the travel recorder

Qstarz BT-Q1000X Bluetooth GPS Travel Recorder X

By kristofer brozio  •  may 9, 2009.

I remember a time when GPS was something of an item that was only found in the movies, or a product that only rich people could afford. These days though it’s everywhere, built into our cellphones and other gadgets, and units can be purchased very cheaply. The market for GPS products has exploded over the past few years to a point where most everyone can afford it and have access to it.

GPS Devices can be used for many, many things, not just for navigation, though that is probably the most popular use for it. Today for review I’ve got a small GPS unit from Qstarz, the BT-1000X Travel Recorder. Don’t let the name fool you though, it’s much more than a travel recorder. It can be used as a stand alone GPS receiver as well via the Bluetooth connection to you cellphone or computer. The BT-1000X can also be used to geotag your photos and it works with several online services like Google Earth, locr,  and flickr to track your way and share your photos and videos with friends. It my time with this product I’ve found it to be an extremely useful little gadget.

The packaging for the Qstarz BT-1000x is essentially a box in a box, inside of the cardboard out box is another plastic box that has the contents inside of it.

There’s actually quite a bit included with the BT-1000X, a battery, carrying case, car charger, USB cable, software disc and user manual along with a free 1 month access to a pro account on locr.

The carrying case is nice, it’s leather with a clear front, on the back is a belt loop and clip attachment.

The BT-1000X is small, with dimensions of 72.2 (L) X 46.5 (W) X 20 (H) mm, that’s a little bit bigger than a standard Zippo lighter, for its size though it’s surprisingly heavy. On the top of is a small red button that is used to create way points, push it and it stores your position in the log for later viewing and reference in the software.

On the right side you’ll find the USB port and the left side has a three position switch, Off, Nav and Log. Nav is navigation, the device acts purely like a GPS receiver, Log will act like a GPS receiver and log everywhere you go in the devices memory to be downloaded later.

The back of the BT-1000X has a non-slip rubber pad  on it, a very nice feature. I put the BT-1000X on my dashboard while using it and it stayed in place very well.

The back is also the battery compartment.

Specifications:

Qstarz BT-Q1000X Bluetooth GPS Travel Recorder

eXtreme 66-CH Performance Bluetooth A-GPS Travel Recorder

Applications: -Record your travels and show on Google Earth -Share your travel track with your friend -Your another Journal – by travel logging and photo GeoTagging -Grab the coordinates and apply on Google and Blogger maps

Hardware: -Adopt MTK II latest chipset with high sensitivity -165dBm and 66-Channel tracking -Ultra lower power consumption up to 42hrs operation -Less than 15-Sec. AGPS fix support: download almanac data to realize faster TTFF and positioning under warm start -Stand-Alone travel recorder to log up to 200,000 records (*) -Easily switch Travel Recorder to LOG mode or NAV mode (Navigation + Log) -Support button push manually to memorize your location immediately -Update Rate 1~5Hz changeable by utility provided (receive 5Hz update rate only, logging only 1Hz maximum) -G-Mouse + Bluetooth in one: wired and wireless GPS receiver -Fast Position Fix ,Cold start 35s, Warm start 33s,Hot start 1s -Auto On-Off function for smart power control -Personal/Portable Navigation (PDA, Smartphone, PC, etc.) -QZSS, DGPS(WAAS+EGNOS+MSAS) support

Software: -Support Multi-mode setting to record data (Vehicle, Bicycle, Jog) -Provide Travel Recorder PC Utility V4 with built-in Google Map, Multi-language support, and Visualization UI -"Wizard interface" for Utility to easily manage importing and exporting tracks -Provide RaceChrono 5Hz software for high speed sport racing -Auto track split function helps you organize your travel path -Support Track Edit function allowing you to remove unnecessary waypoints -Track playback function, changeable different track color and name -Active NMEA protocol VTG / GLL manually via Qstarz setup tool -Output your travel record as GPX / CSV / NMEA / Google Earth file format. -Draw your navigation path immediately on Google Earth as default -Support GeoTagging function for digital photo and generate KMZ file easily

Device Size:  72.2 (L) X 46.5 (W) X 20 (H) mm GPS solution: MTK II GPS Module Channels: 66 CH performance tracking Antenna (Intemal): Built-in low noise antenna

Acquisition Rate: Cold Start: 35 sec, average Warm Start : 33 sec, average Hot Start: 1 sec, average Reacquisition: < 1 sec. AGPS: < 15 sec.

Power: Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery

The BT-1000X does have LEDs built into it as status indicators around the red way point button. While you’re traveling you just press the red button and a way point is created that you can see later when you import the data to the program. The indicators are for GPS, Bluetooth and battery, the battery indicator only lights up when charging or low. The GPS indicator will blink when a lock is achieved and is solid when searching or there is no lock.

The first thing you’ll need to do it charge the BT-1000X before you use it, that’s easy just plug it in via USB or the car charger. I found the battery life to be excellent, I got the rated 42hours out of it easily.

Using it is easy as well, just move the switch to the desired mode. I switched it to Log mode, put the BT-1000X on my dashboard and in a few seconds I had GPS lock. In my house, lock took a bit longer of course. I put the BT-1000X near my front window, I do have a porch so I figured signals might be blocked and the lock would take longer, but it only took a few seconds longer than it did when it was out in open spaces, I’m impressed by how well it works. For me the BT-1000X locked on to the signal faster than the specs indicate, about 20 seconds for a cold start. If you wish you can always download A-GPS data as well to the device via the included program to make the lock even quicker.

As far as accuracy is concerned, it depends on the signal you have I guess, at times during my trip it was right on with the map, at other times it was as though I was not on the road. My starting point was sometimes a street away , and other times it was right on target. The BT-1000x itself seems to be accurate as long as you’ve got enough satellite in view to pinpoint your location.

Including the BT-1000X, I now have three GPS devices, one in my phone and one that connects via a compact flash card interface to my laptop, a GlobalSat BC-337 . The Qstarz BT-1000X works the best out of all of them, it has the fastest lock time and has a very good battery life. The BC-337 that I have is wired and therefore does not have a battery, but is limited by the wire of course. On a side note about the BT-1000X, it can be used as both a wired GPS receiver via USB or wireless via Bluetooth as well, so basically everyone can use this product for their GPS needs.

One feature that I truly like is the Bluetooth, my phone, an AT&T Tilt, has GPS built into it and it has Bluetooth, but the GPS takes quite a bit to lock and it has to have an unobscured view of the sky to work well. I hooked up the BT-1000X via Bluetooth to my phone and used it with TomTom and VisualGPSCe, it worked very well. Now my phone can be virtually anywhere in my car or home and still have a GPS signal lock, as long as I am in Bluetooth range which is about 10 meters or 32 feet in open spaces. The Bluetooth feature can also be used with your computer as well and other BT enabled phones and devices.

