Panasonic RR-830 Desktop Cassette Transcriber / Recorder

Pros: Small footprint, variable speech control
Cons: None - other than getting used to its features.

If you've been looking for a standard cassette transcriber, good luck! There isn't much to choose from. Thankfully, Panasonic has come to our rescue with its RR-830 model.

No compromises here - it's got everything you'll need for any...

Pros: Especially good for straight one-person dictation
Cons: Volume does not get loud enough

I have been a court transcriptionist for almost ten years and I have used, and or owned a variety of machines, depending on the type of work I have to do. Sometimes I use four-channel transcribing machines, sometimes single channel, sometimes...

Pros: Easy to control speed, volume, backup etc.
Cons: Can only be used for standard, not micros

After many years of medical transcription experience using many different transcribers, I purchased the Panasonic RR830 to use for transcribing at home. After hunting all over town I finally located a few stores that even carried transcribing machines,...

Pros: Very efficient and reliable
Cons: Can't think of any

For the past 15 plus years, I have been a professional transcriptionist. I specialize in medical, legal, and general transcription and currently have several important clientele for which I am profoundly grateful. Because of this fact, I have to...

Pros: The Panasonic name. Great for students. Sturdy. Reliable
Cons: I wish you could slow down the tape a bit more, then again, you are forced to become a faster typist!

There are more uses for owning a transcribing machine than just if you
are a medical or legal transcriptionist. For anyone who is taking
any sort of class, or for high school or college students, transcribing
your notes is a must to do...

Pros: easily adjustable controls, sound quality of the machine
Cons: poor quality included headphones

During my first year of college, I did medical transcription using this machine to keep the bills paid. This machine made the experience easy. I had never done any sort of transcription before, and yet had no trouble operating this machine.
The...

Pros: Very reliable, easy to operate and can be easily customized to your specifications
Cons: Expensive--but then again, it'll last 10 years!

This transcribing machine is the best by far, I have ever owned. After years of buying machines that eventually bit the dust, the one I have at my office has lasted 5 years, easily--with probably thousands of hours of use. I bought one for my home just...

Pros: quick erase, auto reverse
Cons: none

I work in an office with a social worker who does counseling services with people. She used to do write out her progress notes on paper but recently switched to dictating.

I have not ever dictated in any of my previous jobs so I was a little...

Pros: It was the least expensive machine.
Cons: Loud and annoying noises every time the foot pedal was released.

If you're looking for a basic transcriber, and can put up with the loud noise of the clicking on and off- occurring EVERYTIME you take your foot off the foot unit, this is the machine for you.

Perhaps if you're a professional transcriber, you won't face this problem. However, if you're a professional, what are you doing with this low-end machine?

Pros: Ease of use, variable voice speed control, small foot pedal with forward/backward availability.
Cons: None.

As a medical transcriptionist, I needed a machine that was both reliable and easy to use. I chose the Panasonic RR830 and have never been sorry. This machine is simple to operate, reliable, and lightweight---another important consideration, since I move from office to office at times. I would recommend this machine to anyone who needs a machine that will provide good, solid service, and a variety of useful features. I like the fact that the speed control is not limited to slow, medium, or fast, as my old machine was. Some doctors speak slowly enough, while others talk a mile a minute. The voice speed control is probably the best feature of this machine.