How can I convert digital voice recorder output to a usable audio file?

  • Thread starter Thread starter zoogies
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Digital Output
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges and methods of converting audio output from a digital voice recorder to a usable audio file format, such as mp3, wav, or ogg vorbis. Participants explore various hardware and software solutions, as well as the practicality of DIY approaches versus purchasing new devices.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a digital voice recorder that lacks direct computer connectivity but has an earphone jack, questioning the feasibility of using it to output audio to a flash card in a useful format.
  • Another participant mentions having purchased a voice recorder with USB output, suggesting this as a straightforward solution.
  • Some participants argue that building a custom solution involving components like an ADC and microcontroller would be more complex and costly than simply buying a new device.
  • A suggestion is made to use a line-in on a sound card with a mini phono jack to record audio from the voice recorder directly to a PC, although this may result in some quality loss.
  • Participants recommend using software like Audacity to record and convert the audio, noting the need to play the entire file during the recording process.
  • There is a mention of limitations with the built-in sound recorder in Windows, which can only record for a short duration, contrasting it with other recording software that does not have such restrictions.
  • A historical note is provided about the development of custom recording devices that utilized PC speakers, illustrating the evolution of audio recording technology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the best approach to convert audio from the digital voice recorder. Some advocate for purchasing a new device, while others explore DIY methods, indicating that no consensus exists on the optimal solution.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights various assumptions about hardware capabilities and software limitations, as well as the potential quality trade-offs involved in different recording methods. Specific technical details and dependencies on available equipment are noted but remain unresolved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals seeking to convert audio from older digital voice recorders, those interested in audio recording techniques, and users exploring both commercial and DIY solutions for audio file conversion.

zoogies
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Hi all,

I have a digital voice recorder from Memorex, the only problem being it doesn't hook up to the computer. It does have a earphone jack, though...through which it must output an electrical signal, which reaches the earphone and is converted to sound waves.

But, is it possible to have a device that receives the input similarly from the digital voice recorder, and then writes it to a flash card in a useful format - for instance, mp3 or wav or (probably more feasibly) ogg vorbis?

I'm a high school senior without much experience in messing around with hardware like this, but this *would* be possible, yes? How would I go around doing it?
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
I just bought a voice recorder with USB output. Connects to the computer, problem solved.

About $99 bucks at your major computer outlets
 
Ah, but that would be no fun. :)
 
I could tell you go out and find a adc, microcontroller, flash controller, etc, etc, but there is no way your going to build this without:

1) Paying more than just buying the device
2) Spending lots of time trying to figure out how to put it all together

I would take The_Professional's advice and just go to the store and buy one.
 
all you need is a line in on your sound card, you will need a mini phono jack to mini phono jack lead, plug one into your digital voice recorder and other into the Mic in on your sound card. Start voice recorder on your PC at the same time you start the playback on your voice recorder.

A bit of quality maybe lost, but you will be able to save the voice as a .wav file on your PC and convert it to whatever u like..
 
yeah - get a program like Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/). Then hook up your voice recorder to your mic-in line and record it onto your computer (you'll need a male-male 1/8" jack, which many desktop speakers use, so you can just hijack it for a while). That program will allow you to compress your file to mp3. The only downside is that you must play the whole file onto your computer.
 
Anttech said:
Start voice recorder on your PC at the same time you start the playback on your voice recorder.

The built-in sound recorder in Windows can only record for a minute or two.

zoogies said:
Ah, but that would be no fun. :)

It may not be as fun but it sure as hell would save you some unneeded aggravation.
 
Last edited:
The_Professional said:
The built-in sound recorder in Windows can only record for a minute or two.
The recording software that comes with most sound cards have no such limit.

As a bit of historical trivia, since the 1960's, people have developed custom made recording devices that play back on computer speakers that were the equivalent of a PC speaker (square wave), simply by modulating the speaker on and off at the proper rate after determining how the speaker responds to such modulations. I was impressed the first time I saw a deck of about 300 punched cards (program and data) producing a recorded message on CDC 3150 back in 1970. A few games used this method to produce recorded sounds on PC speakers back in the 1980's, and I was still impressed. Sound cards came out in the late 1980's. Wiki article:

History_of_sound_cards_for_the_IBM_PC_architecture.htm
 

Similar threads

Modern Digital Audio: Understanding Dither and Oversampling in Hi-Res Age
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
How can I convert audio signals into pulses for radio transmission?
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K