The CD that is included with the BT-1000X does include quite a bit of stuff, there are a few folders with programs and information in them.

The programs included are for your PC and for various cellphones, like VisualGPSCE is included for WinMo devices. The main program is called TravelRecorder in the Utility folder, it is used to import the information from the BT-1000X.

The Travel Recorder software can be very useful. Once you import the data from the device you can see it overlayed on Google Maps, from there you can get information like speed, elevation, time and date. The software will also allow you to edit your tracks and export them to various file formats. It occurs to me that I drive in circles…there are several tracks shown below, they are automatically color coded by the software but you can edit the colors if you wish. I drove several places with the BT-1000X to test it out, including taking my kids to school, and shopping, and I tried to go different ways as well for it to show up on the map. When you push the little red button on the BT-1000X a way point is created, they show up as red push pins on the map below. The software itself can be a bit dificult to use, especially if you don’t read the manual, it seems as though I had to reference the guide several times to figure things out, it could be a bit more user friendly.

One thing I found interesting is that it can give you a summary of your trip including the time moving, time stopped, elevations, total time and distance along with average speed and max speed. This was taken from my morning commute one day, as you can see the average speed is 13mph, with a stopped time of 25 minutes during my 1 hour trip, love that morning traffic!

The whole geotagging photos and videos thing seems like a bit of work, it’s not like it’s an automatic thing. My phone, has geotagging enabled via a small hack, it’s automatic, I take a picture in GPS photo mode and the GPS info is added to the EXIF information of the photo automatically for me. The Geotagging or Geocoding process works by syncing the time and GPS data with the time on your photos, so you’d better make sure the time is correct on your camera. If you go to another time zone for instance, the GPS will know what time it is, but your camera might be set to your home time zone and all of your pictures will basically have the wrong GPS information on them.

You can use the Qstarz PC Utility to add geotags or the locr program that is included on the disk, it still seems like a lot of work to me to add the information to the photos, but it’s not something that I’m interested in either, other people might be more than happy with this system.

Using the PC Utility is fairly easy, just click add GPS info to photos and browse to them, the work is then done by the program. A small camera icon will appear on the map to indicate there are pictures at that location.

locr works in a similar way to the PC Utility, import and add GPS data to the photos. If you have a locr account you can then upload them if you wish to share.

The BT-1000X retails for around $100, which might be considered high, but for what it does and how it performs I think it’s worth the cost.

Conclusion: The Qstarz BT-1000X GPS travel Recorder is just an excellent product overall, from design to performance, it’s not often that you find a device without any real flaws. The BT-1000X has long battery life and very fast satellite acquisition, two things that I think everyone can appreciate.

I like the attention to details and the features of the BT-1000X. The rubberized back is a small detail but one that is very useful, someone was thinking correctly when they designed this product. The ability to be used as a data logger and GPS receiver are both great features in themselves, but add Bluetooth functionality and you’ve got an excellent all around and very useful product.

I can easily recommenced this product if your in the market for a GPS device for whatever your needs are, it truly is a great product all around.

Pros: +Nice extras included +Excellent battery life +Good range on Bluetooth +Quick GPS lock +Navigation and Log modes +Works as wired or wireless GPS receiver +Can be used as standard GPS receiver +Seems very accurate when enough satellite are visible +Seems durable, well made and is designed well

Cons: -Software can be confusing to use -Geotagging can be a hassle

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Qstarz BT-Q1000 Double 32 Bluetooth GPS Travel Recorder – Reviewed

Posted by Digital Reviews Network | Jul 15, 2007 | Reviews Archives | 0

We have reviewed a number of their products of the last few years but the newly released Travel Recorder is the most fully featured receiver we have come across. The Qstarz BT-Q1000 features an outstanding endurance of 32 hours whilst also tracking 32 satellites but it also can log over 100,000 way points and has a POI button for immediately recording a point of interest with a push of a button.  With built-in Google Earth integration this makes for a powerful combination.

So we took the Qstarz BT-Q1000 Double 32 Bluetooth GPS Travel Recorder for a long test drive and are bringing you this first review.

The Unboxing The handsome packaging inspires confidence. It has all the salient details itemized on all sides of the box, including a flip-over cover with more features and a glimpse of the BT-Q1000. The Travel Recorder is very small, has a rubberised feel to it and a non-slip bottom.  On the left side of the unit we find a sliding switch for the OFF and NAV / LOG positions.  The RH side has a mini USB Port.  On top we find the LED indicators surrounding the big red POI button.

We got the Australian version, meaning it comes with an adapter specifically for OUR country.  That’s always a bonus and a sign that they take export to this continent seriously.  The product is also marketed with EU, US and UK adapters.

The unit comes complete with a vehicle charger and cable with a mini USB tip to allow charging from a standard USB Port.  A small belt pouch compliments the package and there is also the obligatory manual and Software Utilities.  In other words, you got everything you need and want. Full marks here.

Charging the battery takes about 3 hours and when the green battery light starts flashing we are ready to go.

Features It’s worthwhile to highlight the features of this Travel Recorder in more detail.

The switch on the side of the BT-Q1000 reveals it can be set to NAV mode for both navigation and logging or to just a logging mode.  Of course it’s fun to transfer all the accumulated way points to Google Earth to see where you have been but there are some interesting applications with this capability as well.  Ever had a speeding ticket and you absolutely know that you were travelling within the speed limit?  How do you prove your innocence?  This Travel Recorder plots your itinerary in the greatest detail, complete with speeds, times, heights.  You have various options in specifying at what intervals you want your track recorded.  Sometimes, if you’re in an aircraft or vehicle you might want to log every second or so but if you are riding a bicycle or jogging it would be sufficient to plot a way point every 10 seconds.  In the software utility you have the options to specify exactly how often you want this to happen and what the parameters should be.

In our experience logging every 10 secs when driving a car is quite sufficient to leave a nice breadcrumb trail…

Whilst the ability to log 100,000 waypoints sounds like enough for any kind of trip sooner or later you will run out of memory on the Travel Recorder.  And there are two ways to deal with this:  you can simply stop logging or allow the data to be overwritten by newer data. I would like to get some notification when the memory is, say, 90% full.  It will also be nice if you could change the logging method on the fly so that you can record at less frequent intervals if need be.  Ideally this would be done on the unit itself or on your PDA or Smartphone.  At the moment, you can only know when you memory is full when you see the orange GPS light turn from orange to solid blue. The special red POI button on top of the unit allows you to instantly record your position.  It is also known as a MOB button – Man Over Board…  Lost your buddy doing 50 knots in a speedboat (hate that when that happens!)?  Quick, press that button!  You’ll be able to find him before the sharks do…

You can also use this feature when you are taking photographs and want to recall exactly where the pictures were taken.  There is in fact a reference to the JetPhoto Studio application where you can do this quite handily. We talked earlier about the specifications of the Travel Recorder when we announced this GPS receiver a few weeks ago. The BT-Q1000 sports an MTK chipset from Adopt with high sensitivity that allows 32 channel tracking.  For a good fix you only need 4 satellites of course, but the more satellites the receiver can track the more sensitive and faster it is.  This unit also has WAAS and EGNOS support for greater accuracy.

