RCA RP5012 16MB Digital Voice Recorder

by RCA

Product Details

Product Manual [307kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 3.9 x 1.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00006LEJA
• Item model number: RP5012
• Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,897 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 18, 2002

Product Description

Built-in, Flash Memory. Multifunctional Lcd Display. Automatic Voice-activated Recording. 4 Folders With 99 Files Per Folder. File & Message Editing. Real-time Clock. Date/time Stamp With Voice Announcement Of Recorded Date & Time At Message Playback. Built-in Microphone & Speaker. Low-battery Indicator. 1-year Limited Warranty. 400/64 Digital Recording Time. 16 Mb Memory.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very good value for a unit that does what it is intended for, November 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: RCA RP5012 16MB Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)

Saw one of these being used at one of those ponderous all-day tech training sessions. Instead of scribbling notes, the guy using it was able to sit back and listen and comprehend, and worry about notes later. He let us play with it, and the sound quality was coherent, which was all we needed. This is not a hi-fi device. The other reviewer complained about a buzziness... we didn't hear any. We've bought our own since then, and love it. More solidly built than comparably priced Sony's. Recording can be switched between dictation and conference. Maybe the other reviewer didn't read the instructions and play with the settings options? And the externally attachable microphone will improve recording sound quality even more. Plus you can playback via the headphone jack, or even pipe the audio into your computer so that you can save the audio. Does what it says, and does it well. I've since bought two as gifts.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Background noise, May 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: RCA RP5012 16MB Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)

I don't have any experience with any other digital voice recorders but this one seems to have a lot of background noise in the recordings that are internal. In a quiet environment, there is a swishing, wash machine noise in all recording. Same recordings made with my trusty but bulky Sony Microcassette-Corder, M-527V are quiet by comparison. The noise is slightly less in the HQ mode and also when using the external mike, but it is still extremely noticeable.

I have only played with it for about 2 hours but already the battery icon reads one half. I don't know how much longer they will last but I expected much more. The batteries are fresh Duracell alkaline which were NOT included with the recorder.

The controls are hard to distinguish without looking to see what button is being pressed. They all feel the same. The search seems quite slow and erratic. It appears that when the buttons are pushed for forward or reverse search, which by the way are quite small, the counter is supposed to go slowly at first, then speed up. It seems to go slow for a long period of time, speed up and slow down repeatedly. The instructions on this feature are lacking. There is no way to jump ahead in a file and takes a long time to advance if you are looking for a sound byte in, say a 20 minute recording.

I am looking for a better unit to exchange this one for, or at least other reviews of this item to see if maybe I just got a dud.

My recommendation, spend more money and get a better recorder.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Easy operation: Crummy sound, March 3, 2003

By 

Jay (NorCal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: RCA RP5012 16MB Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)

This unit carries the best price and longest recording capability on he market. Features and operation are excellent, BUT, the sound quality is not acceptable. Tried HQ and SQ - no joy.

I do stand-up and need to record both bits and performances.
There was nothing funny about this unit and it went back to [the store]. Depending on your needs, this still might be the best deal out there, but it wasn't for me.