There are many ways to record sound digitally, and this is perhaps where users are often mistaken when purchasing a digital recorder from a high street shop.
Consideration has to be given to the sound format, the sound compression which a digital recorder or microphone uses. Compatibility issues are common, although with the emergence of the .DSS format, things are looking up.
We often come across users who have bought a recorder, and then find themselves unable to forward the dictations to a typist; passed this obstacle, the sound format might not allow a typist to playback the sound with the use of footpedals; another disappointment will rise when a user realises that the sound quality of a recorder is not good enough for speech recognition…
Be aware of these pitfalls, and seek advice.
Properly deployed, digital dictation is a very powerful tool.

In multiple users environment, we refer to network digital dictation solutions. All the products we offer are network compliant; this means for instance that an author can send dictations to a specific typist, based on a worktype.
Some network digital dictation solution are based on a database server, some aren’t.
Some offer management reports capability…

More generally, the immediate benefits of a proper digital dictation solution are:

  •  no more tape, no more tape breaking, tape wearing, tape loss
  •  no more analogue recorders or transcription players breaking down;       dramatic reduction of repairs overhead
  •  Ability to prioritise dictations
  •  Better sound quality for the support staff
  •  Dictations are easier to locate (“CD tracks” as opposed to mysterious       tapes)
  •  Ability to send dictation remotely (home, multiple offices)
  •  No bulky recorder or player on your desks
  •  etc

The 12 advantages of Digital Dictation by Philips