Digital Recorder - Tips and Tricks

[punchdrunck]

If it were not for covert recording technology, I would have lost all access to my children as well as my freedom many times over. I could probably write a book on the subject and offer the following to those who care to listen:

1) an unlawfully made recording is worthless, follow the applicable laws of your state;
2) any recorder is better than no recorder;
3) be discreet especially while in the presence of the children;
4) record any and all communications and interactions with the ex, no matter how trivial, don’t become complacent;
5) keep your mouth shut, you don’t realize how stupid you sound;
6) use the recorder as a defensive tool. It will be apparent to all, should you bait or coerce another into making an incriminating statement, let them do what they do, and you only need to document it;

I’m out of time for now.

[NightSG]

I'm looking to get a digital recorder to keep on when the wife and I are alone.
I found a USB flash drive sized recorder thats 4GB:
http://www.gadgettown.com/4GB-Digital-V ... 03032.html

Been out of stock for a while now, anybody tried this one? http://www.gadgettown.com/4GB-USB-Flash ... 06147.html

Just ordered a couple of them. One for myself and one for an old friend who is in the process of divorcing what must be my wife's long lost just-as-evil-but-not-as-subtle twin brother.

[gopherstatedad]

[post removed]

[NightSG]

Been out of stock for a while now, anybody tried this one? http://www.gadgettown.com/4GB-USB-Flash ... 06147.html

Just ordered a couple of them

NightSG, please report back your thoughts on this item. I've been researching some small form factor recorders like these, but have yet to find many with favorable reviews. I'd be very interested to get your take on ease of use, and sound quality (especially if it's gonna be kept in the shirt or pants pocket.

I've had some experience with DealExtreme.com, which seems to be a similar company selling unbranded Hong Kong stuff. General rule for me is that the price needs to be good enough to buy two. Success rate is probably closer to 75%, but shipping is slow and returns are a pain. I figure if one works, I'll give the friend my bigger recorder and use the working one of these until the return is processed, and if both work, we'll both gather evidence a lot easier.

I have a few other voice recorders, MP3 players with voice record, and couple of disguised cameras (that unfortunately only record about 2 minutes at a time) but my wife knows what all of those look like, which sort of defeats the advantage of being in a one-party state. So far, my favorite is the Sansa e200 with Rockbox loaded, for the simple reason that it has a dedicated record button and with the backlight timeout short enough, she's not likely to notice whether I just paused my music or switched to recording.

[gopherstatedad]

[post removed]

[Here_We_Go]

excellent thread, I guess i do need to start recording everything, not for evidence but for insurance.

[Cuzz]

If your going to buy a cheap recorder, be sure to buy 2 of them.. Luckilly thats what I did because one already failed after a few weeks so now I can still record while I buy another for back-up again..

[NightSG]

NightSG, please report back your thoughts on this item. I've been researching some small form factor recorders like these, but have yet to find many with favorable reviews. I'd be very interested to get your take on ease of use, and sound quality (especially if it's gonna be kept in the shirt or pants pocket.

They came in today, and both work.
The clip is junk; one popped off just wearing it on my shirt, and the spring went who-knows-where, so I was able to put the clip back on but it just flops loose. I'll put this one in my keychain flash drive holder, so it really doesn't matter. The mic is on the switch end, so most of the slip-in holders will work fine, leaving the mic, switch and headphone port out in the open.
It comes with a couple of MP3's loaded, so if anyone wants to try out your "MP3 player", you can let them hear a song or two to prove what it is. (Be careful if you've already been recording; it will play your recorded files too.)
Operation is great; turn on the switch with earphones plugged in, it plays. +/- buttons do dual duty to skip and adjust volume. Turn it on without earphones plugged in, it records. Buttons don't appear to do anything while recording. The switch is easy enough to hook with a thumbnail to turn it off and on, but hard enough to flip that accidental activation or deactivation shouldn't be an issue.
The light does come on and blink for about 10sec when you turn it on to record, but then it goes off and stays off. It's easy enough to set it light-side-down or carry it in any sort of pocket or holder that will hide the light completely. If you want to record a meeting, walk in wearing your earbuds with it switched off, unplug, flip the switch and casually set it down nearby while you pocket your earbuds.
It claims 10 hour recording battery life. Haven't tested that yet. Records WAV, and recharges on USB. Pops up as a standard flash drive when plugged in right, so no fancy drivers needed. It's a shell-less connector, though, so you can accidentally plug it in upside down; doesn't hurt anything, but it doesn't work.
Sound is easily recognizable from inside a shirt pocket. There's so much junk in my pants pockets I wouldn't even try to wear a recorder there.

Overall, dead simple, well disguised, and if it keeps working for even a month or two, I'll get my $20 worth out of it. http://www.gadgettown.com/4GB-USB-Flash ... 06147.html

[NightSG]

Also, for any devices that are USB chargeable and boast longer record time than battery life, you may want to invest in something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... dition=new

(Generally handy to have around for the cell phone, anyway.)

[NightSG]

Update on the 4GB recorder; though it claims 8 hours of battery life, it is capable of recording at least 9 hours. Found that out when I got the switch positions backward the other day. Instead of getting a nice recording of the tone of voice she used to "ask" for some help with something, then her cussing me out in front of D2 when I didn't get up fast enough, (old knee injury and two old back injuries - I can get up fast if one of the kids is crying, but otherwise it takes a few seconds) I got a great recording of the garage door closing, calling a friend to arrange for some dinner, the soundtrack to a movie, and a few hours of chatting with said friend about how crazy she's gotten.