[Kunal]

Are there any small/tiny microphones/voice recorders that can plug into
the mic jack or USB port of a Windows-based computer?

The Belkin or Griffin Voice Recorders for the iPod are perfect examples
of what I'm looking for, but there seem to be no equivalents for
Windows.

Other examples are the ME51S and ME12 microphones from Olympus, and
they normally work with Olympus voice recorders - I don't think they
work with Windows computers.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Richard Crowley]

"Kunal" wrote ...
Are there any small/tiny microphones/voice recorders that can plug into
the mic jack or USB port of a Windows-based computer?

There is a humongous difference between a "microphone" and a
"voice recorder". Not apparent that you appreciate this difference?

The Belkin or Griffin Voice Recorders for the iPod are
perfect examples of what I'm looking for,

Those devices are microphones (plus maybe a playback speaker,
etc.) which take advantage of the built-in recording functionality
of the iPod. They are not "recorders". The iPod is the recorder.

but there seem to be no equivalents for Windows.

The "equivalent" for Windows is any microphone. There are
literally hundreds of microphones for computers to choose from.
(but only those two or three for iPod, at least so far.)

Other examples are the ME51S and ME12 microphones
from Olympus, and they normally work with Olympus voice
recorders - I don't think they work with Windows computers.

Those appear to be cheap "stereo" microphones. A pair of
$1 electret elements attached to a plug. Note that you don't
get much "stereo" effect from two microphones which are
one inch apart!

The sound card on most Windows computers takes only a
monaural microphone. But for "voice recording" that is all
you need. Note that there are built-in audio recording software
in Windows, and dozens of other audio recording applications
available ranging from free to multi-track functionality costing
thousands of dollars.

Any help is appreciated.

The obvious solution would seem to be any $3 PC microphone
and the built-in (or freeware) audio recording software.
Perhaps if you revealed what you are trying to do we can
understand why this wouldn't work for you?

[Kunal]

Thanks for that detailed reply.

The problem I'm trying to solve is this... my laptop does not have a
built-in mic, though it has plenty of USB ports and the usual mic jack.

However, I don't want a "large" or "bulky" mic that "dangled" off my
laptop, and would need to be detach every time I carried my laptop from
one meeting to another. Instead, I need a small mic (no bigger than the
Griffin/Belkin/Olympus ones I mentioned) that could remain discreetly,
yet "permanently" plugged into one of my laptop's ports - almost like a
thumbdrive.

I'm not specifically looking for a voice recorder because my laptop can
obviously "record" sound when it has an attached mic. Plus voice
recorders would have limited memory, limited features, etc. The reason
I mentioned "Belkin or Griffin Voice Recorders for the iPod" is that
that's what they're "called", even though essentially all they are, are
simple microphones
(http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...uct_Id=158384).

Like you said, a PC microphone would work perfectly for me - its the
size and usage constraints that I mentioned above that caused me to
post this query. Folks at places like Circuit City and Best Buy seem
ignorant of such mics. I was looking for the name of a manufacturer or
a brand that I could hunt for in stores.

Thanks!

Richard Crowley wrote:
"Kunal" wrote ...
Are there any small/tiny microphones/voice recorders that can plug into
the mic jack or USB port of a Windows-based computer?

There is a humongous difference between a "microphone" and a
"voice recorder". Not apparent that you appreciate this difference?

The Belkin or Griffin Voice Recorders for the iPod are
perfect examples of what I'm looking for,

Those devices are microphones (plus maybe a playback speaker,
etc.) which take advantage of the built-in recording functionality
of the iPod. They are not "recorders". The iPod is the recorder.

but there seem to be no equivalents for Windows.

The "equivalent" for Windows is any microphone. There are
literally hundreds of microphones for computers to choose from.
(but only those two or three for iPod, at least so far.)

Other examples are the ME51S and ME12 microphones
from Olympus, and they normally work with Olympus voice
recorders - I don't think they work with Windows computers.

Those appear to be cheap "stereo" microphones. A pair of
$1 electret elements attached to a plug. Note that you don't
get much "stereo" effect from two microphones which are
one inch apart!

The sound card on most Windows computers takes only a
monaural microphone. But for "voice recording" that is all
you need. Note that there are built-in audio recording software
in Windows, and dozens of other audio recording applications
available ranging from free to multi-track functionality costing
thousands of dollars.

Any help is appreciated.

The obvious solution would seem to be any $3 PC microphone
and the built-in (or freeware) audio recording software.
Perhaps if you revealed what you are trying to do we can
understand why this wouldn't work for you?

[Eeyore]

Kunal wrote:

Thanks for that detailed reply.

The problem I'm trying to solve is this... my laptop does not have a
built-in mic, though it has plenty of USB ports and the usual mic jack.

So plug a mic into it !

However, I don't want a "large" or "bulky" mic that "dangled" off my
laptop, and would need to be detach every time I carried my laptop from
one meeting to another. Instead, I need a small mic (no bigger than the
Griffin/Belkin/Olympus ones I mentioned) that could remain discreetly,
yet "permanently" plugged into one of my laptop's ports - almost like a
thumbdrive.

There's nothing suitable that can be permanently attached. It would stick out
anyway ! The correct 'port' is the mic input jack.

Sorry.

Graham