And endurance like 32 hours is state of the art.  In reality, this will vary but with Auto on-off functions you will have some smart power control.  If the bluetooth connection drops out the device goes into sleep mode. It’s not always necessary to have a bluetooth connection because the device also comes with the mini USB cable for direct link up to your PC or notebook. And in LOG mode you will not need any connection whatsoever: you’re just logging all the way points. 

Test Drive For the first test drive we put the Travel Recorder in LOG mode. We ended up with 1826 records to cover a 30km trip. This log activity used up only 3% of the BT-Q1000 memory. Using the Travel Recorder’s utility we could quickly download the data and press the Draw Map button. This immediately chucks all the waypoints into Google Earth. Very impressive to see this seamless integration.

Here’s the result on Google Earth:

A second trip generated 12000 records, taking about a quarter of the memory. Google Earth apparently only allows you to draw from 5000 waypoints at the time so you have to do this several times for a big trip or make the recording interval larger.

At present time data can only be downloaded to the PC by cable.  In future it is likely that the download can also be done via bluetooth so that you can at least save the data in a CSV file before the memory gets full. When we made a third trip we set the logging interval to 10 secs and generated 6912 records over about 13 hours. This filled the memory for only 13%. All the time when your car is stationary the unit keeps on logging (when you left it on of course) and all those records generate a nice “sunburst” of waypoints on Google Earth.

The POI or PTL (Push to Log button) can only be activated, by the way, when the device is in LOG or NAV mode. Makes sense because it needs to have a fix already before it can take a “snapshot” of your Point of Interest. Using the Travel Recorder in NAV mode is very simple indeed: the unit shows up as an ïBT-GPS” device and you can use the standard 0000 pass key for pairing.  I tested it out with OziExplorer and PocketFMS which works beautifully.

This Travel Recorder from Qstarz looks similar to the iBlue 747 but has a rubberised finish, different branding of course and, according to Qstarz, has better hardware and software. iBlue is their sub-contract manufacturer.  

Battery Life The old adage says: your mileage may vary and that is of course also true when it comes to battery life of the Travel Recorder. 30 hours plus is entirely achievable depending on your settings.  My advice is to play around with the settings so that at least you will get a full day’s worth of navigation or logging.  It’s a far cry from my earliest bluetooth GPS receiver which had just 4 hours endurance!  And this one has so many recharging options that it is unlikely to run out of juice anytime soon.  You might also want to have a look at one of our next reviews which will feature the Brando Solar Charger which gives you yet another option to keep going.

Specifications 

Qstarz TINY GPS Receiver with MP3 Function (Reviews/Navigation)  Looks good and SOUNDS good… Our quest for ever smaller GPS receivers has taken us today to the Qstarz BT-Q920 with a really tiny footprint. However, the Qstarz BT-Q920 GPS Receiver also co … 06 Jan, 2007 

Qstarz BT-Q810 GPS Receiver (Reviews/Accessories) Great Battery Life and Super Sensitive   When Sean Lin of QSTARZ INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. wrote to us to introduce his company and their line of MTK-based 32 Channel GPS receivers, we were kin … 10 Oct, 2006

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Qstarz BL-1000ST Bluetooth 4.0 BLE GNSS / GPS Receiver data logger

• $144 95 USD $144.95 USD

This is the Bluetooth BLE(Bluetooth Low Energy) GPS. If your GPS software only support Bluetooth SPP(Like most old Bluetooth GPS Receivers in the market), please do NOT purchase this product.

BL-1000ST is Qstarz Cross-Generation Bluetooth GPS Travel Recorder. To record your diversified travel, tracks, journey no matter how long or how far it takes, you can rely on BL-1000ST to reach all the needs. GNSS Support and wirelessly adds GPS+GLONASS to iPad, iPhone, and other Bluetooth enabled smartphones, tablets and laptops. Go on the journey, and the great companion BL-1000ST will confidently record your years of beautiful moment. ‧ Portable Travel Recorder to log your trip and point of interest ‧ Extended large memory capacity excellent for data collection ‧ Bluetooth 4.0 BLE connection to iPhone, iPad, or Android devices ‧ Long battery life and high sensitivity to suit diversified research ‧ GPS+GLONASS engine and Acceleration sensor enabled for optimizing log

Features: ‧ Bluetooth 4.0 GNSS(GPS+GLONASS) Travel Recorder ‧ 1Hz log to log one waypoint every 5 seconds ‧ Bluetooth interface to instantly add GPS to iPhone, iPad and Android devices ‧ Ultra long operation with 25 hours battery life ‧ Micro SD card logging and no worry multiple-day track logs ‧ Integrate Acceleration sensor to smartly manage power saving and movement detection ‧ 5 LEDs and Beeper integration to indicate device status ‧ Support POI button to memorize your point of interest immediately ‧ Micro USB port for Charging, data downloading and Firmware updating ‧ AGPS and SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN) support ‧ Free Qstarz BLE GPS View Tool App from App Store or Google Play ‧ Bundled with QTravel photo-geotag analysis software (PC Windows) ‧ Bundled with DataViewer Raw Track Data managing software (PC Windows) *Transmitting Qstarz specific protocol only

The Qstarz BLE GPS View app is a simple utility application for connecting with the Qstarz BLE GPS Recorder/Receiver from Qstarz International Co., Ltd. The main features are as below: ‧Support to connect with Qstarz BLE GPS Devices ‧Show the GNSS status information (GPS/GLONASS) ‧ Show Satellite distribution and GNSS signal strength chart ‧Support recording GNSS data after GNSS position fixed ‧Save GPS records and export as CSV files ‧Show the battery level of the device

Documents: 

Software Downloads:

Is Qstarz Travel Recorder PC Utility compatible with Windows Vista?

The font size setting of your Windows XP/Vista is not standard. Please switch to the standard mode (96DPI).

For Windows XP: 1. Right-click on a blank area of your desktop and choose "Properties" 2. Click on the "Settings" tab, click on the "Advanced" button, and examine the "Font Size" box. 3. Click in the "Font Size" box, choose standard 96 DPI , and click on the "OK" button.

For Windows Vista : 1. Right click on desktop and select "Personalize" from the drop down list. 2. When "Personalize" window opens click "Adjust font size (DPI)" 3. In "DPI Scaling" dialogue box there are two default options to select, which are 96 (DPI) and 120 (DPI). Please select "Default scale (96 DPI)"

I use the "Scan" function under PC Utility to connect my BT-Q1000 with PC, but errors always occur during executing other functions.

