Sony ICD-UX570 vs Zoom H1n

Date: June 13, 2022 Author: Isaac Comments: Leave a reply

In this post I am going to compare the Sony ICD-UX570 to the Zoom H1n. If you are reader of our blog, you know I don’t like making these comparisons. And that’s mainly because voice recorders are not interchangeable. The best voice recorder for you will depend on your intended use. And that will be the main focus of this post; functionality or best use cases for each recorder. If you want an in-depth review of each recorder, check out our Sony ICD-UX570 review and/or the Zoom H1n review. In this post, I am going to share with you one feature (and corresponding use case) of each voice recorder that I like, and dislike while comparing it to the other recorder. Let’s get to it. SONY ICD-UX570 The good If you have read my review of the Sony ICD-UX570 you know that I love this recorder. And that’s because of the internal battery. I have… Continue reading…

Best microSD Card for Zoom H1n

Date: May 2, 2022 Author: Isaac Comments: Leave a reply

What are the best microSD cards for the Zoom H1n? 1. Sandisk Ultra 32GB If you are looking to buy a microSD card to exclusively use on your Zoom H1n, then you should consider this card. It’s a basic microSDHC card with 32GB capacity. Has up to 48MB/s Read Speed, though I rarely achieve speeds of more than 15MB/s with mine. It’s rated to a minimum sustained write speed of 10MB/s, which is more than enough for the Zoom H1n. The highest bitrate audio the Zoom H1n can record is 96kHz/24bit stereo WAV recording. That equates to 96,000 Hz X 24 bit X 2 channels = 4,608,000 bps, which is equivalent to 0.576MB/s (that’s MegaBytes per second!). So the minimum write speed of this card is approximates 20 times more than what you need when using the H1n. Good choice, especially if you can get it on offer or discount. Click here to check its… Continue reading…

Best Voice Recorder for Interviews

Date: April 18, 2022 Author: Isaac Comments: 103 Replies

A selection of voice recorders we've tested over the years

There’s a myriad of ways to record your research interviews. You could use your phone, laptop, or even a camcorder. However, I strongly recommend using a digital voice recorder. Handheld digital voice recorders are compact, affordable and enable you to easily manage the audio recordings, which makes the process of getting your dissertation interview transcripts easy and cost effective.

Summary: Best Recorder for Interviews
Sony ICD-ux570: lightweight and low profile; powers up instantly; amazing sound Continue reading…

How to Transcribe an Interview for Dissertation – Part 1

Date: July 29, 2021 Author: Isaac Comments: 16 Replies

How to transcribe your dissertation interviews

“[I]t is a truism to note that all transcription is in some sense interpretation …” (Cook, 1990, p.12) In summary, here is how you transcribe your research interviews. DIY – Do(ing) it Yourself Hire a Professional Transcriber Use Software. In this first post of a 2 part series on how to transcribe an interview for dissertation, I’ll start with a brief overview of the thesis transcription process. Then discuss 3 ways to transcribe your research interviews. And finally make a few remarks on accuracy of the transcripts and audio quality. Why Transcripts Before I start talking about how to transcribe your dissertation interviews, just why do it? The reason we do it is because usually we find it much easier to work with a transcript rather than a recording. These days it’s very easy to have an audio or video recording of your interviews; digital recorders (if you are looking to buy a voice recorder… Continue reading…

Zoom H1n vs Tascam DR-05x

Date: July 26, 2021 Author: Isaac Comments: 8 Replies

In the last 18 months Zoom and Tascam have released new versions of their popular Zoom H1 and Tascam DR-05 digital recorders. The Zoom H1n was released in early 2018, and the Tascam DR-05x became available in early 2019. In this post we are going to compare the Zoom H1n to the Tascam DR-05x. Now, I’m usually hesitant about these kinds of comparisons. That’s because when it comes to voice recorders, it’s very hard to find two recorders that are similar. Yes, you can find different versions of recorders that are alike, but they’re usually from the same manufacture – who are doing some hokey pokey price differentiation. A few examples, Sony BX140 and Sony PX240, Olympus WS-852 and Olympus WS-853 and so forth. And buying the higher priced model gives you additional features. So most voice recorders have very little in common, for instance the Sony ux560 and the Zoom H1n –the 2 models… Continue reading…

