Features:
- Tapeless voice-activated digital audio recorder with 32 MB of flash memory
- Record up to 396 files and subdivide your files into 4 separate folders
- Built-in speaker and condenser microphone
- Timer recording and playback lets you record at selected times
- Hold switch helps prevents accidental battery drain when in briefcase or pocket
Description:
Tapeless digital audio recorders have been around for some time, but until recently, the devices were hard to use and only recorded a few minutes worth of audio. Panasonic has changed all that with the introduction of the RR-QR240, a tapeless audio recorder that stores up to 266 minutes of audio and is easier to use than many of the cassette-tape recorders we've worked with. The first thing we noticed about this device was its sleek, slim design. Measuring a little over 2 inches wide, a little under 4 inches high, and only 0.5-inches thick, it slips neatly into a shirt or pants pocket. The device is powered by a pair of AAA batteries and can record at three different quality levels. The advertised 266 minutes of record time is achieved at the low Long Play level, which is perfectly fine for making voice notes when the microphone will be close to your mouth. For recording conferences, meetings, or other recordings that require a greater level of fidelity, the decent Standard Play mode allows for up to 133 minutes of record time, while the superb High Quality mode lets you store up to 66 minutes of audio. We were impressed with the HQ mode, which let us create crisper recordings than any analog recording device we've worked with. Recordings are stored in numbered files that can be placed in one of four lettered folders for easy organization. A wheel on the side of the device let us easily navigate the user interface and control the fast-forward and rewind features with one hand. We really appreciated the hold switch that let us lock the device so buttons weren't accidentally pressed when we were carrying the RR-QR240 around. Microphone and headphone jacks rounded out the package, allowing us to easily use it with phone recording equipment and external microphones. The audio playback from the built-in speaker came across loud and clear, which is amazing considering how thin this recorder is. Analog players offer finer control over fast-forwarding and rewinding, but they can't come close to the sound quality, portability, and organization features of this superb digital audio recorder. --T. Byrl Baker Pros:
- Extremely compact
- High Quality mode produces excellent recordings
- Professionals will love the input and output jacks
Cons:
- Fast-forwarding and rewinding files is not as smooth as it could be
- Relatively expensive
- Can't apply text labels to stored recordings
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