RCA RP5007 Digital Voice Recorder

Good replacement for mini-cassette -- for most people, June 18, 2001

Its major flaw is the lack of storage for high-quality recordings. The included 4MB SmartMedia card only holds 17 minutes of HQ sound -- so I'd recommend buying at least an additional 8MB card. Unfortunately, that's as big as you can get, since the unit doesn't accept cards bigger than 8MB, or 34 minutes HQ. The SP (low quality) mode lasts a long time (nearly 1hr 40min with the stock 4MB card), but the sound is highly compressed and very hard to understand unless there is no background noise at all.

It is considerably less expensive than other digital voice recorders, so compromises have been made, but they detract little from its good basic features and usability.

Here are the pluses and...Read more

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Maddening design flaw, April 22, 2002

However, mine has an absolutely maddening flaw: the batteries are held in by a small 'door' that hinges from the bottom of the device. The battery door opens at the slightest touch: in fact, if often opens (and the batteries therefore fall out) while in my pocket, without particularly being touched at all. You don't lose your recordings, but you have to re-set all your time and date settings as a result. For me this one flaw almost negates the good features because it makes the device so frustrating to use.

Also, don't assume that the memory cards included or available for this device can be used in a PC-attached card reader: they cannot, since they have a unique proprietary format. So you cannot put these cards into a card reader and import the sound files into your PC.

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Digital recording capability whets desire for more features, May 20, 2001

To me, its most useful feature is the ability to have different memos in individual files, so that a quick listen to the first few seconds of each is all I need in order to track down a particular piece of information that I know I have stored. An "append" feature lets you listen to the start of a memo and then add further notes, which will automatically appear at the end of the existing file. The total recording time is relatively long for recorders in its price range, and the number of different files (297, I think) seemed adequate for almost any purpose. I liked the capability to add my own microphone and headset, or to use the built-in mike and speaker. Press the "lock" button after you turn the unit off, and the unit won't start up accidentally (which could run down its batteries).

Limitations? * For me, the most serious problem is that I have not yet been able to get the Rp5007's...Read more

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