I’m horribly under-informed about most new technologies. Are there cheap recording devices that one can use to upload audio files into a PC? I’m talking about recording conversations, meetings, etc.
I’m interested, too. One way that would satisfy me would be a facility to plug a small microphone into a laptop, together with software that could manage the MP3 files (or whatever format that would be best) recorded off the microphone.
Check Target, Walmart or Best Buy.
But look closely. I bought one for $35 that holds mongo amounts of voice, but has no capacity to off-load it. When I had a critical file I needed to off-load, I ended up setting it up in front of the PC microphone and letting it fly while I left the room. On the positive side, it sat on the shelf with no batteries in it for two months, I popped in a fresh set and the files are still there.
The other model I saw at Target (and I’m sure there are more available) most certainly had the PC plug-in capacity, but it was closer to $100.
The one I have, I used sereptitiously to record a meeting with my boss in which I knew he would be telling me stuff that he was outright lying to others about. I put the mic on the most sensitive setting and it had no problems picking him up clearly across the desk, with the device in the front pocket of my winter coat, which was on the back of my chair, out of line-of-sight from him. It did not, however, pick up the other person in the room, who was about 5’ further away.
Caveat: Check your local laws regarding such things. Perfectly legal here in Minnesota as long as one of the people (presumably you) consents.
Thanks Chimera. I just picked one up on my way home from work. The Sony ICD-P520.