You will probably need  a powered microphone (assuming you are using a
condenser) for use with a computer. Minidiscs provide "plug-in" power so
many microphones designed for use with minidisc recorders don't have their
own power source.

I suspect the problem is the one identified by Kevin. You may be recording
using a very low sample rate and resolution. When you make a digital
recording there are two primary settings you need to set. The sample rate,
i.e. how many times a second the sound is sampled, and the resolution or bit
depth, i.e. the potential values that can be assigned to each sample. If you
are recording using a sample rate of 8kHz and a bit depth of 8 bits the
audio probably isn't that great. The sample rate for a good quality speech
recording needs to be at least 16kHz (i.e. at least double the highest
frequency you wish to record). Try 22.05kHz. The choice of bit depth is
generally 8, 16, 24. Try 16 bits. If you are making MP3s a sample rate of
22.05kHz at 16bits and a single channel will chew up 32kbps or about
14MB/hr. If you add an additional channel (i.e. stereo) you'll use 64kbps or
28MB/hr.

I'd also recommend using decent software. The sound recorder application
that comes with Windows is very limited. Here are some alternatives:
Cooledit 2000 ($70)
Sound Forge Studio 6.0 ($60)
Audacity (free)
Pro Tools Free

A decent sound card also helps although I don't think it has to very fancy.
Another option that might be worth trying is the Griffin Technology iMic
($35). this is a USB device designed for Macs but will supposedly work with
W2000 and XP. PCs generate a lot of electrical noise so there may be some
benefits to using an external A/D converter.

If you're recording phone conversations you'll need a decent connector. Some
of the cheap ones won't work with a soundcard. Try JK Audio Quicktap ($60).
However, note that you're at a disadvantage with the phone from the start
because telephone lines conserve bandwidth by severely limiting the
frequencies that can be transmitted.

Alan.




----- Original Message -----
From: "D Munday" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: 2U4U DMR-300 WMA Player


I have tried recording directly onto a laptop, but have found the
quality is not as good as via a minidisc and then record onto the laptop
from the minidisc. I am not sure why, as I used the same microphone for
both. Maybe the microphone does not have the right impedence for the
laptop. Perhaps I should try it again. Any advice on this?

Dan

>>> [log in to unmask] 10/28/02 14:33 PM >>>
I agree. If you can record directly to PC that's a great way to go. If
I'm
doing interviews by phone I always record direct to PC. A laptop might
work
fine for face-to face recordings although I think you have to consider
how
intrusive/distracting it might be given your research situation. There
are
lots of good audio recording software. I use CoolEdit 2000 ($69) but
there
are a number of good free software programs.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Cartwright" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 1:09 AM
Subject: Re: 2U4U DMR-300 WMA Player


Dan,
Maybe a slightly different situation - but for many years - I recorded
all
my psychotherapy sessions directly onto a portable computer (using
cisiad
or ctanks) and then saved them, in batches, on CD.   By far the most
efficient method I can think of.

Regards
Alan

At 16:53 27/10/2002 +0000, you wrote:
>Thanks Alan
>
>I thought it might be a bit too good to be true! It sounds to me that
>minidisc recorders are likely to be the best value in the
>quality/hastle/cost equation for a while to come. Perhaps we can hope
for
>reasonably priced, totally digital recorders in 2 or 3 years?
>
>Best wishes
>
>Dan
>
> >>> [log in to unmask] 10/27/02 01:13 AM >>>
>2u4u DRM WMA is the same product as the Pogo Products Ripflash DX. Pogo
>sells a number of small playe / recorders. Others record in the MP3
format.
>I haven't used one but you will need to use the internal microphone or
use
>an external microphone with a preamplifier (generally expensive)
connected
>to the line-in jack. There is a new Ripflash recorder appearing in a
week
or
>so called the Trio that will apparently support recording without the
need
>to buy an expensive preamplifier. Details are somewhat sketchy at the
>moment. How one sets and adjusts the level may be another issue.
Although
>you get the rapid upload these recorders appear to lack some of the
more
>sophisticated recording features (e.g. level meter and manual gain
control)
>of similarly priced minidisc recorders.
>
>See http://www.pogoproducts.com/ for more info.
>Also see http://www.soundprofessionals.com/
>
>Here's a much more sophisticated MP3 recorder. Also at least twice the
cost
>and it won't ship until Q1 2003 at the earliest.
>http://www.dialog4.com/products/sountainer/supp_snt1.html
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "D Munday" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2002 11:34 AM
>Subject: 2U4U DMR-300 WMA Player
>
>
>I stumbled accross the 2u4u DRM WMA player reviewed on the internet
>today. Although it is called a "player" presumably because it is
>marketed as an entertainment machine, it has a linein port, compatible
>with any audio device including microphone and also an internal
>microphone for recording. It will record in WMA format which (I
believe)
>can then be loaded digitally onto a PC via a USB connection. If I am
>correct in this, it means that it should enable recording directly onto
>the machine and then miss out the real time recording onto PC step - as
>from minidisc - which always seems to be the most frustrating bit of
the
>process!
>
>My questions are.
>
>1) Has anyone used this product and is it suitable for recording
>interviews with an external mic?
>2) Does the WMA have to then be converted to MP3 for us with
>transcribers such as CTANKS (which we use in my department)?
>
>I would be very interested in any experiences, info or similar
products.
>
>Thanks
>
>Dan Munday
>Centre for Primary Health Care Studies
>University of Warwick

Alan Cartwright PhD.,LRPS
Developer Code-A-Text MultiMedia Products
Email [log in to unmask]
Code-A-Text Web Page <http://www.code-a-text.co.uk>
C-I-SAID: Powerful Multi-Media Software for Analysing Interviews and
Dialogues.
CTANKS: Word processing, Recording, Transcription, Searching  and Report
Generation in a single user friendly package.