Lectureworthy: MP3 players with voice recorders

Donald Bell, Senior Editor December 2, 2008

Unlike the iPod, many MP3 players include dynamite voice recorders right out of the box--no accessories required. For this list of recordable MP3 players, we considered the quality of the recordings, the simplicity of the recording controls, line-input recording options (there comes a time when you just need to use a serious microphone), memory expansion, battery life, and recording time.

With these considerations in mind, the Cowon iAudio 7 is the total package, offering tons of recording options and long-lasting battery life. The iAudio 7 records from an internal mic, stereo line input, or FM radio, with an adjustable quality setting that tops out at a WMA-formatted 128Kbps.

Not everyone will like the iAudio 7's cramped interface and relatively high price, however. Thankfully, manufacturers such as SanDisk and Creative seem to enjoy slapping a voice recorder into most of their budget-friendly MP3 players. For less than $50, the Creative Zen Stone Plus makes a handy voice memo recorder to keep in the car.

Also note that if you own one of the current generations of iPods, you can outfit any iPod Nano (4G), iPod Classic (2G), or iPod Touch (2G) with a pretty decent voice recorder for the cost of a $30 pair of headphones. In fact, the number of voice recording applications available for the second-generation iPod Touch number in the dozens. Owners of older iPods should consider accessories such as the XtremeMac MicroMemo, Belkin TuneTalk, or Belkin GoStudio.

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