Every Smartphone has a microphone. Who needs there is a digital recorder? Experts say: pros still worth the purchase. The reason is not only the better sound quality.

A singing child, an interview, or even the own thoughts: plentiful events for sound recordings. 20 Years ago, sounds were recorded with tape recorders, digital audio recorders were added later. Today every Smartphone can record voice and music. There is the purchase of a separate recorder is worth?

"The principle is the same for both devices", says Markus Bautsch by Stiftung Warentest. However, the analog to-digital converters are and microphones in the recorders mostly better. "A recording with a digital recorder and a Smartphone app audible, both language and music differences between", also Michael Schidlack of the IT Association BITKOM said. Finally, the micro in the Smartphone is optimized not for sound recordings, but for the phone.

Phones usually spherical pick up sounds in all directions, Bacha said. Digital recorder, however, have one or more MICS that point in certain directions. Annoying background noise remain so rather sidelined. Also many Smartphones make only the expert criticized mono recordings,: "If you take on a speaker, which is still okay, two the spatial impression is missing." With many Smartphones the sound of shots could be with an external microphone improve, which costs however quickly around 200 euros: "Then you have a comparable quality, but also similar cost as for a recorder."

The Smartphone did a larger surface area for operation, a recorder but more switches and buttons on the device, "so that you won't must find in the menu", though Bacha says. Audio recorder can also often mount on a tripod and remote control via infrared signal, mobile users need to waive such comfort. "For me a Smartphone not eligible", says Bacha. Good recorder with several microphones which allow theoretically four channel recordings are available for around 160 euros.

Fabien Rohlinger uses always its Smartphone for interviews. Even layman could mistake so hardly record, says the editor of the online magazine "Techstage.de". It was only important that they obscure the micro with the fingers. Get reliably good shots only, who invests at least 400 euros in a Smartphone of the upper class. Cheap models, the microphone quality was luck: "There is that, the quality is underground where, and others who make decent recordings." For the Smartphone but also a decisive advantage, Rohlinger says: "it is always, also you can send the data immediately everywhere." With the numerous recording apps you can edit the recordings often directly on the device. It comes but not everyone clear, warns Markus Bautsch: "I need a big screen, on your smartphone that is too tricky."

For post processing on the PC but often lack the right tools: a lot for video editing is in the operating systems for PCs and Macs, rather stepmotherly handled audio", Bacha complains. The software of well-known manufacturer who buys an audio recorder, often get. However, that is not the full version. A good alternative is the open-source program audacity, that can be downloaded online for free.

The capacity is another important difference between Smartphone and recorder: "Smartphones have built-in usually 16 to 32 gigabyte memory", explains Michael Schidlack. Many devices he can be also extended via SD card. "For however the space must be shared with all other programs and services to the telephone," says Schidlack.

Digital recorder store its recordings usually on SD cards, which are used in digital cameras. Depending on the model, to up to 128 gigabytes of pictures place find, also, the cards can be exchanged quickly and easily. How fast the disk space is exhausted, especially by the compression of images depends on-the better the sound, the bigger the file. "In WAV format with 24 bit 30 minutes four-channel recording mean around a gigabyte of storage," Bacha said. On the gsm mobile phones as well as digital recorders are usually different formats to choose from.