All that the positive reviews said is correct, in my experience. The device is reasonably priced and records and plays back reasonably well. However, mine has an absolutely maddening flaw: the batteries are held in by a small 'door' that hinges from the bottom of the device. The battery door opens at the slightest touch: in fact, if often opens (and the batteries therefore fall out) while in my pocket, without particularly being touched at all. You don't lose your recordings, but you have to re-set all your time and date settings as a result. For me this one flaw almost negates the good features because it makes the device so frustrating to use.
Also, don't assume that the memory cards included or available for this device can be used in a PC-attached card reader: they cannot, since they have a unique proprietary format. So you cannot put these cards into a card reader and import the sound files into your PC.
The RCA RP5007 is a good little voice recorder, but it has its flaws. I give it four stars because, for certain applications (long dictations in a quiet room, or short interviews and speeches in louder situations), it's very handy indeed, and much better than a mini-cassette recorder.Its major flaw is the lack of storage for high-quality recordings. The included 4MB SmartMedia card only holds 17 minutes of HQ sound -- so I'd recommend buying at least an additional 8MB card. Unfortunately, that's as big as you can get, since the unit doesn't accept cards bigger than 8MB, or 34 minutes HQ. The SP (low quality) mode lasts a long time (nearly 1hr 40min with the stock 4MB card), but the sound is highly compressed and very hard to understand unless there is no background noise at all.
It is considerably less expensive than other digital voice recorders, so compromises have been made, but they detract little from its good basic features and usability.
Here are the pluses and minuses:
GOOD:
- Small and light
- Reasonably easy to use
- Sound quality quite good in HQ mode
- Every clip is time and date stamped
- Button lock prevents accidental activation
- Both manual and voice-activated record modes
- Dictation (close) or Conference (distant) modes
- Sound clips can be stored in folders
- Sound clips can have annotations appended
- Rudimentary editing (insert/delete segments) possible
- Quick preview mode plays 3 sec of each clip
- Uses standard AAA batteries, and lasts a long time with them
- Standard SmartMedia card storage included (4 MB)
- Standard mini microphone and headphone jacks
BAD:
- Sound quality in SP (low quality) mode barely usable, especially if there is any background noise at all
- 17-minute limit on included 4MB card in HQ mode (1hr 40 mins in SP mode, but as I said, it's barely usable)
- Cannot use SmartMedia cards bigger than 8MB (34 min in HQ mode, 3hr 20 min in SP)
- Record button pauses, but does not stop recording a clip (which requires the separate Stop button) -- can be confusing on the fly
- Deleting clips is confusing at first -- RCA even includes a separate addendum to the manual clarifying how it works -- but once you get the hang of it, it's simple
- Fast-forward and reverse features are choppy and rather slow
- Plastic case seems a bit fragile
- No included AC adapter (but there is a plug for one)
