Small Tape-less Recorder Location

I know this may sound a bit of overkill, but it works for me!!

When I bought my first digital camera (2001) it could record video with sound... it has a good built in microphone and can store hours worth of video at low quality.

So I found that leaving the lense closed and selecting record I could use it as a dictation device, a very effective one too!!

Plus as well as playback you can plug it into a computer and store the recordings to a file... As the video is black with the lense closed the MPEG4 coded video is a very small size and the sound track is easily stripped off the video if you want to save it separately!!

John.

I just felt that I needed to comment on Electromans solution as one of the best examples of lateral thinking I have seen for a long time. Not only do you have a voice recording memos system but you can document it with images at the same time. You could also use voice recognition with word to transcribe it later into document for inclusion in a report.

Well done Electroman!

Now have you got any ideas as brilliantly simple as this on how we can solve the global warming problem.

Thanks Masu.... It just seemed an obvious application for it!!

It is excellent for when I visit client companies and they show me around pointing out the problem they have, as like you said, I can talk as well as take a video or a still picture of the problem...

Its enormously helpful when I return to my office, also in meetings its great to leave it on to record the discussions, save making notes and missing bits etc...

Its surprising just what you can fit onto a 32 Meg memory card...

As for the global warming thread, I've taken it off my subscription list as its getting a bit 'overheated' with little worth reading!

John.

Hello,

Check your cellular phone for a "Voice Memo" function. My LG VX6100 has this capability. The voice memos include a header with date and time in text form.

I bought my daughter an mp3 player with recording function. I can't remember how much sound, in terms of time, you can record on it though. It was only 128Mb. You can go to your friendly department store or audio/video store and ask. You didn't say if your device is the same thing so I may be suggesting something that you already tried.

there are lots of this type of thing, 512K memory, USB connector and a small battery for $25 or so in high tech gadget shops

Once again you guys never cease to amaze me. I like the alternative thinking of using the digital camera. (I use the heck out of mine.) But unless I'm on a direct fact finding mission, I would be afraid of breaking it carrying it with me all day.Specials tanks to you 47CDPG. You nailed it right on the head. 'have been carrying the exact devise I've been longing for right on my hip the whole time and didn't even know it! If I actually read the directions on my day to day gadgets I wonder how many other helpful tools I have at my disposal. I love this site. Keep up the good work. This is actually my daily newspaper every morning!

Sony and Panasonic make small tapeless voice recorders. I am familiar with the less expensive Panasonic device. It is about half the size of pack of cigarettes and therefore easily fits into a front shirt pocket with its pocket clip. It can record 2 hours of HQ (6 or 8 hours of LQ). Each time you record, the recording is put into a new random access file. Up to 500 files in 5 folders can be recorded. You can playback on the recorder, or upload to a PC. The files can be converted to WAV format for use with other programs (i.e. video soundtrack), or sent to Dragon Speaking Naturally for conversion to text. It has sound activation and automatic sensitivity. The recorder alone is less than $100 US. It has good voice quality (better than my old Sony mini-tape recorder).

I'm worried. If your plant has flammable materials present then please do not take anything electronic into designated hazardous areas. The explosion risk is not worth it. Paper and pencil will work better here and there is no risk of blowing anything up with them.

I always ask when at reception about taking in my digi cam, I've always been told its fine except for the designated areas...

But the main problem comes when I tell them its a camera!! Most companies I've visited don't like any photos taken of their processes or problems !!!

John.

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Modern factory has to place a monitor near flammable material site. Of cause the monitor means sorts of camera. monitor day and night. These monitors is explosion-prevent type as same as motor using in dangerous place. at certain site, chemical fiber cloth is totally forbidden, becaue it can be cause spark especially in winter. We installed lots of such camera at the site to monitor vassel,oil tank, and of cause, include public place to monitor burglars. and road to monitor traffic flux. modern electronic eqipment get more and more small. My mobilephone can be serve either as camera or recorder and even more far as a video recorder. Every time I viist a factory and when I find something interesting. I shall ask master of the factory for them promise to shot. most of them welcome to shot their new machine and their people working situation. but others dont like to do so. in fact, their worry is not neccessery. they forget that the machine can be bought from other place as well. But at some technics place. you'd better not to shot. its certaily not allowed to shot.