How do I Choose the Best Call Recorder?

Call recorders are useful in many situations. A phone recorder is ideal when holding an internal teleconference among office members, when speaking with a client, or just when you want to record a conversation with a friend or relative. Over the years, a number of designs for the call recorder have become common, with some being ideal for home use, and others better for office settings. Considering design, cost, and function are the main points to ponder when you need to purchase the right recorder for your needs.

With design, there are several options. The call recorder that is right for you may be a simple telephone recorder that is equipped for continuous play. With this type, you manually begin the recording process, and it continues until you stop the recording. A call recorder of this type is ideal for recording conversations or discussions with clients, or even for use on a conference call.

The electronic telephone recorder is also available in models that are voice activated. This design is ideal for continual monitoring purposes, since the recording does not engage unless there is something to record. If the idea is to record all inbound calls on your business line, this option is often a great choice. Most contemporary continuous play and voice activated recorders attach to the phone with ease, and use electronic memory to record and preserve the recordings.

It is still possible to purchase small phone tape recorders as well. Used mainly in a home setting, these require the use of a microcassette, which is simply a smaller version of the older audiocassette technology of the last half of the 20th century. Recorders of this type are limited by the amount of tape on the cassette, but usually can record anywhere from an hour to ninety minutes with no problem. One drawback is that many models call for stopping the recording process and flipping the tape in order to have use of the full recording duration.

For people who make phone calls using computer software, there are recorders and accompanying software that connect directly to the system. Usually referred to as a Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP recorder, a call recorder of this type easily functions as both a call logger and a recorder, creating a permanent data record of any inbound or outbound call. Recorders of this type have a huge capacity, and some models will even store the data recording files on your computer hard drive, making retrieval extremely easy.

Along with the function and design, cost is also an important consideration. For casual use, a basic call recorder is likely to work just fine. However, if the idea is to secure a recorder that is for use in a business setting, something more robust is required. You’ll want a recorder that also functions as a phone line monitor, and engages the recording function as soon as a call connects, as well as one that allows for easy storage and retrieval of the recordings. Keep in mind that the more features you need, the higher the price tag for the recorder. The extra cost will be well worth it to your business, since there is a good chance that a good quality call recorder will last for years before needing replacement.