Microcassette Recorder

Sure, we live in a digital age, but sometimes, in face of the vast array of handheld techno devices on the market, you're going to want a simpler, more familiar personal recording tool. Enter the microcassette recorder; developed by Olympus in 1969, these small tape recorders are still on the market - and they're just as relevant now as their digital counterparts.

Microcassette vs. DVR

If you're wondering why a microcassette recorder should be a viable voice recording option, consider this: some affordably priced digital voice recorders - such as those close to the $24.99 to $44.99 price range of Olympus' microcassette recorders - don't have a USB port or connection to enable users to download recorded materials to computers. So a student recording a class lecture, for example, would have to transcribe the digital recording - no permanent copies could be made.

With a microcassette recorder, on the other hand, a fresh tape can hold up 180 minutes of continuous, permanent audio - perfect for college courses, journalistic interviews, or executive dictation.

The 21st-Century Microcassette Recorder

Today's microcassette recorders come with quite a few fancy features. Most of Olympus' Pearlcorder models have voice activation controls and automatic volume adjustment, as well as fast playback - 25 percent faster than real time - dual tape speeds, cue and review, tape counters and index marking, battery power indicators, and built-in microphones and speakers.