Voice recorders can be handy for people in many different walks of life: students, writers, business people, etc. There are several different kinds on the market, and your uses for the recorder – how frequently you’ll be using it and what you’ll be using it for – may determine what kind of recorder you choose.

Microphone types: Some recorders have built-in microphones, while others require external microphones. If you are planning to carry the recorder around in your pocket and still want it to record clearly, an external microphone would be ideal, and a recorder without a built-in microphone will cost less. However, if you intend to set the recorder on a table to record a class lecture, interview, or meeting, you probably won’t want to mess with an external microphone, and it may be worth it to pay a little extra for a built-in microphone.

Cassette tape voice recorders: Some voice recorders are still sold for use with cassette tapes. Larger recorders are available for use with regular-sized cassette tapes, while smaller recorders use mini cassette tapes for easier portability. Voice recorders that use cassette tapes are considerably cheaper than digital voice recorders, but their battery life will be shorter, and you may have to hassle with purchasing and storing dozens of little tapes. However, if the recorder will not be used frequently, it may not be worth spending a lot of money on.

Digital voice recorders: Digital voice recorders offer many benefits that cassette recorders can’t, put you’ll pay for those benefits. The least expensive digital recorders are comparable to cassette recorders, but these have limited memory and no way of transferring files to a computer. For slightly more money, you can buy a digital recorder with more memory, and for yet another increase in price, you can find one that will also allow you to transfer files to your computer. However, if you intend to use the recorder frequently, or if you need the files on your computer, the extra expense may be worthwhile.