When a brilliant business idea hits and you're away from your computer, you can capture it if you have a digital voice recorder. Manufacturers such as Sony and Olympus make this audio magic possible by creating hand-held recorders that store recordings digitally. Many brands also allow you to transfer voice files to your business computer's hard drive. Once you get them to your computer, you can play them any time you like through your computer's headphones or speakers.
Step 1
Find the documentation that comes with your voice recorder. It will explain the recorder's capabilities and let you know if the recorder can communicate with a computer. Some voice recorders require you to install special software that makes communication possible, while others allow you to plug your recorder into your computer's USB port without installing software.
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Step 2
Install the required software from the supplied CD or DVD, if necessary.
Step 3
Connect your recorder to a free USB port on your computer. Many voice recorders provide a USB cable that allows you to plug the small end into your recorder and the large end into your computer. Other recorders, such as the Olympus WS-710M, have built-in USB plugs that plug right into the computer's USB port.
Step 4
Follow the instructions that your documentation provides after plugging your recorder into your computer. Depending on the recorder model, you may be able to use Windows Explorer to drag audio files from a folder that represents your recorder to a folder on your hard drive. Other recorder programs may have their own user interface that works a little differently. Regardless of how your particular software programs works, you will have the ability to copy audio files from your recorder to your computer.
Step 5
Play your audio file after uploading it to your computer by finding it in Windows Explorer and double-clicking the file. Because recorder models differ, different applications may play your audio file when you open it. If your recorder creates Windows Media Player (WMV) files, for example, Windows Media Player may launch to play it.
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