The best recorder is the one you'll actually have on you - and for most people that's your phone. But there's a real payoff to better hardware: cleaner audio means more accurate transcripts and better speaker separation in QuestLog. "Garbage in, garbage out" applies to AI too. Here's a vetted ladder from free to pro, and how to get any of them into QuestLog.

Free - your phone + QuestLog Capture

The bring-your-own-device approach: no extra gadget, no per-device fee - just the app on the phone already in your pocket.

• Always on you; nothing to carry or charge.
• Records straight into QuestLog - transcript, summary, highlights and action items appear automatically.
• Keeps recording in the background with the screen off, so a long interview won't cut out.

Best for: everyday capture - meetings, calls, quick notes. See Recording and uploading audio to start. This covers the large majority of what people need; only step up to dedicated hardware when audio quality or hands-free recording actually matters.

Budget - Sony ICD-PX470 (~$40)

The cheapest dedicated recorder we'd actually trust. Voice-tuned mics, records MP3, and the body flips open into a USB plug so files drag straight off - no cable needed.

• Best for: lectures, meetings, and "set it on the table" recording on a tight budget.
• Get it: Sony ICD-PX470 on Amazon →

Recommended - Sony ICD-UX570 (~$130)

Our all-round pick and the sweet spot of the lineup. Noticeably better stereo mics than the PX470, pocket-sized, long battery, and it also mounts as a plain USB drive.

• Best for: most people who want a dedicated recorder - interviews, journaling, field notes.
• Get it: Sony ICD-UX570 on Amazon →

Best audio - Zoom H1essential (~$100)

A handheld stereo recorder with studio-grade mics and 32-bit float recording - a sudden loud moment can't clip, and a quiet talker can be brought up cleanly afterward. This is the one that visibly improves QuestLog's transcript accuracy on tricky audio.

• Best for: interviews, podcasts, oral histories - anywhere transcript quality is the whole point.
• Get it: Zoom H1essential on Amazon →

Pro / multi-mic - Zoom H5 (~$250)

A step into real field recording: XLR inputs let you plug in lavalier or shotgun mics so each speaker gets a clean, close signal - the single biggest win for multi-person speaker separation.

• Best for: formal sit-down interviews, panels, clinical or legal settings - anything with two or more speakers you want cleanly diarized.
• Get it: Zoom H5 on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases - at no extra cost to you. Prices are ballpark and move around.

Getting recordings into QuestLog

Every dedicated recorder above follows the same flow:

1. Record on the device.
2. Connect it to your computer. Sony recorders mount as a USB drive directly; Zoom recorders record to a microSD card, so either connect the recorder in "card reader / USB" mode or pop the card into your computer.
3. Drag the .mp3 or .wav files into QuestLog - see Importing files.
4. QuestLog transcribes, diarizes and summarizes them exactly like a phone recording.

You get studio-grade capture and QuestLog's AI on top.

Which should I use?

• Everyday capture, or just getting started? Phone + QuestLog Capture (free).
• Want a cheap dedicated recorder? Sony ICD-PX470.
• One recorder for most situations? Sony ICD-UX570 - our pick.
• Transcript quality is the priority? Zoom H1essential.
• Multiple speakers you need cleanly separated? Zoom H5 with external mics.

Many people pair two: the phone for spur-of-the-moment notes, and one dedicated recorder for the sit-down sessions that matter.