Unfortunately most of the notebooks sold today do not include built-in microphones, or the built-in microphones are not powerful enough to properly record sound from a source that is not directly in front of the computer.
Many of our clients use the following microphone models with great success. However, please keep in mind that more expensive does not necessarily mean better. Depending on your personal reporting situations, some of the low-cost, non-powered microphones work just as well as the more expensive top of the line models.
BEST:
- Sony Flat-mic ECM-F01, approximately $60. The Flat-mic has a mid-range boost that enhances voice quality.
- Martel SoundGrabber, approximately $60. The SoundGrabber is a very responsive microphone, some of our clients have reported that it picks up background noises as well. More information can be found at their website: www.martelelectronics.com.
GOOD:
- Sony ECM-T145, approximately $45. It is designed as a tie-clip microphone. It has good pickup for depositions and some courtrooms.
BUDGET:
- Sony ECM-F8, approximately $15. It looks like a small, flat circle. It has really good quality and pick up for most smaller settings (wouldn't use it in a large courtroom.)
All the above mics are battery powered, which is good and bad. The good side is, they pick up sound better than non-powered mics. The bad side is, you better buy and carry extra batteries because they run out fairly quick (about 100 hours of recording time) and even quicker if you forget to turn them off after your day's work.