PortablePD.ca

This tutorial is meant to support those working with Windows and Audacity.  I hope it proves to be helpful.

Click here for a larger version of this tutorial.

Here’s a quick how-to on deleting files from your Sony ICD-UX70S MP3 Recorder.  It’s currently available at the big box stores like Staples, Best Buy and Future Shop. For more thoughts about this particular voice recorder, and why we like it so much, visit this post.

Click here for a larger version of the tutorial.

We recently purchased a new voice recorder for our students to use.  It’s the Sony ICD-UX70S MP3 Recorder.  Its advantage over the Olympus models we have used up to now is the fact it records directly to an MP3 format.  That means there is no need to use software to convert the audio format.  With the Olympus models (and most other voice recorders) you first have to convert the audio files to MP3 to allow audio editing software like Audacity to use it.  Now, all you and your students have to do is plug it directly into the computer’s USB port, launch Audacity, and import the audio directly from the voice recorder.

This voice recorder comes equipped with built in stereo microphones. Its sound quality is at least as good, if not a little better than the other voice recorders we have used.  If you are after something with better sound recording, the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder would be the way to go.  This is what Jane and I use to record the Portable PD podcast.

Like the Olympus WS-320, its USB is built in.  This is a very handy feature to have as it will save you from having to search for the right cable while surrounded by impatient students who will inevitably find other, less constructive, things to do with their time.  It also comes with a pair of earbud headphones, a short USB extension cable and a bag.  Like all voice recorders, it is very light and small and its casing is plastic.  The price was fairly reasonable (we got ours for around $70 from Staples) and our ten year old students haven’t had any difficulty figuring out how to use it.

Jane recently won the grand prize in an Olympus Grant/Contest just for being so darn smart. I came runner up, probably because I am not quite so smart. Still, a pretty respectable showing from the two of us. Anyway, she’s about to get a bunch of things including some new Olympus Voice Recorders. Specifically, they are the aptly named WS-320 models. The features that excite us (OK – me) are that the USB is built in, so a USB cable isn’t required and it’s plug and play, so there’s no software to install (quite the challenge in our networked environment). It also doubles as an MP3 player – but that’s not particularly exciting for our purposes.

We’ll let you know how they work out once they come in. One thing I have learned from researching online is that the unit records in WMA format. That is a little problematic because the audio editing program we use, Audacity, doesn’t accept WMA files. One site suggests getting around that problem by using a free program called Switch. I’ve tested it, and some other programs, and have found this one to work quickly and reliably. Hopefully, we will be able to install it on a couple of our school computers. This same site speaks highly of the WS series of voice recorders from Olympus – although the WS-320 doesn’t appear to be available anymore.

Tim Hawes, assistant manager/vice-principal of Business and Learning Technologies within our board, has found a model that records to MP3 format and sells for around $80.00. It’s the RCA RP5046 Digital Voice Recorder. We’re hopeful that this will makes things even easier as there would be no time spent converting files. It’s plug and play and comes with a Windows 98 driver for those working with older machines in their classroom.

If money is less of an issue (not to mention your willingness to let students out of your site with the equipment), another solution which costs around $220 in the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder. Like the Olympus and RCA recorders, it’s plug and play. The sound quality is much superior and, because it records in MP3 there is no need to convert the files before importing the audio into Audacity. This unit is designed more for musicians and reporters as opposed to voice recorders which are really intended for recording lectures and taking dictation.

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Elementary classrooms have very little budget for audio equipment so our primary concern is cost and ease of use. We need our equipment to be kid friendly and simple enough for even a teacher to understand! For that reason we aren’t getting into technical discussions about mixers, soundcards, microphone types and the like.

Portable Recorders

Nathan’s class uses an Olympus VN-960PC Recorder. It’s very easy to use and the sound quality is OK. It cost around $60, although it appears the model is no longer available.

Jane’s class uses a Sony Voice Recorder. It’s very easy to use (kid friendly) and the sound quality is better than Nathan’s recorder – not that he’s envious or anything. It’s around $100.

The downside for both of these recorders is the fact that software has to be installed in order to get the sound onto a computer. This is problematic in our school board as we do not have privileges to install software.

Keep in mind these specific models may no longer be available.

Nathan has read rave reviews about the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder for around $220. It has far superior sound to the voice recorder and easier to upload to computer because it doesn’t require any software to be installed.

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USB Microphone/Headset

We use Logitech USB headsets (we actually won ours in a door prize, but they cost around $40) to record students on their own. Most of our podcast introductions are recorded this way. The sound is much better than voice recorders and students are far less likely record themselves bumping the mike.