8GB Voice Recorder by TronicTang Review #170

Gumgood reached out to me and asked if I would review their 8GB Voice Recorder product that they just released.  I was happy to do so because having a voice recorder is very important as a private investigator to have.  Every private investigator should have a voice recorder of some sort.   A voice recorder is one of those pieces of private investigation equipment that I use quite frequently during interviews.  

I have had different types of voice recorders over the years and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on this recorder as well.

In this review I will discuss the following:

• What is in the box
• Audio Record Specs
• Features and Functions of the Audio Recorder
• Audio Quality
• Final Thoughts

What is in the TronicTang 8GB Voice Recorder Box

When opening the box you will find the following:

• 1 TronicTang 8GB Voice Recorder
• 1 Earphone
• 1 USB Cable
• 1 User Manual

Audio Record Specs of the TronicTang 8GB Voice Recorder

This audio recorder uses linear Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) recording which basically keeps the analog signal in digital form.  After a little research on this I learned that because it records this way the audio is not compressed.  The files sizes might be larger as well because the audio is in its true form.  

This type of recording is ideal for placing on CDs because of the quality of audio that is recorded.

MP3 and WAV

This audio recorder gives you the option to record in MP3 and WAV.  

An MP3 is a compressed file that is good for anything on the internet like videos.

A WAV file is that lossless, uncompressed audio file that like I mentioned before allows for CD-quality audio recordings.  

Features and Functions of the Audio Recorder

This recorder has many functions that are typical and necessary for an audio recorder and some additional features that many people might find useful.  Below are the highlights of what this recorder has to offer.

Audio Recorder Size

The size of this audio recorder is 4.2 x 0.5 x1.5 inches. This is the typical size for an audio recorder.

Color Screen/Buttons

This recorder has a color screen which details the recording levels as it records which is an interesting feature for the price point of this recorder.  The buttons feel sturdy and all buttons are clearly identified as to what their functions are except for the directional button which these days is self-explanatory for most users.

Speaker

There are two thin horizontal speaker slits at the bottom front face of the recorder. The playback sound is clear when tested.

Recorder Lock

This recorder has the traditional recorder option of locking the recorder while recording so it doesn’t inadvertently get turned off while recording.  

Erase Button

There’s a button that is used to erase recordings directly from the recorder.

Denoise Button

The denoise button is used to filter out some sound not directly around the recorder itself.

TF/Micro SD Card Slot

Though the recorder has 8GB of internal storage, they allow you to upgrade storage on the device up to 32GB.  There is a manual switch on the side of the recorder to switch from recording onto internal storage or to record onto external storage.   

Headphone and Microphone 3.5 mm Jacks

The headphone and microphone jacks are located on each side of the recorder.  I did test the microphone jack and headphone jacks and both worked as expected.    

3 Audio Settings

This recorder has 3 audio settings for recording quality.

• PCM Record– WAV 1536 Kbps (lossless audio format)
• High-Quality Recording – MP3 128 Kbps audio format
• Long Time Recording – MP3 64 Kbps audio format

Change the Microphone Sensitivity

The recorder allows for you to change the microphone sensitivity based on your environment and the closeness to the person (or noise) you are recording.  If the environment is quiet and the people or sound is close to the recorder, you can lower the microphone sensitivity to match your situation.

Voice Activated Mode (located in Record-Setting/Record Mode/AVR Mode)

This allows you to only record when voices are heard.  There is a menu option to adjust the recorders sensitivity to noise when in this mode.  

Once the voices stop or noise is no longer heard by the recorder the recorder stops recording and waits for the next voice/sound.

A/B Repeat Mode

In this mode, you can mark a recording area of a playback you want to be repeated.  

T-Mark

With this function you can mark important moments in an interview or moments of conversation you feel are important.  This would be particularly useful when interviewing individuals and moving from topic to topic of discussion.  

Built-in Battery

No need to replace batteries on this device.  This voice recorder has a built-in 3.7V 800mAh lithium battery.  The product claims approximately 15 hours continuous recording on a battery charge and 30 hours of playback time.

USB 2.0

USB 2.0 is not the fastest way to transfer data but is suitable for this device.  In my personal experience when using recorders for interviews the interviews typically don’t last longer than 2 ½ hours which isn’t a great amount of data to transfer onto my computer.  So I guess the point I am making is that even with USB 2.0, transferring data onto your computer shouldn’t take long at all.  

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

• Sleep Timer
• Auto Shut Off
• Calendar
• Stop Watch
• Alarm
• Auto Record

(Auto Record) You can set the date and time for the recorder to begin recording and have a timer for the amount of time you want it to record.  

Audio Quality

I found the audio quality to be a better than the voice recorder I am currently using from Sony when playing recordings back from their internal speakers.

In a quiet location, I tested the audio playback on a recording from 5 feet to 20 feet from the recorder.  As expected the sound from my voice did become fainter the further I moved from the recorder but my voice could be clearly heard on playback both through the microphone speaker and provided headphones.

Final Thoughts on this Audio Recorder

I personally believe this exceeds the expectations one would have for an audio recorder at this price point ($39.00 as I review this product).  This recorder would definitely fit all the needs of an investigator needing to record interviews or conversations.  

The instructions were easy to read and the provided headphones sounded good when attached to the microphone.

As usual, I would love to know if you decide to pick one up and if you do please let me know your thoughts on this recorder in the comment section.  I will have an affiliate link to this product below from Amazon.

Be on the lookout for a comparison video which includes this recorder and some other recorders.