If you’re a mobile electronics fanatic, you’ve probably heard of a “handheld DVR” and told yourself that you have to get one. Even if you’re only mildly interested in recording digital media, getting a handheld DVR can be very beneficial for you. Traditionally, “DVR” stands for “digital video recorder,” but in the case of a handheld DVR, it can mean either that or “digital voice recorder.”
Digital video recorders capture both audio and video signals and convert them to digital files that you can review, download, edit, and post or use later. These devices are typically smaller and more portable than a traditional DVR, like TiVo or the recording box that your cable or satellite company sends you. This can be great for anyone looking to record anything important, such as a lecture, a show, or a performance that you want to watch again later. It can replace a standard handheld camera or camcorder whenever you need one.
Digital voice recorders capture just audio digitally and saves it to a drive for later listening, download, edit, and more. You can use one of these devices to record memos to yourself or to an associate, lectures that you need to remember but do not have time to note down, or interviews that are too interesting to ignore for the sake of your notes. Some professional models of digital voice recorders can be used for field recording with multiple microphones.
In both cases, you can use a handheld DVR for surveillance. Keeping an eye on the nanny or your children, or making sure your office is secure, or discreetly recording a meeting has never been easier. These portable options come in small sizes and often resemble ordinary objects, such as a pen, clock radio, smoke detector, watch, or cellphone, and they are difficult to detect because they do not transmit a signal. For short-term recording tasks, the memory usually does not need to be more than 2-4GB.
Handheld DVRs are a great investment for anyone interested in mobile multimedia. Whether you’re recording your child’s first on-stage performance or your professor’s most important lecture before the exam, a handheld DVR can be a very beneficial purchase.
