Review Etekcity Mini USB Stick with integrated recorder
We tests Etekcity Mini USB Stick, the recorder camouflaged in a USB stick 8 GB fully functioning as such: that’s how it seemed. Although you can record a conference with the iPhone, those who have this habit may still prefer a recorder in part because with the latter often faster physically share the recording with a computer, as well as saving valuable energy sometimes the phone.
On the market, there are many, but the Etekcity Mini USB Stick that our staff was able to put to the test in recent days strikes for its compact size, as well as being ” invisible ” as is physically and functionally identical to a common USB stick.
Etekcity Mini USB Stick is apparently a common USB Flash Drive : size (2.64″ x 0.83″) and weight (just 14 grams on our kitchen scale) are those of any key to computer and if it were not for the words USB Disk Recorder embossed on one side, would pass totally unnoticed.
The case is made of black plastic and rubberized tactile. In plastic is also the recessed silver which, besides integrating a hook to attach it to the keys with a classic ring (not included in the package), adds a serration at the sides to improve the grip and removal of the cap that protects the USB connector. This same material is also found in the serial USB Disk Recorder, while on the other side, we find the company logo Etekcity, but printed on an aluminum plate.
Compared to a common USB flash drive, in addition we find a small ON / OFF switch, always black rubberized plastic, near the hook, and a rectangular hole which protects the LED and the microphone; the other, a small circular hole that protects the RESET button.
Etekcity Mini USB Stick : how it works and tests
In addition to functioning as a common USB key to back up or exchange files on any computer, if necessary, you can turn it on by bringing the switch Switches ON position turning it into a tape recorder, compact and portable. Recording is started automatically after a few second after the confirmation you thanks to be built-in LED, red during startup, which changes to blue and confirms successful ignition. Based on our tests, recording starts after 5 seconds and the blue light.
Turning off the key, the recording stops, even turning it on it starts a new one. All files are stored in the key, in the RECORD folder, WAV: doing a quick calculation, with the key completely empty, you are confirmed 150 hours of recording declared by the manufacturer. The 8 GB of capacity, given that one minute of recording equivalent to 964 Kb, confirmed about 150 minutes of recording.
The audio quality is not the same that you have recorded from the iPhone, whose latest generation, as we know, are equipped with multiple microphones for better audio capture and noise reduction. The WAV format, being free audio compression ensures good overall quality recording than MP3, excellent if you put the key in 40-50 centimeters from the person speaking or the source from which we want to capture audio, good enough for about 1.5-2 meters, resulting obviously more ” distant “.
We left the key on in the recording and we have found that, when fully charged, easily exceeds the 15 hours of continuous recording. It created four files, in exactly four hours each (230.4 MB) except the last, of three hours and 16 minutes (188.7 MB). The quality of the obtained files is 128 kbit/s.
Recorded audio files, such as listen to them, convert them and transfer them to iPhone.
On Mac, the file is recognized as a file through iTunes but the latter, as sometimes happens with these files, you can not open it and then play it back and listen. We have entrusted to VLC but any other software can play this file format is fine.
In case you want to use iTunes to listen to the file or to transfer them to iPhone, simply convert them to MP3, an operation that can be performed with the simple GarageBand (just open the file and click Share> Export to disk > Compress). Alternatively, you can convert files with Music Converter, lightweight and easy to use software available on the Mac App Store.
For transfer to iPhone, just follow the same procedure that is performed to import the music tracks on iOS devices. You can also decide to use the same software just mentioned to convert the files in the ” iTunes ” that essentially transforms files into .m4a, formed precisely compatible with the Apple software (there is also the mode to turn Ringtone any audio file into a ringtone for iPhone).
Alternatively, you can also decide to use specific applications, such as Documents by Readdle, Free, which transforms the disk space of the iPhone to a folder where you can store (and read) file (by browser via WiFi) of different types and sizes including WAV and MP3.
Conclusions
The Etekcity Mini USB Stick is an interesting alternative to a digital recorder, for those who have basic needs. It does not replace the most sophisticated accessories, but performs its function of audio capture in an easy and transparent. Despite being equipped with software for Windows PCs called SetUDiskTime but it is not necessary to use it on Mac. You must have the foresight to leave only format it in the same format with which it occurs, or in MS-DOS (FAT). Connecting it to your Mac will be easy to acquire and manage files with programs also free and import them into iTunes and then in iPhone or iPad.
It has a commendable range and is able to store up to 150 hours of audio, enough for most business meetings, conferences or lectures. Among the special features, the fact that it resembles in all respects to a USB stick and if we decide to keep it, ” camouflaged ” we can do it.
It’s a deal. A key 8GB costs around ten dollars, spending twice here you also have the ability to exploit it as a micro recorder for all occasions, even in those where you want to record in an almost entirely anonymous.
Review
PROS : Record over 150 hours in WAV with 15 hours of autonomy, Recording function so well camouflaged in key usable anonymously, Very economical.
CONS : Basic functions, no completely replaces a digital recorder.
- Overall
