anyone use one of these?

[GrahamL]

I'm finding this little recorder a great way to log my observations and any unkowns that pop up through a nights observing , transfer the info to an observing template the following day or so.

[Astro_Bot]

I don't use one, but it looks like quite a reasonable idea - one can take "notes" without having to move away from the eyepiece, use lights or find a pen.

[Brickbots (Richard)]

After seeing someone at a start party using one, I switched from paper logging to a digital recorded last year and can't believe I put up with paper for so long. With a the recorder I can log my observations without ever taking my eye away from the eyepiece. Not only is it less frustrating and more comfortable, but I find my dark adaptation is better and I end up taking more detailed notes.

The only downside is transcribing the recordings, but I can type pretty quickly and I like to have my logs in the computer anyway, so it's no more trouble than transcribing the paper logs. I also end up saving the recordings on the computer in a folder for future reference if I ever need em.

I guess you can tell I'm a big fan and I recommend them to anyone who asks. It can be a little strange, particularly at a public event/location, but its made my observing a lot more enjoyable.

[rogerco (Roger)]

You should be able to run the recording through something like "DragonDictate" to turn the digital audio recording into text. These days the voice recognition is pretty good. Thus saving having to transcribe.

[Jon (Jonathan)]

I've been playing around using Siri on my iPhone or Dragon Dictation to take voice-recognition notes. It works OK, although I have to remember to keep my right eye closed so the screen doesn't destroy my night vision. And deciphering some of the "voice recognition" gets pretty amusing! "Andrew see 7009, the Saturday nebula shows as an elongated green grey disk in the 15 minute I piece" and so on ...

[Paddy (Patrick)]

Night vision preservation is what's kept me away from digital devices. I used to use tape recorder, but eventually found transcribing so time consuming as I could talk a lot of stuff. So now I write notes - I write less and can type up quicker from notes.

[GrahamL]

Yeah I could easily talk to much or to quickly , I have a simple template which keeps my observation records pretty basic ,catalogue no , class , constellation ,mag, coments ,reference,I'll often leave the last three blank unless something catches my interest and can fill it as I play it back .

that little digital recorder cost $50 from duck smuths and will record 8 hours of voice at low quality which is in par with my voice anyway
one tiny red led (above sony) flashes when its paused, screen itself isn't backlit.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

would be good listening to yourself "ooo wow, look at that.... phwor..... now where is it......oooo a satellite"

[leon]

It is an excellent idea, i did something similar some time ago whilst i was imaging.

Leon