The Sony Digital Voice Recorder: My Tiny Digital Friend

I take my Sony Digital Voice Recorder (the Sony ICD-P210 Digital Voice Recorder, to be exact) everywhere, literally. It is constantly in my left cargo pant pocket- except for the times when I am using it, which is quite often. My Sony Digital Voice Recorder runs $50-$75 range (I think I paid $65 and change); a little pricey but it's worth it. For years, I had smattered around with a clumpy, full size, hand held cassette recorder. This thing was about 9000% larger than my current, beautiful Sony Digital Voice Recorder. I got the giant clumpster at Radioshack when I worked there for a total of 10 and a half hours (I got a 33% discount, it wasn't worth it).

But, before I go on, let me tell you why I need a beautifully tiny, digital voice recorder. First off, there's my actual job. I am a reporter. I know this may seem hard to believe. In fact, my readership just collectively gasped. "You don't write for Associated Content full time?" No, I don't. In the real, cruel world- I am a journalist (a real, cruel one at that). I won't get into where and who I work for because I'm not into that kind of stuff (unless you want to offer me a better job, in which case I am willing to relocate). Anyway, before I got my Sony Digital Voice Recorder, the interview process was as painful as a federal "pound you in the you-know-where" prison. Okay, it wasn't that harsh but it was way harsh- believe that.

I don't get how some reporters can give interviews without tape recorders (this practice would be akin to the death penalty if we were still following the jail analogy I started above, but let's not). These are the dinosaurs of print who still where tweed hats and smoke unfiltered cigarettes. I need a tape recorder, and I need my miniscule, lovely Sony Digital Voice Recorder. The digital version is so much better than the cassette one. The fact that I can stop and start my precisely recorded clips blows my freaking mind. Whereas before I was fast forwarding and rewinding like a retarded kid fidgeting with a Rubix Cube, now I feel like James Bond, deftly maneuvering the latest Q device with meticulous ease. The Sony Digital Voice Recorder has even cured my depression.

Okay, that last part wasn't true (the Zoloft does that), but I feel so much better about my job now that I have my tiny friend, the Sony Digital Voice Recorder (I can't stress enough how small this guy is, it's the size of two packs of Wrigley gum). But this wonderful invention is not just used for work. Alas, it is also used for play (and sometimes the two are one and the same). I am what some would call an "eccentric person" (some might say weirdo, that's cool). In my free time, I come up with songs and write for Associated Content. Sometimes I am at the mall or taking a crap and I come up with some cool melody or killer idea. Enter Sony Digital Voice Recorder. I merely whip that baby out and sing a little ditty or let my thoughts fly (they are preserved like jam). It doesn't matter where I am either. I could be at a mall restroom, construction site porta-potty or in my car (funny how I get creative when I'm taking a dump) - It doesn't matter, if I need to record, I am going to record.

And the sound quality is so great, wow, is it amazing. My Sony Digital Voice Recorder sounds like a real person is talking back to me. I realize this is kind of what is actually happening, but you catch my drift, right? The memory on this thing is unbelievable as well. On the highest quality speed (or sound) it has seven hours of digital memory. Seven hours? I haven't eclipsed two at any given time yet. At the slow speed, I think it will record up to 50 or 60 hours (ridiculous). If I could change one thing, it would be the battery shelf life. If you leave the Sony Digital Voice Recorder on for an extended period of time it really drains some batteries. They should develop (if they haven't already) a rechargeable version. But that's really the only qualm I can think of.

So, if you're a reporter or a journalist, or just a creative person prone to impulsive, recordable thoughts, you need the Sony Digital Voice Recorder. It's that simple.