Digital audio is a huge step forward in communications technology. The benefits are many-sending tapes by mail or courier is expensive and causes time delays. Digital audio can be transferred almost instantly to us over the Internet (see Audio File Transfer). We can start transcribing your audio within minutes of the end of your meeting, interview, conference call, etcetera. And of course, good audio is easier to transcribe, translating in to what could be substantial savings for you!

All digital audio recorders are not created equal! This is a huge topic, so we won't try to be the expert here on everything that's available, as everyone has different requirements.

If you are shopping for a digital audio recorder, though, here are just a few important tips:

• Choose a recorder that has enough memory for you to record in 'high quality.' Then please record in a fairly high quality setting to ensure good audio clarity. High quality recordings take up considerably more of your recorder's memory than low or 'long play' settings.
• Check out recorders that have multiple settings for different recording environments (i.e. quiet setting versus noisy backgrounds, etc).
  
• Read buyer's reviews (Google search to find) to get feedback on real, in-the-field experiences of your pick in digital recorders before you buy.
  
• Not all digital recorders produce good sound, for one reason or another. Once you buy, (within the device's return period) test your recorder in different settings in which you would normally conduct your interviews or meetings.
  
• Check out the ease (or difficulty) of the software required to upload audio to your computer for playback and transfer.
  
• For round table settings, check out multi-directional microphones so all attendees are picked up by your recorder.
  

Better audio equals lower transcription costs!!

We recommend that you check out Olympus' broad range of recorders, including their new WS series (great leaps forward in memory capacity on the WS series). Google search 'digital voice recorders' for lots more information.

Don't know what a digital voice recorder is?

Here is a very simple, short explanation at wisegeek.com

Click on this link to read the Olympus news release for their new WS line of digital recorders.

Then to view the Olympus line of digital voice recorders, click here.

We found a few reviews that are pretty informative on amazon.com. There are reviews from buyers of all makes of digital recorders click here.

We'll be adding more information on digital recorders soon, so please check back again!