Handheld devices
Record your thoughts on the go: how often have you had a brilliant idea on your journey from work, only to have forgotten it by the time you get home? Being able to record your ideas wherever you are is a wonderful way of keeping your creative momentum going. It’s a fast way of taking notes – much faster than writing – and you can also capture passing thoughts and other peoples’ explanations.
If you’ve got an MP3 player, mobile phone or digital recorder, you already use them to listen to audio files. Have you tried listening to audio transferred from your course materials, or recorded your own study material?
These small gadgets are especially useful if you are out and about – you can either record and play audio on them directly, or transfer the files to your computer.
MP3 / iPod
What you need to know
- Many MP3 players and iPods can record simple voice memos.
- You won’t see a voice memo option until you attach a microphone.
- Check how long you can record – for example, there may be a maximum time limit.
- Newer versions may offer high quality recording for a better sound, or low quality to save storage space.
- You’ll probably need to buy a compatible detachable microphone – check your own model to see what accessories are available.
How you use it
- Attach the microphone to the gadget - it’ll probably switch automatically to recording mode.
- You may be able to choose High or Low quality.
- Choose Record to begin recording – speak with the microphone a few inches from your mouth.
- You should be able to Pause the recording.
- Use Stop and then Save when you’ve finished.
- Find out from your manual how to transfer files to your computer.
Related link
Mobile phone
Many mobiles use Windows Mobile which has ‘voice notes’. This function allows you to record your voice easily. Use the menu on your mobile to find ‘voice notes’ or ‘audio notes’ and follow the instructions on the screen. Alternatively, visit your mobile’s website: Sony Ericsson 
, Samsung , Nokia , Motorola , LG .
What you need to know
- If you’re already carrying this with you, it’s probably your best recording option.
- You may have a limited recording size.
- Save your recorded notes for when you get back to your desk.
- Record phone calls you’ve made.
- Send voice notes that you’ve recorded on your phone.
- Save your audio notes to your computer once you get home – the phones will have PC data cables and PC software and some mobiles will let you Bluetooth the file to another phone or computer.
How you use it
- All mobile phones are different – some mobile phones have a recording button, others work through menus.
- Investigate the manual or menus for your particular version and look out for terms like ‘voice notes’, ‘audio recorder’ or ‘voice memos’.
- Generally you press a button to record and press it again to stop.
Digital recorder
What you need to know
- There is a range of digital recorders available, but they’re usually easy to use and portable.
- Likely to offer extra facilities and options.
- Vary from simple to complex.
How you use it
- Spend the time you need to familiarise yourself with the digital recorder. For example, you’ll probably need to work out how to set the input level, and find out which file format it created for a recording. Consult the user documentation or manual as you need.
- Use the digital recorder to make a recording. You’ll probably want to do a test recording first.
- Once you have a recording, you’ll need to ‘attach’ the digital recorder to your PC. A cable is usually provided with the device so that you can transfer the audio file (from the recorder) to your PC.
- Simply play the audio file on your PC, or transfer it to a handheld device such as a MP3 player.
Next: Editing iTunes files