CM-1000 Boundary Microphone Review

Date: July 12, 2021 Author: Isaac Comments: 1 Reply

Image of the CM-1000 Boundary Microphone

CM-1000 Boundary Microphone Review The Good Cheapest daisy chain boundary microphone you can buy. Good quality audio recording. The Bad Poor build quality; “Made in China” design and usability. Very sensitive microphone. Bottom Line If you can’t afford the Olympus ME-33 boundary microphones, the CM-1000s are a cheaper alternative that will enable you to record quality focus group discussions. First, let me thank Frances K, a reader of our blog, for bringing the CM-1000 boundary microphone to my attention. There’s a dearth of options when looking for a 3.5mm boundary microphone with daisy chain capabilities. Let’s have a quick recap why each of these features are important for recording high quality focus group discussions. 3.5mm refers to the output jack of the microphone. To record sound from a microphone you need to attach it to a recorder. And there are numerous ways you can achieve this. Popular ways to connect boundary microphones to recording devices… Continue reading…

Sony ICD-PX470 vs Sony ICD-UX570 Comparison

Date: November 14, 2020 Author: Isaac Comments: Leave a reply

Which voice recorder, between the Sony ICD-PX470 and the Sony ICD-UX570 is right one for you? Let’s talk about it. Today, we’re going to compare the Sony PX470 and the Sony UX570 voice recorders and look at the 3 main reasons you should choose one over the other. The Sony ICD-PX470 and the Sony ICD-UX570 are very similar. Both have 3.5mm mic inputs, headphone jacks, support high capacity microSD cards, record in mp3 and WAV format, come with 2 microphones and have similar microphone sensitivity controls. Both also have slide out USB connectors and speakers, though the px470 has a slightly large speaker. Sony ICD-PX470 Sony ICD-UX570 Product Dimensions w/h/d 1.51 x 4.5 x 0.0.76 inches 1.45 × 4.05 × 0.49 inches Recording Formats LPCM (WAV), MP3 LPCM (WAV), MP3 Storage 4GB, microSDHC expansion 4GB, microSDHC, microSDXC expansion Microphones Stereo microphones Stereo microphones Ports 3.5mm microphone input, 3.5mm headphone output, USB 2.0 for PC… Continue reading…

Sony ICD-UX570 Accessories

Date: May 21, 2020 Author: Isaac Comments: 1 Reply

We recommend the Sony ICD-UX570 voice recorder for recording research interviews, lectures and focus group discussions. One of the frequent asked questions I get are what are the accessories that I recommend. So, here’s a post with all the accessories that I recommend. I try to keep the Amazon links updated, but if you find any are broken, let me know in the comment section below. Thanks. USB PC/Charging Cable It’s possible to charge/connect your Sony UX570 recorder to your PC/Mac without a cable, but the built in USB is the weakest part on this recorder. If breaks off, you are left with a very light paperweight. Now, the cable you should get depends on your PC/Mac. If you own an older computer (PC/Mac) that comes with the full size USB port, get this Female to Male USB-A cable (Amazon link). If you own a newer computer (PC or Mac) with a USB Type C… Continue reading…

Best Audio Recorder for Focus Groups

Date: May 19, 2020 Author: Isaac Comments: 28 Replies

Recording focus group discussion is not easy. Focus groups are notoriously hard to control and manage. But crucially, you’ll have to record sound from different sources and directions. That’s not easy. Luckily for you, there’s recording equipment that make recording focus group discussion easier. And that’s my intention, to share with you the best focus group recording devices.
In a previous post, I shared a general outline of how to record a focus group discussion Continue reading…