[stony]

I am trying to find a decent DVR that not only records in stereo but also in MP3 format.

I currently have a G5 iMac with OS 10.4.11

It seems as though most decent DVR's only record in WMA format. I have Windows Media Player on my mac but not sure if it will convert the WMA files to MP3 for a podcast. It only pops us if the video or whatever I am watching doesn't come in quicktime.

I want the DVR to record remote podcasts but also have decent sound capability. I create the podcast currently with my internal mic using Garageband 3.

I really like the Olympus DS30 but it says in the spec page that it's not compatible with Mac OS. Is this correct? If it records in WMA format, would my Mac be able to read it and then allow me to convert it to MP3?

My price range is less than $200.00.

Thanks for any and all advice.

[Veltliner]

I own and recommend this one.

Amazon.com: Olympus DS-2 Digital Voice Recorder: Electronics

It records in WMA. Not in AIFF or WAV. But it's better than MP3.

Conversion into AIFF is easy with the player software. Attention: you need to upgrade the player software that comes with the recorder, or it won't work.

Fully Max OS X compatible. Hight quality stereo recording possible. I read on the highest setting it is even HiFi, and people have recorded music with a professional microphone, that you can plug in, if you buy an XLR adapter.

140$ fits your budget.

Good luck. It's really a great gadget, and very useable.

[bencurtis]

I haven't found the Olympus ones to be very high quality. If you are doing podcasts I'd recommend getting a proper field recorder, rather than a dictaphone, that records in both uncompressed WAV and MP3. I'd recommend the Zoom H-2, I've got one and the sound quality is amazing for the price. Records on SD card, and you can record uncompressed WAVs and MP3s at various bit-rates, you can even record in surround-sound! You can also use it as a real-time USB microphone (I haven't tried that on Mac, check the specs to see if it can)

Samson - Zoom - H2

It can be found for less than $200. This is a good blog about field-recorders and such stuff:

Brad Linder's blog

[Veltliner]

Originally Posted by bencurtis 

I haven't found the Olympus ones to be very high quality. If you are doing podcasts I'd recommend getting a proper field recorder, rather than a dictaphone, that records in both uncompressed WAV and MP3. I'd recommend the Zoom H-2, I've got one and the sound quality is amazing for the price. Records on SD card, and you can record uncompressed WAVs and MP3s at various bit-rates, you can even record in surround-sound! You can also use it as a real-time USB microphone (I haven't tried that on Mac, check the specs to see if it can)

Samson - Zoom - H2

It can be found for less than $200. This is a good blog about field-recorders and such stuff:

Brad Linder's blog

Looks like a great gadget. 177$ at one of the stores linked to Amazon. Just check the stores' rating at resellerratings.com before ordering.

If you don't need to record spoken notes, but longer sessions, I'd also think this is a better choice than a dictaphone.

But I'd not underestimate the quality of the Olympus, when connected to a Sennheiser phone. And even with the built-in stereo you can get very good sound.