MOST crucial decision - please please help me...!!!!!!!!!

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Member Since: Aug 22, 2005

MOST crucial decision - please please help me...!!!!!!!!!

please please read the whole post....please have patience....

WHAT I WANT:

To be able to record lectures delivered by my professor so that I can later on listen it while commuting and also make notes.

WHY I WANT:

Because our professor delivers lecture at a very very rapid pace and although it is great listening him and understanding his concepts...its so so fast that its impossible to write or make note of anything...

This creates problem because although I am able to understand everything while he teaches BUT later on I forget everything as I am unable to make any notes.

The net result is I am where I was when the classes started.

WHAT I AM THINKING:

I gave a thought to my problem very deeply and discussed with some people and the only solution that appears is TO RECORD THE ENTIRE LECTURE DAILY....so that I can make notes from it later on at my ease...

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS:

After doing a very thorough and deep analysis on net and gathering as much information as was possible for me...I concluded that I am having the following options:

A. To record the lectures using Apple iPod along with either griffin italk or belkin voice recorder.

OR

B. To record the lectures using Nokia mobile handset using its inbuilt microphone (or attaching some external microphone)

OR

C. To record the lectures using dedicated digital voice recorders such as Olympus DM-10 and DM-20, or say Panasonic RR-US006.

OR

D. To record the lectures using a laptop which is having inbuilt microphone or attaching the laptop with external microphone.

OR

E. To record the lectures using flash based MP3 player like those of transcend etc.

OR

F. To use dictaphone (I have never before even heard that term)

WHY I AM CONFUSED:

Because

1. I do not own personally any of the devices in all options referred above and therefore unable to make a choice which one suits my needs best

AND

2. Dont know which one would be MOST suitable for purpose of recording class lectures from a reasonable distance (say 5-10 feets away) for 3-4 hours lectures.

AND

3. Dont know which device would be MOST reliable and durable

AND

4. Dont know which one provides Best Value for Money as there are extra benefits associated with each device and extra costs too.

EXAMPLE:

I have heard that

# Griffin italk or Belkin Voice recorder at times may NOT record properly always (I have just heard NOT at all sure)

# Again Apple Ipod which allows extra voice recording functionality is NOT mini or shuffle so Again I dont know whether its better to have Nokia Mobile which has so many extra features as well and would cost less than Apple ipod.

# Again if Nokia Mobile is to be purchased which particular model suits my needs best.

# Or is it that dedicated digital voice recorders are best as they have one single function of digital voice recording.

And so on........................

BOTTOM LINE:

There are so so many variables involved that I am really unable to decide. This is further complicated by the fact that I have never used such gadgets and NOt sure.

PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE..........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE..........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE..........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE..........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My budget is very very flexible (which means that I am ready to spend upto Indian Rs 50000 which is roughly USD $ 1000, if required).

The single most imporatnt reason I am intending to buy such a gadget is to record the class lectures daily which are normally of 3-4 hours duration and the professor and my sitting distance varies from 1 feet to 10 feets.

If i get extra features Its welcome BUT this digital voice recording feature is something which I do NOT want to be compromised.

Please suggest me out of A, B, C, D OR E what should be my ideal choice and what costs i would incur. If possible please specify the exact product number or detail or specification.

I Know I have written a very very long story and it must have tested your patience and consumed a lot of your valuable time. I genuinely and most sincerely appreciate your time and effort with me from the bottom of my heart and trust me I am really in serious trouble or else would NOT have written such a long story.

I am very anxiously awaiting the words of wisdom and valuable advice from more knowledgebale and experienced (and most importantly helpful) members here.

I am sure that someone here will be able to help me out with his advice and suggestions.

Again I express my deepest sincerest appreciation and gratitude for reading this post and possibly replying.

Please reply in detail and advice to your best as your decision may be very very crucial and infact the whole basis on which I am going to make the purchase. So please be concerned and kind.

Thanks and best of regards

Most sincerely

Sunando Ghosh
Kolkata, India

sunandoghosh (at) rediffmail (dot) com

P.s. If u wish to add anything which i might have missed or suggest differently please feel free to do so.

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Member
Since: Aug 17, 2005

Aug 22, 2005 03:05 am

There are about 3 routes I'd personally take with this situation.

I have had the same problem before with recording lectures and lessons and I reccomend the following.

do NOT waste \time or money on that italk junk, griffin makes the crappiest equipment ever, and belkin, though good, could not really make the ipod what it is not.

2 things to think about.

Digital or analog.

while digital is prettier and more appealing, analog could be a better bet. If something happens and causes your digital recorded to malfuntion, you've lost the whole thing, because it isn't stored on any type of media. This is why i suggest one of those portable mini-tape recorders.

Yes, they are a little outdated, but for 20 bucks or less at any department store, you can't go wrong.

You could even store and label tapes from different lessons so you can go back and review, or overwrite those you no longer need.

If you already have a laptop, I'd get an external mic for it and use that, but the same problem arises with software. If software fails or has a problem and needs to close, 2:59:59 of your 3 hour session could be gone like that.

hope this kinda helps

Andy

Ultra Magnus
Member
Since: Nov 13, 2004

Aug 22, 2005 04:34 am

Also, yout tutor probably won't mind if you put the recorder on his/her desk so you get a better signal, might be worth asking them before you buy though, just in case, but i know people who did this while i was at uni.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Aug 22, 2005 08:47 am

Welcome to HRC, and Hello to India!

people here (myself included) have used the sony mini-disc recorders with good results. Certainly would be good for lectures. Now I think they offer units that can transfer the digital file over to a PC through USB without problem.

I used to have a MCD 707, or something like that. Here's a link to example of :

www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-N707.html

Here's link to the microphone I purchased to go along with it:

www.minidisco.com/ecm-ms907.html

the two together did a very good job of recording stereo signal.

The model I mentioned is an older model, and would advise looking for one that offers good file transfer, as you may want to archive sessions.

The newer models hold more than the old one like mine, I think. Anyway, in normal mode, the recorder can record 1.5 or so hour, but in long play mode, it can record 4 hours. I haven't tested it exactly for time, but it should do well for you.

I think the newer models have the HiMD designation, where mine is just the MD model.

Hope this helps, Good luck.


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Aug 22, 2005 09:48 am

Well, if you have an iPdo already, I just read that there is a hack to install Linux on it and the Linux based recording app can record at 16-bit, the standard iPod, if I recall correctly is just able to do 8-bit. so the iPod is a decent option. I think what I would do is try a mic, get a free program like Audacity or Goldwave for your computer, though it sounds like you don't have a laptop yet...and try that route, tho, I doubt it's necessary. the iPod records, if you sit close to the podium, or, he allows you to put it right where he lectures, might be a cheaper option and likely yield usable results.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005

Aug 22, 2005 10:57 am

I have been using a Sony voice recording for recording tech seminars that I attend. It is a digital recorder and holds up to 8 hours or recording. The recordings can be saved into folders and bookmarks assigned for later retrieval.
The microphone sensitivity can be adjusted to the room size.
Connects via USB.
Not much else to say. It does what it is suppose to and cost about $150 US.
Check out the Sony website for models.

jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005

Aug 22, 2005 03:44 pm

I'd be very tempted to go with the analog tape, if you can get a good placement location for the recorder, or mic. I'd be tempted to do the mini-disc recorder along with it... sort-of fail-safe...

A school that I attended had it set-up for instructors to wear wireless lapel mics, and the school itself did the recording, offering the students tapes for a nominal fee (like $1.50 each). Perhaps your school or instructor would be agreeable to a similar set-up?

> > > MOST crucial decision - please please help me...!!!!!!!!!

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