Home > Consumer Reviews > RCA RP5130 512MB USB 140 Hour MP3 Recording Digital Voice Recorder

This is the first digital recorder I've owned, but I would say this one works great. It's easy to use and as small as a cell phone, so it's easy to carry. I like the lock function to keep it from recording/deleting when in a pocket or purse. There's plenty of time available on it. The sound quality is good for what you're paying. I use it mostly to record my voice lessons and performances, and I've been pleased with the results. The best part is the ability to transfer the files directly to my computer, which can be converted into .wav files and played on an MP3 player. The software comes pre-installed on the recorder and is very easy to use. I definitely recommend this recorder.

Pros
-Good battery life.
-Fits in my cell phone holster.
-Easy to get files on and off of it.

Cons
-When you turn it off it loses that your settings like the speed you were playing at. So I ride to work and use it to listen to notes or podcasts at fast speed. I turned it off and don't use it again till the next day that I do the same thing and I have to re-set it to fast speed again.
-When you turn it off and come back it looks like you are on the track you left off on, but when you press play it returns to the first one in the folder.

It does not have an intuitive interface, but once you get the hang of it, it works well. Small, cheap and perfect for inobtrusive recording. Picks up voice from some distance. Play back sound was a little scratchy with the unit, but when downloaded to computer and used in a slide program, the sound was very clear.

This product does exactly what it says it does.It is able to record sounds at very far distances and play back is really clear.I think it is very convenient that there are different folders to keep recordings organized.I like that there is also a music folder but it is a little annoying that we aren't able to title each song(they are classified by order in which you downloaded them onto the voice recorder so unless you memorize song order, you won't know what you're listening to).I think the keys are a little sensitive(ie when I press the volume keys lightly, the impact is enough to change the track bc the track selector keys on the side and adjacent to the volume keys get stimulated somehow).Overall, this voice recorder is worth the money.

I have used earlier models of this recorder (e.g., RP5022) in research for a few years, and have been looking anxiously for mp3 recording capability, so I was very concerned when I read reviews that this model still required file conversions (from .wav). I just purchased several, however, and am pleased to report that the RCA RP5130 does actually record in mp3 - no conversion or file management software needed, just drag-and-drop onto your computer's desktop. So now an easy, convenient recorder has equally easy, convenient file management - and what a great price. (Why did other reviews disagree? I think the confusion may have arisen because earlier models look physically very similar, and they in fact did not record in mp3, so someone may have chosen the wrong product to review.)