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Which Voice Recorder?

grinner

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
101
Location
Pewaukee, WI
I've heard people mention voice recorders to record their interactions with people while they OC and to record interactions with the police. Can someone recommend a good one? I can research this subject myself on google but if there's a model or type that everyone is using, I'll just get one of those.

Thanks.
 

fozzy71

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2010
Messages
921
Location
Roseville, Michigan, USA
I use an Olympus VN-6200 PC. It seems to be one of the more popular ones, and it does a good job of recording from the leg pocket on my cargo pants I prefer to wear.

GEDC0002-r.jpg
 
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grinner

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
101
Location
Pewaukee, WI
Cool. Thanks for the info and picture. I don't usually wear jeans that have such a convenient pocket but maybe I'll have to consider something like those.
 
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Bikenut

Guest
I prefer using mini video and audio recorders so I can have date/time stamped audio and video. There are many of these available in packages intended to be inconspicuous. Even some police use the video/audio recording ink pens clipped in their shirt pockets.

HOWEVER!!!! Please make sure you are aware of the laws regarding recording as they apply to the State you are taking a recording in!!!!!

That warning is for either/both video and/or audio recordings!!!!!
 

daddy4count

Regular Member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
513
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
In most cases, even with strict laws about recording "private" conversations all you have to do is announce that you are recording. At that point the other party(s) have the option to stop the discussion...

Also, be aware of when and where certain laws take effect... in many cases the laws are not enforceable unless a case can be proven for "reasonable expectation of privacy" - which does not exist if you are outside and in a public place.

I use an Android app on my phone. Works well, records open air, outside, from my pocket to about 6 or 7 feet away. Plus it will continue to record until I stop it... about a weeks worth of audio to fill the memory chip. Plus I can immediately upload to Facebook, Youtube or copy it to my Gmail account.
 

Brimstone Baritone

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Messages
786
Location
Leeds, Alabama, USA
And in some states you can be the only one who knows, and in others announcing you are recording could get you arrested.

Read your state laws, because you are the one responsible for following them.
 

rottman43055

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2008
Messages
158
Location
Ohio, ,
I carry a digital recorder similar to the guys in the pic (different brand, forget without looking) and also have one of the keys on the side of my Blackberry set to video mode.
 

Superlite27

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Messages
1,277
Location
God's Country, Missouri
Any one want to make a sticky on state by state recording laws?:banana:

Here's a link to a state by state list of consent laws: http://www.rcfp.org/taping/states.html

You can click on a state and read the law to see if it requires consent of "one of the involved parties" (which would be you if you are recording your own interaction with another party, so the other person need not be informed) or "all involved parties" (which would mean that you need consent from both parties).

I use a Sony ICD-PX820.
 
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daddy4count

Regular Member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
513
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
In some cases, like WA, there is a loophole for news information gathering... not water tight by any means, but if you were to send the footage or audio to a news studio a good lawyer might get around it... ;)
 

fozzy71

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2010
Messages
921
Location
Roseville, Michigan, USA
Cool. Thanks for the info and picture. I don't usually wear jeans that have such a convenient pocket but maybe I'll have to consider something like those.

I had 2 pr of these jeans until I realized how convenient that pocket was so I ordered 4 or 5 more pair in my size from ebay. I think I need to get a few more pair because I get mad when the only jeans in my closet don't have that pocket. :D

The recorder I have came with a soft case. I would think a sewing shop could attach a belt-loop pretty easily but then it isn't very inconspicuous.

I picked up a cheap video recorder recently but it isn't very inconspicuous at all, it uses a lot of data space for recording, and the LiIon battery life seems to suck, so I will keep shopping for those.
 
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Bikenut

Guest
I had 2 pr of these jeans until I realized how convenient that pocket was so I ordered 4 or 5 more pair in my size from ebay. I think I need to get a few more pair because I get mad when the only jeans in my closet don't have that pocket. :D

The recorder I have came with a soft case. I would think a sewing shop could attach a belt-loop pretty easily but then it isn't very inconspicuous.

I picked up a cheap video recorder recently but it isn't very inconspicuous at all, it uses a lot of data space for recording, and the LiIon battery life seems to suck, so I will keep shopping for those.

The... ummm... shall we say.... inconspicuous video+audio recorders I have vary in battery life from 1 hour to 2 hours of continuous video and audio recording depending on the unit being used. Considering the video and audio quality of all but one unit (video is great... audio sucks but is understandable) I consider these recorders invaluable.

Some cost about the same as audio only recorders.... some cost more... some can cost a whole lot more.... what is spent depends on what will serve your purposes.

If anyone is interested in what units I'm referring to please PM me for links to them. No need to make them all common knowledge for those unsympathetic to having their transgressions recorded by posting them on a public forum.

But, once again, be absolutely sure you understand the laws concerning where/when/who can be recorded in YOUR state!!!!
 

Deanimator

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Messages
2,083
Location
Rocky River, OH, U.S.A.
I carry a Sansa C250 mp3 player that's also a voice recorder.

The recording quality is excellent, even in the coin pocket of my jeans. I carry it on a snaplink through my belt loop.

One nice feature is that when it's recording, there are no lights to indicate that it's on, until you actually push a button to go into the menu.

When I get some money, I'm going to buy one built into a wristwatch. Those don't require any "threatening" or "furtive" movements.

Ohio's a one party consent state. As long as you're a party to the interaction, you don't need anyone's permission OR knowledge to record.
 
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Bikenut

Guest
-snip-

Ohio's a one party consent state. As long as you're a party to the interaction, you don't need anyone's permission OR knowledge to record.

Michigan is also a one party consent State... with the exception of:

THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 328 of 1931

750.539d Installation, placement, or use of device for observing, recording, transmitting, photographing or eavesdropping in private place.
Sec. 539d.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not do either of the following:


(a) Install, place, or use in any private place, without the consent of the person or persons entitled to privacy in that place, any device for observing, recording, transmitting, photographing, or eavesdropping upon the sounds or events in that place.


entire portion of the law can be read here:


http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(0r...g.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-750-539d

My understanding of that law (but I am NOT an attorney!!!!) means that I cannot record a conversation that happens in a place where a person would expect privacy... like a bathroom, a living room, a private office, the workplace, or any place that the general public does not have access to, even if I am a part of that conversation because the other party has an "entitlement to privacy".

So there is a distinction in Michigan between what is considered a place where there is no entitlement of privacy.. and a place where there is such entitlement to privacy. It is laws like this that are in addition to the "one party consent" portion of the laws that we must also be aware of for the State we live in... or even visit.
 
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