You may have too many devices occupying com ports and thus making the "Scan" function detecting the wrong device to connect. Please check the Com Port manually by going to "Control Panel/Systems/Hardware/Device Manager/Ports(COM & LPT)/ CP210x USB to UART Bridge Controller".

The PC Utility software seems to have no log split function. So how can I display only the required track and delete any portion of a track that is not required?

You can save the log file as a *.csv first, and open it with Microsoft Excel. Split the log file as your desire via Excel and when you are all done, use PC Utility software to read the *.csv file and draw them on Google Earth.

My Travel Recorder is suddenly unable to log? In PC Utility under " DATA LOG LIST " , the status appears " Error!!! " . What ' s wrong?

Sometimes the improper operation may disorder the internal memory of Travel Recorder. Please soft reset the Travel Recorder by PC Utility under " DATA LOG LIST " -> " RESET "

How can I adjust my device to 5Hz mode?

Please download the tuner tool, QstarzGPSView, from our website to adjust. More detailed instruction please refer to Q1300 user's manual 10-5, other models as well.

My navigation software does not support baud rate 115,200. How can I make it work via USB interface with Qstarz GPS?

When Qstarz GPS is connected via USB interface, the baud rate is fixed and should be set to 115200. If your software does not support this baud rate, please connect the device via Bluetooth interface whose baud rate is changeable.

I need a product key for V4 software.

V4 SW is for BT-Q1000 Platinum version and higher models only. The standard SW utility for BT-Q1000 is V2 SW. V4 SW is not compatible with BT-Q1000 because the hardware design of Q1000 and Q1000 Platinum version is different. Better performance and software Q1000 Platinum has and thus the price is higher than Q1000.

My Travel Recorder can not log 5Hz data?

• Qstarz Manuals
• User manual

Qstarz TravelRecorder XT BT-Q1000XT User Manual

• Quick installation manual (81 pages)
• User manual (36 pages)
• Quick installation manual (68 pages)
• page of 26 Go / 26

Table of Contents

• Troubleshooting

2 Product Notice

4 product specification, 5 hardware introduction.

• Hardware Function for Bt-Q1000Xt
• Hardware Function for Tr-Q1000Xt
• Battery Installation
• Led Indicators for Bt-Q1000Xt
• Led Indicators for Tr-Q1000Xt

6 Setup Bt/Tr-Q1000Xt

• Install the Driver and Software Utility for Bt/Tr-Q1000Xt
• Install Google Earth

7 Start to Use

• Fully Charge the Battery When Using at the First Time
• Getting Satellite Fix with Bt/Tr-Q1000Xt
• Connect Bt/Tr-Q1000Xt with Your Pc
• Start the Software Utility

8 Useful Reference Applications on the Internet

• Locr Gps Photo
• Jetphoto Studio

9 Trouble Shooting

10 safety notices.

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Quick Links

• 2 Setup Bt/Tr-Q1000Xt
• 3 Install the Driver and Software Utility for Bt/Tr-Q1000Xt
• 4 Trouble Shooting
• Download this manual

Related Manuals for Qstarz TravelRecorder XT BT-Q1000XT

Summary of Contents for Qstarz TravelRecorder XT BT-Q1000XT

Page 3: table of contents, page 4: overview, page 5: features, page 6: product specification, page 7: tr-q1000xt, page 8: hardware introduction, page 9: hardware function for tr-q1000xt, page 10: battery installation, page 11: led indicators for bt-q1000xt, page 12: led indicators for tr-q1000xt, page 13: setup bt/tr-q1000xt.

• Page 14 2. System would pop up the utility installation dialog. Please click <Next> for the next step. 3. Please select “QTravel” and “GPS Data Log Device Driver”, and then click <Next> to the next step. If you already installed USB driver, please unselect “GPS Data Log Device Driver.” ……….…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... www.Qstarz.com...
• Page 15 4. Click <Next> if you want to install the program in default target folder or you can click <Explore> to change the install folder. 5. Give a folder’s name for quick links in start menu and click <Install> to install the program. ……….…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... www.Qstarz.com...
• Page 16 BT-Q1000XT A-GPS Travel Recorder™ ………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………. 6. When the utility installation is completed, please click <Finish> to reboot. Or you can also reboot later by selecting “No, I want to reboot later by myself.” ……….…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... www.Qstarz.com...

Page 17: Install Google Earth

Page 18: useful reference applications on the internet, page 19: gpsbabel, page 20: sportsmate, page 21: jetphoto studio, page 22: racechrono, page 23: houdahgeo, page 24: trouble shooting.

• Page 25 Nav mode and connected to doesn’t log the satellite. automatically Check in Software>Config Device, and when the time is select the correct local time zone, and within the time make sure the schedule checkbox is schedule? checked. ……….…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... www.Qstarz.com...

Page 26: Safety Notices

This manual is also suitable for:, rename the bookmark, delete bookmark, delete from my manuals, upload manual.

GPS apps that let you know where you've been

We round up a handful of GPS logger apps that record your position and path for fitness and fun.

• North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror

When most of us think about GPS apps for smartphones, we're thinking about navigation apps that help you to get wherever you happen to be going. However, there's a whole range of GPS logger apps that are designed to keep track of where you've been.

Tracking your historic position, movement, speed, and elevation is very useful for fitness, as evidenced by the selection of fitness apps below, but it can also be fun. For example, after exporting the .GPX data from a GPS logger app, it can be imported into Google Earth or similar software to create a 3D flyby or, as is the case in the image above, 2D virtual artwork on a massive scale.

My Tracks ( Android ) Fire up My Tracks on your GPS-enabled Android device and it will silently record your GPS position and elevation. Your live trip can be viewed on a Google Map and saved for playback later. My Tracks has the capability to export popular GPS data formats (such as GPX or CSV) for import and playback in mapping software, such as Google Earth or many of the fitness apps listed below.

Runkeeper ( Android , iOS ) Runkeeper is probably one of the better known GPS tracking apps around, at least it is in the circles that I run in (pun intended). Tracking your position can be as simple as loading the app and hitting record, but Runkeeper has a fitness focus so it also tracks your pace, calories burned, and other metrics when you tell it more information about you and what your method of motion is (running, walking, cycling, hiking) I especially like that Runkeeper will let you easily export all of your data for with in other software (such as Google Earth).

Endomondo ( Android , iOS , other) Although, anecdotally, I know more people who use Runkeeper, I'd be willing to bet that there are just as many (if not more) runners who swear by Endomondo. Both apps let you record your position as you engage in an outdoor activity (running, hiking) and share your route with your friend. There is also a wide range of fitness data relating to, for example, pace, caloric burn, or heart rate that is stored alongside your GPS data.

