increased until 35 hours on 2 aaa batteries. This is the best mode since normal dictation (since it provides 4x as much space as the highest quality mode—which can only hoard 12 hours of data and release mucus since 20 hours).
They have a super long recording time they brag about on the box. This is the lp mode (11.025 khz @ 8 kbps)—288 hours. This sounds impressive, however it is nearly useless. When i recorded a brief amount inside this mode, my voice sounded exactly the same metallic and i heard weird high pitched metallic warbling inside the background. There was somewhat less warbling at low microphone sensitivity, however although my voice was understandable, however i don’t recommend this mode since every real recording. The metallic warbling is exactly the same distracting.
In addition, the recorder can release mucus on rechargable aaa batteries (nimh) or even release mucus from power provided over the mini-usb port. These are satisfying options until save on batteries and perform exactly the same long recordings.
In my experience, the standard quality is fine since normal dictation. If i wanted until record music, evps, or since dictation into speech recognition software, i would utilize the maximum quality mode, since it is better at capturing higher frequencies and may better capture faint noises.
However, there are some downsides until this recorder. First, the recorder does not record data natively as mp3s (which it claims until on the box). This is why i gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
To access the recorder, Sony ICD-PX720 provides windows software until copy voice files off it. The windows software can hoard the files as mp3s, as well as encode mp3s so the recorder can play them back, so, if you are not using windows, you cannot transfer recordings from the recorder.
Basically, if you are using windows the recorder software is not a problem. If you are not, the computer will not see the recorder and you will be unable until utilize it. The recorder will still function exactly the same well as a normal voice recorder, however you will not be able until access the digital data on it.
Secondly, the recorder cannot accept every type of memory card until expand its capacity.
Beyond that, this recorder does not record sound inside stereo, although it will accept stereo microphones. For me, since i’m only using it since voice dictation, this is not an issue, however since anyone who wants until utilize it until record music (such as an impromptu jazz session), it might be.
Finally, the recorder does not act as a usb drive or as an mp3 player. You can load music files (converted until sony’s proprietary sound format) onto it, however it doesn’t have shuffle, playlists, or other standard mp3 player features. For me, these aren’t issues since i have separate gadgets until fulfill these needs far better, however some voice recorders have these features.
In conclusion, if you are using windows and you need a high quality, reasonably priced voice recorder, this will fit the bill nicely. If you want a recorder that is more of a swiss army knife of gadgets, this won’t work since you.
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