10 top tips and tricks for use of a dictaphone

I have been using a dictaphone for many years now and I still find this piece of kit a valuable and simple device to use. I hope that with these 10 tips there will be at least one that will be beneficial to you.

1- If your in a car and need directions, just ask someone the way while your recording and simply playback as you drive without the need to remember or write things down.

2-Record priceless monemnts that pop in your head which happens to us all the time, and with a simple click of the record button you could save what could potentialy be lost forever.

3-If you ever wonder what your kids get up to with there friend while there alone in there room then now you will find out if there talking about drugs or just up to no good with a carefully placed dictaphone using the "voice activation feature".

4- If your out and about and you or others are involved in an argument or a verball slanging match, always record the situation as the authoritys might be very interested in the real truth and not the others two sided story.

5-If you are at a shop and the sales person makes a verbal promise that they will refund your goods for full cash if you decide to return them then always record the transation and always ask there name this can be used in many verbal transations.

6-When your visiting the doctors or any medical service then it's always good to record the converstaion as if your like me most of the time I can not remember exactly what they said or the complcated words they try to baffle you with. Now you can play back and not miss a thing.

7-Have you ever wondered how many times people have been ringing your doorbell or shouting through your letter box while your away? well now you can by using the "voice activation facility" again . Make sure you place it, not to near the door, or where there is a lot of external noise like traffic etc, as it will be on "voice activation" and you don't want to use up the lenth of tape on back ground noise. You will soon know where the best location is once you experiment. You will be surprised by what goes on while your away.

8-If you write letters often to friends family or loved ones, then theres nothing more personal than recording your own message. I have many "letters" that I listen to and is so much more personal to hear them rather than reading there words

9-use the dictaphone to record sound problems (example) Have you ever tried to explain the noise of a faulty washing machine! Or the strange noise your radiators or car were making to a repair man!. or the strange sounds your dog or cats makes when there unwell, to the vet? then using a dictaphone will make life much easier for you to explain without the need of embarasing yourself.

10- Finally, do you know If you snore or talk in your sleep? well, now you will know using your dictaphone. Just leave it on "voive activation" and you will be very surprised and entertained and sometimes shocked at what you may end up waking to hear!

NOTE: Depending on what part of the world you are from. recording other people in public or private place can be an offence so please be aware when using a dictaphone.

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