The USB Digital Voice Recorder Showdown

When I started my new job last year, I was required to take down notes during meetings and the hardest part of transcribing is when you have a crappy voice recorder.

Last year, I was amazed at Faye's USB Digital Voice Recorder that can clearly pick up conversations from round table discussions and the best thing about it is you charge this little cutie via your computer's USB port! 

Then one day, she gave me her other USB Digital Voice recorder after I told her how crappy "recording from cellphone" is:

Sorry for the crappy photo, this was taken using my camera phone

She gave this to me because she couldn't really understand how it works and it's not really user-friendly unlike her pink recorder. So when she gave it to me, I worked my way around it and it definitely made my life easier because it serves as storage device and the recordings are saved in mp3 files immediately.

But being the "kikay" that I am, I wanted to get one in pink. So for a few months, I was in search for the perfect "pink USB Digital Voice Recorder" just in case my black one breaks. I am not really comfortable with the brand of CDR King so I made sure to get one that is branded.

Last sem, during my graduate school class, I saw my classmates USB/MP3 player which he charged using his laptop. I asked if it can record conversations/lectures as well and it does. So I googled the product and set my mind to get the one in pink:

So here are my two digital recorders that I use both for work and interviews:

Black: CDR-King's USB Digital Voice Recorder and Philips Go Mix MP3/Recorder

I love how this is just a little bigger than the USB device that I carry around and almost the same size of lipstick

I remember at the hospital, I have unintentionally offended my Dad's neuro-surgeon because he saw me recording his explanation about my Dad's brain stem stroke. Of course I apologized and explained to him that the reason I was recording his explanation is because of all the hospital jargons that he's been using and we can hardly keep up. I was actually afraid he's going to charge us more because he said he felt violated and I did admit and said sorry that I did not ask permission to record his medical explanation. I stopped the recording and he really did check if I really erased the file (which I did).

After a few months of testing, recording and comparing the performance here are some realizations about this product comparison:

[Black] CDR King USB Digital Voice Recorder (1G):
Picks up voice/sounds/conversations easily and clearly.
Has a mini speaker for playback.
No port for earphones (2.5mm plug)
No screen for guide, so if you lost the little manual that it came with you would have a hard time trying to figure out how it works.

[Pink] Philips Go Mix MP3 Player/Voice Recorder (2G):
Picks up voice/sounds/conversations easily and clearly.
Cute packaging
It's an Mp3 player as well and it came with earphones
User-friendly

Tips and Review:

• Philips looks cute compared to the Black CDR King "I-mean-business" type.
• CDR King picks up better/clearer audio/voice recording compared to the Philips voice recorder.
• Both uses USB ports to charge.
• CDR King charges fast compared to Philips (maybe because Philips has a bigger memory?).
• Both lasts more than 4 hours of continuous recording (but I have not tested it out just how far it can go. Their manual says more than 10 hrs? ).
• Philips USB Digital Voice Recorder is available at SM Appliance Center (2G sells for Php 2,190.00 while the 4G sells for Php 2,450.00. Better to get the 4G. I was not able to get the 4G because it's no longer available).
• The CDR King USB Digital voice recorder has been discontinued.(Deym!) 

Lesson I learned:
Don't judge by the brand/label. Even though I love my pink Philips recorder, the audio pick up of the black CD R-King brand is better, clearer, louder. :)