Voice and sound recorded from voice recorders are important and useful source of information especially for students who do a lot of memorizing. Voice recorders which allows people to document speeches, interviews, and lectures are helpful not only for students but also for professionals like businessmen and journalists whose works require gathering of information; one way to easily do these tasks is to have it recorded in a voice recorder which is more efficient and practical than taking down notes which on the other hand needs much effort and effort.
The ‘Dictaphone’ is the first and earliest voice recorder invented in history. In 1900s, Thomas Edison who is known for his invention of the light bulb accidentally discovered that the tape around the telephone transmitter that gave off a noise that resembles a spoken a word which led to his invention of the phonograph and eventually the “Dictaphone”. The Dictaphone was huge, heavy, and bulky and it records voices and other sounds which was very useful during those days. Today, different types and styles of voice recorders are available in the market.
Edison’s invention of the Dictaphone paved the way to the invention of more voice recorder devices that have different features which made these items popular to people. Soon after the introduction of the Dictaphone to the market another type of voice recorder was invented; this was called the “detective dictograph”. This device is smaller in size compared to Edison’s Dictaphone but it is still bulky. Its size is the same with a microphone and it can be hidden with an amplifier and headphone. Due to the popularity of voice recorders, in 1930s another type of these devices was introduced, the ‘Walkie Recordal’. This type of voice recorder, unlike the aforementioned is portable which allows salesmen and businessmen to carry and use them around. Thirty years later, the cassette tape recorder flooded the market and it became the most popular voice recorder and it started the era of the smaller version of recorders.
Voice recorders these days come in different forms, sizes and designs. One of the most commonly use type is of recorder is the cassette tape recorder. This way, data can be stored in a cassette tape which can be reused and played back only for a specific number of times. The digital recorder is another popular type of voice recorder which uses digital media in recording voices which unlike the cassette tape is rewritable and can be used to record as many times as needed. Some of the popular forms of this recorder are the handheld digital recorder, USB digital recorder, and clip-pen digital recorder.
Voice recorders are very useful devices which can store data that can be played back and listen to as many times as possible. One of the main benefits one can get from these is helping the environment by cutting down the use of paper. With the use of voice recorders, the use of paper can be minimized because conversations, information, and interviews are already recorded which means that paperwork are no longer needed. Also, time can be saved since noting down information and conversations and creating them into document take up so much time to do. Furthermore, for students, voice recordings are very helpful for reviewing and these can be used to back up, note, and back tract lectures by professors.
Different types of voice recorders as abovementioned are useful devices which makes some work for people easier and faster.
Mikha Louise is a reporter from Germany. During her interviews, Mikha ensures that she has her “Diktiergeraet” (a German word for voice recorder) with her to keep track of everything that will be talked about.