Comparing Audio: Livescribe Pulse Smartpen vs. Other Digital Recorders

There was recently a post to a list-serv that I subscribe to that asked for recommendations for a digital audio recorder. The poster mentioned that they were considering the Olympus DM-520 to record board meetings, executive session board meetings, discipline and sports hearings.

That got me thinking...why not use the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen?

I then came across this post, Listening to Keynotes, What Digital Recorder? – LiveScribe Pulse SmartPen or Olympus WS-450S or iProRecorder.  This review compares three very different digital audio recorders - a handheld recorder, a smartpen, and an iPhone application and allows you to listen to and compare the audio recordings of all three of these recorders recording from the back of the room, the middle of the room, and the front of the room.

The Livescribe Pulse Smartpen came out on top in this reviewer's comparisons, and the reviewer also enjoyed the added benefit of being able to take handwritten notes that corresponded with the recorded audio, which then could be completely uploaded to his computer and made searchable.