Digital Audio Recorders

[k7yoo]

This topic came up awhile back but I never came to any conclusions.
My criteria is this:
PC connectible, but not required for record, playback, or general use.
50-100+ hours of decent fidelity audio, with vox operation.
Ability to be connected up to receiver audio & transmitter audio (through audio board) with jacks and correct impedance matching devices
reasonably priced-- $150 or less
I have been looking online and at Fry's here in San Jose and see units in the $75-$150 range that do all of this. (Olympus DS40 looks good for $150)
Is WM3 format OK or do I need MP3? Basically I want to use it for logging, recording QRMers, and playback of audio, without having to boot up a PC--am I on the right track??? It looks to me like you can get a "reel to reel" replacement, with acceptable audio for $75

[k4kyv]

The ones I have seen available come in two varieties: (1) fairly decent monaural audio capability in "high quality" mode, but low frequency rolls off at about 300~, selling for $40-$100, and (2) "professional" high fidelity stereo capability, for $500-$1500.

Nothing in between.

But then, thanks to some connections my kid has, a Sony MiniDisc deck fell into my hands.

[WBear2GCR]

One has the option of using a PC for the purpose.
In the shack, an old stand alone PC is pretty simple and cheap.

As far as portables, I'd prefer MP3 since I know I can edit and convert back out to .wav using software that is available and usually free. There may be and probably is software to convert that WM3 thing as well. (Isn't that "Windoze Media"??)

         _-_-bear

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

WMA is Windoze media. Not sure why you would want to convert from MP3 to Wave.