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This TronicTang recorder looks like the kind of thing a reporter sticks in front of an athlete or politician.
I just got an audio recorder, liked it, and wanted one that looked more professional. The TronicTang has 8GB of onboard memory, a TF card slot, stereo microphones and a 1.4-inch color screen that reminds me of the original iPod Nano. I tested it from about arm’s length and from four or five feet away.
- Color screen is much nicer than old black-and-white LCDs
- Stereo recording and an external mic jack
- Light, with a metallic-looking finish
- Dedicated recorder saves your phone’s storage and records better at a distance
- Plastic construction
- Lots of menu features you may never use
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Unboxing and build
In the box are standard earbuds with a 3.5mm jack, a long micro USB cable and a user manual. The recorder is light and plastic, but it has a metallic painted finish that looks great.
Around the edges you get a headphone jack, a de-noise switch, a hardware switch to choose TF card or internal storage, micro USB, a reset pinhole, power and hold, a TF card slot and an external microphone jack.
The color screen
The roughly 1.4-inch color LCD is what surprised me. It feels like the original iPod Nano, about the same size, and it sleeps when you are not using it.
The speaker grille has polished chamfered edges that remind me of a Star Trek communicator, or maybe an electric shaver.
Settings and recording
In settings you can pick high-quality recording, a sleep timer, auto-off, date and time, plus a calendar, stopwatch, alarm and auto record. While recording there is a bookmark button and level bars that react to your voice in left and right channels.
It records MP3 at 128K by default, and you can switch to WAV for full quality. Pressing a button while recording just wakes the screen instead of stopping, which I like.
Real-world test
I recorded from about arm’s length, then stepped back four or five feet and walked around it, so you can hear the result in the video.
A dedicated recorder is great for capturing a grandparent’s stories, a kid’s recital or a big moment without filling your phone. My iPhone records audio, but it fades as soon as you move away. This is clearly my favorite recorder at the moment.
FAQ
How much storage does it have?
8GB onboard, and there is a TF card slot with a switch to choose where it saves.
Does it record in stereo?
Yes. It has left and right microphones.
What file formats does it use?
MP3 at 128K by default, and you can switch to WAV for higher quality.
Can I use an external microphone?
Yes, there is an external mic jack.
Is this an affiliate link?
Yes. The buttons are #ad affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra.
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