Bit rate, gain, and segment length decide whether a recording is usable. Here is what each one does and how to set it for your situation.
Most voice recorders in this category are configured through a plain text file on the device itself rather than through buttons and menus. Plug the recorder into a computer, open it as a removable drive, edit the settings file, save, and disconnect. That is the whole process — but the three values inside that file decide whether your recordings are usable or useless.
Written as a number after BIT: in the settings file.
The bit rate value sets both audio quality and file format. Lower numbers produce compressed MP3 files that save space. Higher numbers produce WAV files at full fidelity. The trade is always the same: better audio, less runtime.
If you are recording a conversation an arm's length away, a mid setting is plenty. If the recorder is across a room or inside a bag, move up.
Written as a number after GAIN:, usually on a 1 to 7 scale.
Gain is the setting people get wrong most often. Higher gain picks up quieter and more distant sound — and also more air conditioning, road noise, and background chatter. Too high in a loud room and voices distort into mush; too low in a quiet room and you will not hear the person across the table.
Devices typically ship at a middle setting, which is correct for most rooms. Adjust only if a test recording tells you to. Always make a test recording in the actual room before the session that matters.
Written as a number of minutes after PART:.
Rather than producing one enormous file, the recorder can start a new file at a set interval, adjustable from roughly 10 to 240 minutes. A 30 minute segment makes long recordings far easier to navigate — you can jump to the right file instead of scrubbing through hours of audio.
For long unattended recording, shorter segments also limit damage: if one file is corrupted, you lose that segment, not the day.
Bring the device into the Fort Worth store and we will set it up with you rather than handing you a manual. That is the part most online sellers skip.
Stop by 6405 Brentwood Stair Rd #100, Fort Worth, TX 76112 or call (800) 929-8128. You can also browse the full range at SpyFox Gadgets.