Microphone for a meeting

[Janiece Young]

I am reporting a meeting four times a year.  It is in a big room.  They make the people come to the microphone.  My equipment is doing a pretty good job of catching the audio.  I have heard about a sound grabber microphone that is supposed to be good for those kinds of things.  Can anyone direct me to something that might work well or give me some suggestions?

Thanks,

Janiece

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I bought the sound grabber from Martel.  Came in a spiffy box, real little thing.  All I could think was, "Is that it?  Looks like junk."

I love it.  It's small - so it is barely visible.  It picks up the secretary chats out in the hallways.  (I can make out their words).  Just make sure it's turned on (flip the little switch so you see the red).  You can buy replacement batteries (three pack of X) at Walmart. 

[Kerry F]

Janiece,

I used that sound grabber from Martel for years before the little $150 mic we use today.  It used to be really good.

Can't remember why I don't use that with depos today instead of the Martel, but it may be better for meetings like you're talking about. 

[Mary Jo Cochran]

You're using a big room.  We all "backup" audio what we do (we do criminal court depos).  I have my little Sony cassette recorder (which you don't want). 

I also have a digital recorder.  Most use Olympus, which they say has great audio ($70.00).  Sony is $60.  I bought the cheap RCA for $25.00 (with USB) .  If you're in a big room, you might want to get a digital recorder too.  They are very small and not really obvious (smaller than a cell phone).