Voice and audio recording on the move now has some hi-tech hardware to choose from, as well as a new breed of Apps for your favourite handset.

Recording voice or any other audio is now easier than ever. With a range of devices to choose from that have evolved over recent years to the point where professional audio quality is possible in a hand-held recorder, you're spoilt for choice if you're looking for a standalone recorder for your next business trip.

Add to this the voice recording Apps that are now available on every smartphone platform, and you have a diverse and expanding market of audio recording products. Of course your precise requirements will always govern your ultimate choice, but there is a voice or audio recorder to suit your precise needs no matter where you're travelling to, or what kind of recordings you need to make.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the days of the voice recorder were numbered once audio and voice recording Apps began to appear on the most popular smartphones. However, the performance and features of these Apps can be quite restricting. If you need high levels of control over your audio or voice recordings, a dedicated device is the only way to go. The good news is that the major manufacturers have not turned their backs on these devices and continue to develop and expand their ranges.

One of the most impressive releases to take place this year was the Zoom H2n Handy Recorder that offers studio-quality recording in the palm of your hand. Featuring Mid-Side (MS) stereo, a technique used for many years in film and broadcast, 90° X/Y stereo, 2-channel and 4-channel surround sound. With its newly designed user interface, 1.8-inch backlit LCD display for crystal-clear monitoring and built-in reference speaker that allows you to playback recordings on the spot, the H2n is remarkably easy to use in any application.

"A lot of people are going to be knocked-out when they use this device, but we're really interested in seeing the response from the film and broadcast industries," says Scott Goodman, President of Samson. "Mid-Side miking has been used in those industries since the '80s, but it's never been available in a handheld recorder."

With a huge accessory pack that itself if highly compact and ideal for travellers, the H2n can also be used as a USB microphone when attached via USB to your computer. Powered by two AA batteries you can expect up to 20 hours of recording. The backlit LCD display, SD/SDHC card slot and the fact that the unit only weighs 130g (without batteries) offers a compact device measuring just 67.6 x 113.8 x 42.7mm to give you the ultimate in recording excellence. The H2n may be overkill for most users, but if you do want to record in 5.1-surround sound you can.

Another premium priced recorder to take a look at is the Digta 7 Premium from Grundig Business Systems. The new model features Bluetooth capability that enables you to send your recordings to your BlackBerry for instance, or any Bluetooth enabled computer. Control is via the Touch Pin slide switch so you can operate the dictation device by feel, as the Touch Pin protrudes slightly from the switch when set on 'stop'. Another special feature is the use of speech recognition for creating an alphanumeric dictation ID, also enabling the natural pronunciation of numbers. You can also encrypt your recordings to 256 bit standard.

Using a rechargeable battery pack allows the Digta 7 to be slim and lightweight coming in at 130 x 52 x 22 mm and 122g respectively. A few accessories are available, but none as comprehensive as the Zoom. The Digta 7 may look rather dated when compared to other manufacturer's models, but its simplicity of use could offer you just what you've been looking for. In the world of voice and compact portable audio recording, Olympus has become the market leader with a range of recorders to suit all needs and pockets. The new LS-20M builds on the company's reputation for high quality devices, but the LS-20M has a trick up its sleeve: If you often travel with a pocket video recorder and an audio recorder, why not combine the two?

The LS-20M is capable of recording full 1080p video. The camera lens and microphones are located on top of the unit – just point the device in the direction of the intended object and hit record. A crisp, 2.0-inch colour LCD screen on the front of the device clearly displays the video as its being shot. Below the video LCD is a 1.46-inch LCD data screen that displays time, audio levels and battery life. The device captures rich, dynamic sound with its two condenser mics, and the ability to record in Linear PCM (WAV files) and MP3 formats.

"The potential number of uses for the Olympus LS-20M Linear PCM recorder are limitless," said Amy Leslie, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. "Anyone looking to capture and upload music performances, sporting events, weddings, meetings or just create their own fun videos, can use the LS-20M for their personal and professional audio and video needs."

Lastly, if you just want to travel with your iPhone/iPad yet make high quality recordings, the iRig Mic is the ideal companion. Featuring a hand-held condenser microphone that simply plugs into the standard jack on your iOS device, the microphone itself can be instantly set up for whatever recording conditions you have and the accompanying App makes recording child's play.

The microphone itself is fairly bulky, which could be an issue for some travellers that want to travel light. And it's vital that the microphone is coupled with its App to gain the best recordings. Specialist travellers may need this type of recording set up, but for general business trips, more conventional recording devices would be more convenient.

Smartphone Apps With the smartphone dominance of the world, it wasn't long before voice recording Apps began to appear initially for the iPhone and then other platforms. Not surprisingly, iPhone users are spoilt for choice when it comes to these Apps.

Some of the outstanding voice and audio recording Apps for your iPhone include: Recorder, iProRecorder, Voxie Pro Recorder, iTalk Recorder and Pocket Dictate.

BlackBerry users can also turn their handset into a dictation machine with the addition of the Yodal App [www.startstop.com/yodal.asp]. The unique aspect of this App is that as you make your recordings they are instantly streamed and saved to the Yodal server with your recording data completely encrypted. Using a subscription model that starts at $12.95, you will have to make a commitment to take the service for a minimum of six months. Android users also have vRecorder and VoiceTask that can be download from the Android Market.

Essential accessories Of course the software that you choose for your smartphone is only as good as the microphone that your handset has built in. The good news is that there is a steadily growing ecosystem of accessories that can transform your recordings.

We have already looked at the iRig Mic that can give professional results. However, the unit itself can be a little bulky if you won't be doing a lot of voice and sound recording on your next business trip. More compact and unobtrusive microphones are also available that are perfect for any traveller that wants to simply improve the quality of their recordings without adding to their luggage.

One of the most compact of all iPhone microphones is the Mini Microphone that is a simple plug and play device that is compatible with most iOS devices. Weighing in at just 4.5g and measuring 36mm x 13mm, your biggest worry with this microphone is losing it!

Also available is Mikey that offers high-quality stereo recording via the cardioid condensing microphone that connects to your iPod or iPhone. Using the compatible Blue FiRe recording App delvers an integrated recording experience that is excellent. The quality and versatility can't match dedicated recorders, but if you need to carry a device for impromptu recordings with your iPhone or iPhone, this new version of Mikey is more than serviceable.

Voice and general audio recording on the move is now well serviced by a range of devices and Apps. Thinking about the type or recording you want to make and at what quality will quickly reveal which recording platform is right for your next business trip.