When looking for a camera to help you do both, record video, and listen to the conversation, it is not often you can find both in the same thing, so sometimes the need for a separate recording device is necessary. These pieces of equipment can be found in many vicinities, from government agencies to personal homes, schools, and even medical facilities.
The popularity for these gadgets has grown significantly over the past few years and it has become second nature for many companies to install them in their work environments at venues such as meeting rooms, and lecture halls, so that live video can be recorded and used afterward offline for its students and staff.
Below we discuss the use and importance of such devices and the facilities that use them.
Where Are Recording Devices Most Prevalent?
There are several types of recording devices, and choosing the best one will make a significant difference to the output. Sometimes it is vital to get the best types depending on the context of the scenario you will be using it in. There are categories and then there are subcategories, which can be found here.
There are a few primary categories of these, which include: Analog and Digital or Video and Audio. Some many places or organizations use these types of devices for several reasons, we mention a few below.
- On phone meetings as a memory aid to help you make notes after
- When some organizations get malicious calls such as the police station, these are part of the equipment
- Verbal agreements that are made between businessmen or tradespeople are often recorded
- Lawyers use recording devices all the time when interviewing victims and criminals
- Legal cases that involve financial disputes or divorce attorneys use audio recording devices
- Law officers often have them on their person when handling victims
And many other scenarios.
Different Types of Recording Devices
Microphones. These are devices that have been used for decades from when the first band was invented to date in recording studios, television stations, lecture halls, gigs and entertainment venues, conference facilities, and many other places. These have 4 subcategories, namely:
- Dynamic Microphones – ideal for any general purposes use. They resemble the old-school types of microphones, which look like large metal lollipops.
- Small Diaphragm Condenser – these are also known as ‘realists’ and can also be used for general purposes to capture audio either talking or singing. Condenser microphones are used in electrostatic states and have charged metal plates that help with the sound recording, more about this can be found online here: https://www.teachmeaudio.com/recording/microphones/condenser-microphone
- Large Diaphragm Condenser – a larger version of his predecessor, the large-diaphram condenser is closer to the original microphone and is mainly used to enhance the sound to make it sound larger than life. It has a 3-dimensional feel to it so if perfect in concert halls and recording studios as well as lecture halls and some large conference facilities too.
- Ribbon Microphones – very simple and based on a rather natural concept. They are powerful and can capture even the slightest sound in any room. They come with a stand, and so are used in many radio stations with a large low-end pickup and a naturally high- frequency, these ‘ribbons’ are the closest any microphone can get to what you would normally hear with your ears.
Cassette Recorder. Often used as a traditional tool for journalists and interviewers alike, these have been around for just as long as the microphones have. These are part of the analog recording devices and contain a tape that records the audio. In comparison to modern technology, these tend recording background noises and distortion too. They are, however, portable, which is great. But using them can be very obvious.
PDS, or Palm-Top Computers. These are the slightly more modern age audio surveillance devices used in place of the cassette player because they are digital and do not require purchasing empty tapes once the one inside is full. These are specifically designed for voice recording or audio surveillance and have an assortment of options on them to block out any distortion or background noise and also a selection of frequencies to choose from.
They are one of the best quality ones on the market and can be bought online or in technology and gadget stores. Popular amongst students who want to record lectures to revisit them at a later stage or journalists and solo performing artists, or anyone who needs a bit of spying.
