Record meetings, lectures - best device?

What's the best device to use to record audio from meetings, lectures etc?

The device has to be portable.

I was looking at the ipods. I have an ipod mini but it seems you can't record audio on this type of ipod. You can on the ipod classic.

Would a dictaphone do?

I guess a voice recorder. I use a HiMD MiniDisc with a mic myself .
Hard to find these days though.

Not meaning to go off topic but manners and possibly the law may dictate that you get permission to record others.

Yes some lecturers in college don't allow it and I know my niece in Galway Uni was refused permission.

ClubMan said:

Not meaning to go off topic but manners and possibly the law may dictate that you get permission to record others.

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you may need permission. If you are permitted a dictaphone is a handy device, theyre not expensive, small and portable, and easy to use.

what are the legal implications of recording a meeting for the purpose of creating meeting minutes? is it legal?

A lot of musicians use a [broken link removed] to record themselves. A friend of mine uses one, and for such a small device it is quite amazing.

I mention it because, unlike most dictaphones, which are designed for close proximity recording, you can make incredibly crisp recordings of someone speaking from the far side of a large auditorium with a H2. Also, and importantly, because the on-board mics are directional, you can avoid picking up every little rustle and cough in the room. Plus, because it can record in mp3 format, you can get up to 8 hours on a 2 GB card, and it's easy to transfer and file on your PC.

It might be a little pricey for the task you have in mind, they retail at about €200 in any music shop. You could pick one up in the states for far less, but will have to pay duty if it's posted to you.

dfg75 said:

what are the legal implications of recording a meeting for the purpose of creating meeting minutes? is it legal?

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I think you would be best advised to indicate to everyone that you would be recording the meeting. The legality of recording conversations seems to be a greyish area in Ireland. Definitely it's illegal to eavesdrop and record third parties without their knowledge, though it seems to be a little less black and white if you're recording a conversation you are having with others.

Apart from the legal side of things, you would lose a lot of face if others discovered you were recording your meeting with them. Some harmless banter goes on at meetings - it would not go down well if newly married Joe realised that he had been recorded slagging his Mother-in-law, for example!