Strava ( Android , iOS ) Strava is similar to Runkeeper, but interestingly splits its Running and Cycling apps into separate downloads. I'm still scratching my head over whether that's a good or bad thing, but this decision does take an extra step out of the activation process for those who only run or cycle. Like the rest of the apps, Strava is a "hit record and go" affair. However, unlike the rest of this list, I couldn't find an export option in this app or on its Web site, so once your data is in Strava, it's probably there for good. Update: Apparently, you can export GPX data for each logged journey from an Actions menu.

MyTracks ( iOS ) The name is similar, but the iOS app "MyTracks" is not the same as the "My Tracks" app for Android. However, its functionality is similar. After loading the app and hitting record, MyTracks records your GPS position, creating a virtual thread to track where you've been on an OpenStreetMap. Photos can even be captured, geotagged, and marked on the map while you're recording. When you're done, the route data can be exported to the MyTracks app for Mac OS X.

10 Best Travel Journal Apps to Organize Your Travel Memories

As a digital nomad or frequent traveler, you likely want to keep a log of your travel activities. But what and how you record is a very personal experience.

You may want to write extensively about your experiences and feelings and keep them private. If so, you are probably better off with a paper journal and a pen.

Or maybe, you want to log the most important moments, photos, and travel routes and share them with your family and friends. In that case, a digital travel journal makes more sense.

Perhaps you’re an Instagram Influencer or blogger and want to keep copious notes for future posts/reels.

No matter your reason, if you’re looking for a travel journal app to maintain a digital log, this list of the 10 best travel journal apps will help you find the one that suits your needs.

Let’s start!

Table of Contents

10 Best Travel Journal Apps

1. day one journal.

With a Twitter-like interface, the Day One Journal is about capturing the important moments of your trip. The app can collect data such as location, weather, and music, for your travel photos and videos.

You can use this app as a digital diary and write using your finger or Apple Pencil and quickly comb through the entries using photos, timeline, or calendar. It even accepts voice commands.

This travel journal app can record fine details such as temperature, moon phase, weather, address, etc.

A free version is available, but upgrading to the premium version gives unlimited journal entries, photo storage, cloud sync, audio recording, and 25% off on book printing (if at some point you’d love to create a printed book of your adventures).

Platforms Supported:

• Apple Watch
• Safari and Chrome browser extensions

Cost: $2.92 per month billed annually.

Perfect for: Anyone looking for an online version of a standard journal that can also include images, voice recordings and track your locations

2. Find Penguins

One of the top digital travel journals, Find Penguins uses GPS tracking and AI to automatically track your journeys.

It also updates temperature, weather, altitude, etc., giving you a quick snapshot of the conditions on a particular day.

All the data that the app gathers is then displayed in a fun way on an interactive map as a trail and posts.

Find Penguins refers to those posts as footprints that are essentially blog posts where you can attach photos, videos, and texts as diary entries.

If you want, you can order a printed photo journal complete with maps, photos, and footprints.

Cost : Free with in-app purchases. You can buy a monthly or yearly subscription for $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year respectively.

Perfect for: Anyone who needs the best travel journal app for automatic journey tracking.

3. Polarsteps

If you need a completely free travel journal app that not only helps you to plan and track your journeys but also doubles up as a digital travel diary, Polarsteps is one of the top travel diary apps you can find.

It comes complete with an editable itinerary planner and transport planner. It even plots and automatically tracks your path on a digital world map.

You are free to add thoughts, videos, and photos. If you want, you can leave tips for the traveling community, or retrace your steps by scrolling through your travel stats, photos, and places.

The app also supports printing a hardcover travel book with just a touch of a button. The best part? It works offline and allows you to manually add journal entries that can later sync when the internet is available.

Perfect for: Anyone looking for a free travel tracker app that can track the travel route and keep the family informed!

Momento is more than just a travel journal app. It can double up as a project/work journal, pregnancy journal, or private journal.

This app can organize and streamline your social network activities from 11 social platforms. You can add photos & videos, tag your fellow travelers and places you visit , and even record your pregnancy journey!

Momento can also give daily, monthly, or yearly visual summaries, and allow you to explore past timelines.

Cost: Free with in-app purchases for paid upgrades.

Perfect for: People who need a multi-purpose digital journal that works not only as an online travel journal but also as a private and/or work journal.

5. Journi Blog

Journi Blog is a unique photo journaling app that you can use to record your travel experiences as timelines and maps or even have them printed as a photo book to show off to your friends and family members.

Whether you have a travel blog where you write about your vacations and travels, or whether you are maintaining personal travel diaries or recording your kids’ photo album, Journi Blog helps to capture all the moments and stories.

With this travel diary app, you can create a public travel journal or create a private journal entry.

Cost : Free with in-app premium membership purchase options. Membership costs €9.99 for one month, €43.99 for 6 months, and €53.99 for one year.

Perfect for: Those who want a photo journaling app.

Penzu isn’t particularly designed to be a travel journal app. In fact, it is more of a reflective journal meant for note-keeping and milestone tracking. However, it can be used as a pregnancy journal, a food diary, and even a travel diary.

It will give you the feel of maintaining an online travel blog with the ability to add images, add photos, and write your travel stories. You can use custom tags to categorize your travel logs.

Penzu has an incredibly simple interface where you can record beautiful memories of your entire trip.

Cost : Free, Pro for $19.99 a year, and Pro+ for $49.99 a year.

Perfect for : Anyone who needs a private online journal or a digital diary with syncing ability across the web and multiple mobile devices.

7. Tripcast

Tripcast is one of the favorite travel journal apps for many users worldwide. The app is perfect to keep your friends and family members updated about your journey.

With Tripcast, you can create shared photo albums where your fellow travelers can upload and share photos they click and store them in a single place.

The app uses photo geotagging to create a map of the places you visit.

Cost: Free!

Perfect for: Those who are on a group vacation, or participating in volunteer projects.

8. Journey: Diary, Journal

Journey was listed as the Google Editors’ choice in the best travel apps category. Just like other travel diaries, Journey will help you to maintain a travel journal complete with texts, audio files, images, and videos.

You can also use this dedicated app to add location and weather details to all your journal entries.

If you want, you can download and keep your entries private on your computer. Alternatively, you can export them as PDF or DOCX files for easy sharing.

Journey is not just a simple travel journal app. It is a multi-purpose app that allows users to record anything they want such as a stress management journey, sleep journey, better habits development journey, and so on.

Cost : Journey is a free app, but there is an in-app membership purchase option for $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year.

Perfect for: Those who need a multi-purpose journal app that can also be used as a digital travel diary.

Diarium is another great app that allows maintaining a travel journal using a calendar interface.

You can quickly attach texts, audio files, and images, and even tag multiple entries in a single day.

