
I don't know what planet the other reviewers are from, or maybe they're hearing impaired from listening to earsplitting music volumes.The playback on this little recorder sounds great to me. I picked it up for much less than the listed price. It arrived and I took it right out of the package.
I treated it just like my digital watch, and if you think of it that way it's much easier to set up.
I have mine set to: no AVR, dictation mode, and HQ recording. I haven't tried it in a noisy environment yet. I write as a hobby, and I wanted something small, and portable. to carry around to record ideas when they strike, so that I don't have to scrabble for pen and paper. I also plan to use it to record reminders for appointments, events, and to send voice emails to friends and family.
Even on the HQ setting there is plenty of room for what I need to record. The HQ setting gives me 17.5 hours of recording time for heaven's sake. How much recording time do I really need when I can transfer my files to my computer and burn them to a CD or DVD? Anyway you can get much more recording time on the lower quality recording modes. I haven't used those though, so I can't say what the playback sound quality is like.
The speaker is on the front of the unit, and the microphone is at the top. It has connections available for an external mike, and headphones. I haven't used those yet, but I'll bet the sound quality is even better with headphones, and the recording quality and playback sound is good but I bet an external mike would make it even better.
This unit records in MP3 format and transfers directly to the computer. No software is needed to transfer files, just the USB cable included in the package.
I can hear everything I have recorded clearly.
The unit is light and small, and has an on/off switch. It also has a lock button switch located on the side, to lock all the buttons. That way your settings aren't messed up by buttons being accidentally pushed when it's in a pocket, or being jostled in a back pack or purse.
It has four folders, the folders are fairly simple to navigate.
The time can be set in 12 or 24 hour format.
The recorded messages are easy to erase.
This unit is fairly intuitive to operate.
It comes with a USB cable to transfer recordings to your computer. Transferring files is easy and I've done it without a hitch. The MP3 files can be played on anything that takes an MP3 format. winamp, real player, windows media player, etc. Or they can be burned to a CD or DVD. No proprietary file formats to fool with or software to download. If you want a WAV format download "Switch" which is a free file converter, and convert the MP3 to a wav file. It's really that simple.
This unit sounds great, is easy to operate, has plenty of recording time, records and transfers files in MP3 format, and is reasonably priced. What more could I ask for in a recorder?
Soooo you guys that spend 60.00 or more on a recorder that you have to use software with, because of proprietary recording formats, and more than that for one that records and transfers to the computer in MP3 format. Well, you're welcome to them. This little unit is everything I could ask for as far as a recording device goes.
I'll give it five stars for:
Functionality
Ease of Use
Non proprietary file format: recording and transferring to the computer or laptop.
Sound quality
Recording time
Size
On/off switch
Lock button switch
Value for money spent.I believe this recorder to be the RCA RP-5030 (at least the specs and picture match that model).
I have been using (or attempting to use) this recorder for two weeks now. I have finally decided to give up on it and get an Olympus voice recorder instead.
One feature that attracted me to this recorder is that it creates MP3s instead of producing WMA (Olympus) or a proprietary format (as is the case with some Panasonic and Sony models).
The recorder also connects easily to almost any computer, allowing the MP3 files to be easily copied. No special software is needed (nor is any provided). The recorder simply shows up as a USB drive.
Operation is easy and fairly intuitive. Without using the instruction manual, I was able to make recordings and listen to them. With a little research, a user could also insert new material into existing recordings and append the recordings as well, right in the recorder itself.
However, my significant disappointment with this recorder is in the quality of the recordings. All of them seem "muddy," whether they are made using the built-in microphone or an external mic. Part of the quality problem is that the recorder only makes MP3s that are 32 kps at the highest quality, and 16 kps at the "standard" setting. Coupled with the low bit rate is what must be incredibly low sampling rates.
The resulting recordings are noticeably lacking in any kind of "presence" or "high fidelity." For example, almost no "s" or "t" sounds can be detected in the recordings. They come out sounding like "th" or "d".
Comparing the quality of the recordings of the RCA RP-5030 with an Olympus, using both the internal mics and external ones, the RCA falls very flat.
On the positive side, the RCA RP-5030 is one of the least expensive recorders available with the ability to easily transfer the recordings to a computer. It is also the only one I could find that recorded in MP3 format -even if there are others, they are rare.
If you need an inexpensive recorder to carry around on a college campus or other places where things tend to get lost or stolen, the low price of this might make it attractive. However in any use for which good sound quality is required, I bet you would be happier looking elsewhere.
Buy RCA Rp5032 128 Mb Voice Recorder With Usb Now
This was a waste of money. I returned it in less than an hour. The recording quality (there was none) was awful. I could barely understand what I said. I bought the RP 5022A by RCA instead and it is like comparing a Rolls Royce to a VW Beetle !!!! This recorder is way overpriced here and not a good buy at all. Keep your money!! Get the RP502A and you wont be sorry!!!Read Best Reviews of RCA Rp5032 128 Mb Voice Recorder With Usb Here
I am not impressed with this....it worked for two days and hasn't worked since. I have had one like it for 7 years and it worked great...I have had this one for years and it still works and sounds great. Its a freakin little voice recorder, what do people expect $4000 sound system in a tiny little recorder, come on!! It's great and very simple to use. I am a beginner songwriter/singer/musician and it is Fantastic for recording ideas riffs and lyrics at spur of the moment inspiration. I keep with me all day in case the mood hits!
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