Please Recommend - Digital Voice Recorder

[quantass]

I'm looking for a digital recorder for voice recording. Price doesnt concern me. I just want good recording quality with people up to 10 feet away, hopefully a scheduler to program when it should turn on/off to record, voice activated, PC connectivity, and simple to use (one button record). It would also be nice if it came with its own rechargeable battery pack.

Basically quality recording, excellent range, good battery life and recording time, and pc connectivity. So standard stuff. It would be nice to be able to pick it up today from a local shop like Staples, Future Shop, Best Buy, or The Source. I'm looking to get 8hrs of recording per day, worst case.


So far I'm eyeing Olympus Recorder with Battery Back-Up (WS-311M): http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10094145&catid=21129

BTW does it help much to get an external clip-on microphone?

Thanks.

[coolspot]

Is this for interviewing people? You may want to consider the Zoom Handy H2 - you can pick it up from most music/audio stores in Toronto (Cosmo's, Steve's, and Moog Audio). The reviews for this device are stellar, I picked one up a few weeks ago and have been very happy with it.

The H2 has 4 microphones allowing you to do 360 degree recording. This is useful because it allows you to place the device in between you and the subject and it'll get good coverage.

The H2 can record in PCM WAV (2/4 channel) and MP3 (2 channel/4 channel mixed down to 2 channel).

Couple nice features:

1. Ability to monitor sound levels; if sound levels pass x dB, it can start/stop recording
2. It can do a "lead-in" recording... the device can buffer a couple seconds before you press record, thus allowing you to capture the audio just before you started recording. Useful for catching unexpected audio on the fly.
3. Very good quality mics, for good recording quality.

The H2 can also work as a PC microphone which is a bonus.

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/h2/

If it's for casual voice recording, any Olympus will do.