There is an option of adding a sitemap with location info. Plus, the app will display a wide range of data including your fitness data, weather info, and calendar events.

You can easily export entries in HTML or DOCX formats. Journal entry is possible using a laptop, PC, mobile, or tablet.

Cost: Diarium is free, but offers in-app purchases. You can purchase a lifetime pro version for $5.99.

Perfect for : Those who want a travel journal app without committing to a monthly or yearly subscription.

10. Worldee Trip Planner & Journal

Worldee is a popular digital travel diary that not only allows you to organize and store your travel memories.

You can mark the countries visited on an interactive world map, add timelines, photos, and maps, and even share your trips.

You can share your stories with other travelers or you can keep everything private. The app will also help you to plan your next trip using the integrated trip planner.

With the trip planner, you can set your itinerary and travel map on the same screen and then share your trip details with your travel partners.

Cost: The app is completely free to use.

Perfect for: Those who want a completely free digital travel journal.

More Journal Apps to Consider

1. trotter it.

Trotter It is a digital travel journal app that allows you to create and share travel stories with travelers across the world. It also doubles up as a social networking app for travelers. The app is available only through Google Play Store and is completely free to use.

2. Jauntlet

A mix of a travel journal and a free travel blog, Jauntlet allows you to present your trips in a neat timeline. The app connects with Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and imports photos from different profiles.

You can add the location to a post to add it to the map and write your story. Jauntlet is a web application that offers a platform-independent mobile site.

3. Esplorio

A beautiful and interactive travel journal app, Esplorio can record trips even without a data connection. You can choose what to share publicly and what to keep private.

It easily integrates with social platforms to retrieve previous journeys. The app is free but there is a pro plan available for $49.99 per year. It is available on iOS devices and through a web app.

4. Traverous

Traverous is an automated travel journal application that uses GPS data to track and record your trip. It also records media and location to create a personalized animated travel diary. The app is free to use but to unleash its full potential, you will need a premium account that costs $4.99 a month or $54.99 a year. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.

How to Choose the Best Online Journal App

Choosing the best online journal app can be tricky. They’re all so good and you need to pick one that does everything you want it to.

Here are a few tips on choosing the best online journal app:

• Ease of use : The app you select should be straightforward and easy to use. An overly complex app will only make your life difficult.
• Mobile apps : Since you will mostly be traveling with your phone or ipad, the app must have versions for either iOS or Android or both. However, digital nomads traveling with laptops can always use web apps.
• Social features : The app you select must be able to integrate with social platforms. If the app has a built-in community feature, it is even better, especially for group tours and backpackers.
• History : The company developing the app must have a proven history of offering digital journaling services. You will not want to use it only to see that it is no longer under development.
• Cost : The app you select must be cheap. Expensive subscription plans can put budgetary pressure.
• Security: If you want your journal entries to be private you need to ensure the app has end to end encryption services.

Best Travel Journal Apps FAQs

Is there a free journaling app.

Yes, there are a few free travel journal apps available today. While some are dedicated digital travel diaries, others are all-purpose digital journals that can be used for keeping travel records.

Day One Journal has a free version, Polarsteps is completely free, Penzu has a free version and Tripcast is free. Try them out and see which one you like the best!

What’s the best app to track everywhere I’ve traveled?

Most of the digital travel diaries listed above can track every place you have traveled . Apps like Day One Journal and Find Penguins can not only track the places you visit but also add additional data like weather, temperature, altitude, address, and more.

Best Travel Journal Apps Summary

Digital travel diaries or journal apps are immensely beneficial (and fun) as they help to organize your travel experiences and keep your memories stored in a single place.

They will allow you to add written notes, images, videos, audio files, tags, etc., and help you to easily share your experiences with friends and family, or other users.

For digital nomads or influencers, some come with customizable layouts for enhanced personalization and some will even allow you to blog automatically and share moments of your trips with your readers.

Try a few out and select the one that is within your budget and meets your needs the best. Hopefully, this list of the best travel journal apps will assist you in finding an awesome journal for your travels! 🙂

Disclaimer: Please note this post may contain affiliate links, from which, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Also as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products and services I’ve used or would use myself. If you choose to purchase from any of my links, thanks so much for your support! 😊

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The Best Portable Sound Recorder in 2023

If you're looking for the best portable sound recorder , then you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll provide you with a list of our top ten products, as well as give you all the essential information you might need about this handy little product.

So, what exactly is a portable audio recorder? Well, it's a device that does exactly what the name suggests it does. It allows you to record a human voice in crystal clear quality. You might be wondering why this product is relevant in the age of the smartphone. If your phone has an excellent microphone then why would you need another device to record with? In truth, the sound quality is far superior when using an audio recorder. This device also has lots of useful extras that your phone can't give you. We'll tell you all about these special features in our reviews and buyer's guide.

Table of Contents

At a glance: Our top 3 picks

1. tascam dr-05 portable digital recorder (v2), 2. tascam dr-40 4-track portable digital recorder, 3. aketek 650hr digital audio voice recorder, 4. olympus vn-7200 digital voice recorder, 5. trustin professional digital audio voice recorder, 6. evistr l53 digital voice recorder, 7. tascam dr-05 portable digital recorder, 8. zoom h1 handy portable digital recorder, 9. tascam dr-05 (v2) digital audio recorder, 10. zoom h2n handy recorder, is a travel sound recorder for you, what sample rate should i choose.

• Recording time?   
• Built-in microphones or more options?     

The budget talks

1 - what is a portable audio recorder, 2 - how do you use a travel audio recorder, 3 - does the price of the product affect the quality of the recorded audio .

Now it's time to move onto our top ten list, where you'll find lots of excellent products to suit a wide range of budgets and requirements. After the reviews, you'll find our buyer's guide, where all of your questions about this device will be answered. Let's begin!

• Enhanced playback functions.
• Easy operation.
• Stereo condenser microphones for high-quality recording.

Our Highest Rated Portable Digital Audio Recorders for Interviews:

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TASCAM is a company that audio professionals have been relying on for more than thirty years. It offers a huge range of products, which are always professional-level quality. You can find TASCAM products anywhere from a recording studio to a rehearsal room. The reason why TASCAM is so popular is that it constantly strives to innovate, yet it always offers products that are user-friendly at the same time.

This product is perfect for audio and voice recording. It provides you with top-level stereo sound quality, in a compact unit, and all for an affordable price tag.

You just need to insert a microSD or microSDHC card, and then you're ready to record 96kHz/24-bit high-resolution audio in MP3 or WAV format. It includes a pair of all-new microphones that can handle up to 125dB. These mics are perfect for capturing every detail in stunning clarity.

Despite being loaded with lots of handy features, this product is a breeze to use. A simple tap of a button can start or stop a recording. It's also easy to delete bad takes or adjust levels too, as there are buttons for these jobs too. There's little to fault this compact, reasonably-priced product from one of the most reliable brands around!

Pros: + Enhanced playback functions. + Easy operation. + Stereo condenser microphones for high-quality recording.

Why We Liked It - With easy operation, high-quality sound recording and seamless gain control, this recorder was an easy choice for the top of our list. The affordable price is another plus.

Input Needs - While it can be difficult to determine your exact use case for these versatile devices, try to envision what you plan on using your portable audio recorder for. If you plan on recording people or specific subjects, look for a recorder that has a built in XLR or mini XLR input for needed capturing flexibility.

Kate Brunotts FOR MUSIC CRITIC

Next up is another exceptional product from TASCAM. Just like our last one, this product delivers TASCAM's professional level of quality, as well as its famous value-for-money guarantee. The DR series is one of the best around in the budget price range, making this product a superb choice for anyone who wants a reliable audio recorder without shelling out too many bucks.

Four-track recording, a long-lasting battery, and adjustable mics are just three of the useful features that this product offers you. The microphones are all condensers, which means you get crystal clear quality every time. You can adjust the mics from the X-Y position to the A-B position with great ease, and this provides you with more versatility when it comes to recording.

Another great feature of this product - and one that's perfect for students - is its high sound pressure design. This means that you can record in noisy environments - like a lecture hall - without losing coherence. You could even use it for recording a concert because of its innovative design.

You can also plug extra microphones into this recorder. There is an XLR and TRS port so that you can add another condenser mic, if you need it, which you might for interviews. You can also supply phantom power to it. It's got it all!

Pros: + Peak reduction function automatically adjusts the levels during peaks. + Record in both A-B and X-Y positions through the unidirectional condenser microphones. + XLR/TRS inputs for adding external condenser microphones.

Why We Liked It - The DR-40 by TASCAM is loaded with features that makes it stand out from the crowd. With four track recording, an extended battery life, and unidirectional condenser microphones, this sound recorder is a superb, affordable choice.

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Aketek is an innovative company that spends a lot of money and time on research and development. This translates into cutting-edge, technological products that Music Critic rates very highly. Another excellent aspect of this company is its desire to sell its products at affordable prices, something we also love.

The 650HR by Aketek is a rechargeable, digital, voice recorder that features an easy-to-use interface . It allows you to capture recordings with a press of a button. You don't need to be a tech whizz to be able to alter the settings with this product either. If English isn't your first language, then you'll likely appreciate the twenty-four languages that the interface can be changed to.

You can just as easily record lectures, classes, or music performances, due to this product's ability to record in MP3 and WAV formats. With 8 GB of storage space, you also don't need to worry about constantly deleting recordings to free up space for new files.

Pros: + Up to 24 languages for the user interface. + A-B repeat function. + Easy-to-use interface and compact design.

Why We Liked It - This little voice recorder packs a big punch despite its small size. It's got 8GB of storage space, voice activated modes, and you can use it for MP£ playback. It's a bargain!

Test Recording - Before recording your source, make sure that you do a quick test recording to make sure that your levels are properly calibrated. In addition, it may be helpful to clap at the start of a recording to help you synchronize audio if you're recording with more than one device at the same time.

Olympus is a leading brand around the world when it comes to sound and video products. From digital cameras to sound recording devices, this company does it all. And, more importantly, it does it all well!

The VN-7200 is a digital recorder that offers a whopping 2GB of internal storage. This means that you can record hundreds of hours of audio without needing a separate SD card.

This product is loaded with lots of great features, such as voice-activated recording, index marking, and three different recording modes.

It also has a mic input port so that you can connect external microphones to it, which is very handy for reporters when interviewing. There's a high-grade, integrated microphone for easy and instant playback. If you want to listen to your recordings without others hearing, then you can plug in headphones to the output port.

To make your life easier, the storage is divided into four folders, and each folder can contain up to 200 files. You can title the files and then access previous recordings with great speed. It's a modern, user-friendly device that our team can highly recommend.

Pros: + Voice-activated recording. + Fast and slow playback modes. + Microphone and headphone ports, as well as an in-built speaker.

Why We Liked It - This is a professional product that can be relied on for important recordings. With indexing marking, a voice-activated mode, and up to 1,511 hours of recording time, the VN-7200 is one of the best on the market.

'Have trust in your voice' is the motto at Trustin. For more than 20 years, consumers have put their trust in this company and its impressive products. Not only does Trustin offer your advanced, cutting-edge devices, but it does so at affordable prices.

Whether you're a student who wants to record lectures or you're a musician who likes recording your gigs and then uploading them to SoundCloud, then this device will have you covered.

The most notable feature of this professional, digital recorder is its ability to capture crystal-clear audio from a distance of 50ft. You'll be shocked by how clear a person's voice sounds even from this distance. You just need to ensure that you've got the microphone directed at the speaker.

There's no need to worry about the battery with this product too. If the rechargeable batteries that are included with the recorder happen to die, then you can replace them with AAA batteries. You can find AAAs in just about any store that sells batteries, from supermarkets to convenience stores.

In terms of storage, this product ticks the right boxes too. You get 8GB integrated into the device, which means there's no need to purchase an external SD card.

Are you new to recording digital audio? If so, then you should click here to see a study on how it works .

Pros: + PC transfer function allows you to back up files to your personal computer. + One key recording and saving makes it easy to use. + Variable speed adjustment.

Why We Liked It - Trustin is a company that wants to be associated with reliability. And with features like super maximal endurance, a dual protection function, and professional ADC active noise reduction, this is certainly a device that can be relied on.

EVISTR is a relatively new company that's earned a stellar reputation in the short time it has been in business. It's known for a wide range of products, which even includes fidget spinners. Another thing that EVISTR is known for is value-for-money.

This affordable, little recording device offers clear voice capturing. We can recommend it to reporters or students who want to get a good product for a low price.

It's packed full of useful features. One of the most impressive of these features is the 'record monitoring' mode that allows you to monitor your recording in real-time. It also has a voice-activated mode that will be triggered when a certain volume is picked up. This helps to get rid of long silences too, such as when your professor is taking a break before continuing with a lecture.

The battery life is up there with the longest around. It offers a whopping 15 hours of playtime from a single charge. There's no need to keep spare batteries or a charger in your pocket with this product.

Another key feature of this product is its microphones. There are two HD mic that are fitted with dynamic noise reduction technology so that you capture crystal clear voice recordings. They are effective up to 40ft too! This device also offers you ample storage space. You get 8GB of space that translates into 300 hours of recordings. There's no need for an SD card.

Pros: + Sturdy metal body. + 800mAh rechargeable batteries. + New PCM linearity recording technology.

Why We Liked It - The L53 is an affordable, effective product with lots of storage space. We were very impressed by the advanced features, as well as the crystal-clear audio that its capable of capturing.

Next up, we have another high-quality product from TASCAM. It's a pocket-sized recorder that includes a lot of advanced features in its tiny body.

You just need to add a microSD or microSDHC card to start recording in 96kHz/24-bit high-resolution quality. You can either record in MP3 or WAV formats. You can capture this high-grade audio thanks to the omnidirectional, condenser microphones that are integrated into it.

A very impressive element of this device is its 'level align function'. This technology ensures that the level of volume is balanced during playback. If, for example, one voice is much louder than another during recording, then instead of having to constantly lower and raise the volume to hear each voice equally, the device will do it for you.

Pros: + High sound pressure design. + Stereo condenser microphones. + Peak reduction function.

Why We Liked It - This product has lots of great features, including a high sound pressure design for recording quiet audio sources. It's also got excellent condenser microphones and a level align feature to prevent uneven volume levels during playback.

The H1 by Zoom is certainly proof that good things come in small packages. It's a handy, user-friendly sound recorder that can be stored in your pocket. Despite its tiny size, it captures sound loud and clear. It's ideal for lectures, meetings, and interviews, in our opinion.

It captures high-quality audio thanks to the in-built X-Y unidirectional mics that are integrated into it. Each mic is set at a 90-degree angle to the other one. This is known as an X-Y design, and it helps to record a wider area with clarity and definition. It works much the same as a mic preamp ( read our top 10 list here ).

You can even increase your recording capabilities by plugging in an external mic or line-level signal to the mic/line input jack. There are so many options with this versatile, small device.

Pros: + Line/Headphone output for connecting headphones or a DSLR. + High-quality audio recordings thanks to X-Y mics. + USB port for connecting H1 to a computer.

Why We Liked It - It's quite simply a premium recorder that is loaded with useful features. Some of our favorites include the X-Y microphone configuration, the USB 2.0 port, and the Mic/Line input port.

Now it's time for another superb Tascam product. The DR-05 is a portable device that's available for a very reasonable price. Once again, it delivers that reliable, Tascam quality that you expect from this leading manufacturer of sound recorders.

This product has features that will appeal to anyone who wants to get more out of their recordings. For example, you can add reverb to make a voice sound more natural. You can also overdub recordings. There are lots of effects to experiment with, which makes this one of the most technically advanced products on our list.

The package contains a professional lavalier microphone and this can be used to record sound at a distance. This is a professional product that is well worth paying for, in our opinion.

Pros: + Stereo condenser microphones for high-quality recording. + Professional lavalier mic included in the package. + Self-timer recording function.

Why We Liked It - It's got a quick menu for easy usability, a level align feature for preventing uneven volume levels during playback, and you can add reverd or overdub recordings. Quite simply, this is an advanced device that delivers typical Tascam quality.

Last on our list is this handy recorder by Zoom . It includes five in-built microphones and offers you four different recording modes. It can be used for capturing a live concert or for recording a lecture in crystal-clear quality.

There are lots of options when it comes to connectivity. There's a line-in jack that can accept two channels of mic or line signals. You also get a stereo line out for plugging in your headphones so you can listen back to recordings privately.

To transfer your files to a computer, you can simply connect the two devices by a USB cable, as this recorder has the relevant port. It's also possible to edit your recordings through WaveLab LE software, which comes free with the audio recorder.

Pros: + Support up to 32GB of SD or SDHC card. + Four recording modes. + Five built-in microphones.

Why We Liked It - This product from Zoom is one of the bestselling on the market. It's easy to see why. It's got lots of top features, like four recording modes, five built-in microphones, and a variety of input/output ports.

Portability - Field recording is unlike any other in that you're constantly on the go in a variety of different sonic environments. That being said, you'll want to choose a portable audio recorder that's fairly durable in the event that it is dropped. Also, be sure to have extra SD cards available in case you run out of space along with extra batteries.

Portable Audio Recorder Buyer's Guide

A sound recorder is a useful device that has many purposes. Most commonly, this product is used for recording lectures, interviews, and music concerts ( click here for the how-to guide ) . Of course, when you want to be able to hear a person's every word, then it's crucial to pick a recorder that captures high-quality audio.

In this guide, we'll answer all the important questions you might have about this device, as well as provide you with tips for buying the best product.

Before we move onto the guide, it's important to refer to the question of smartphones. In the modern age, phones are loaded with advanced technologies that can cause some people to think a sound recorder would be obsolete.

Why would you buy a device to record audio when your phone can do the same job?

The answer is that the quality gulf between the two is enormous. Yes, if you want to record a person speaking directly into a mouthpiece, then a phone will be fine. But for recording lectures or interviews, you'll need a recorder - click here for the study .

Now, let's move on to the all-important buyer's guide. Once you're done, you'll be in a great position to make an informed purchase.

If you're wanting to record a lecture, class, interview, or concert, then the answer is a resounding, yes!

This portable device is easy to use, can be stored in your pocket, and captures high-quality audio. You can use it to play your recordings back, either through headphones or an in-built speaker. Some of the best products will allow you to index recordings and easily transfer them to your computer or smartphone.

It can surprise some just how good the audio is. As we have just suggested, if you use your smartphone for recording, then you're not capturing the best quality. There's no need to strain to hear words or for your recording to be ruined by someone coughing or other background noise.

For capturing a voice - or multiple voices - then a sound recorder is the only option, in our opinion. If you're wanting to record music, then this device can also be very useful. It's just important that you select a product that's designed for recording music.

To make it as simple as possible, you want the highest sample rate possible. That's because the higher the sample rate, the better the audio recording will be.

It's important to keep in mind that the sample rate tends to be less important once it has reached the 44.1kHz level. Anything below this, and you will notice lower quality. If the sample rate is above this number, then the recording will - of course - be better quality, but you might not notice the difference.

We can recommend any sample rate that is 44.1kHz and above.

Recording time?    

The amount of recording time you choose will depend on what you need the device for. If you plan to record several lectures during a day with each an hour or two long, then you'll need longer recording time.

This means that the battery life has to be sufficient for hours' worth of recording. A typical recorder has built-in rechargeable batteries that can offer somewhere between ten and fifteen hours.

If you don't think that this will be enough time, then it's worth investing in a recorder that has dual power options. This means that when your rechargeable batteries run out, you can replace them with AAA or other similar batteries that can be bought cheaply.

You also need to ensure that the device has enough storage space. Some products will just offer their in-built storage capabilities. The amount that it offers can vary widely from 2Gb to 8GB.

Another option is to purchase a recorder that allows you to plug in an SD card. This will increase the amount of storage space. You can also have a spare SD card that you can replace the first one with once it is full.

Built-in microphones or more options?      

For most people, the in-built mic in a portable recorder will be sufficient for your needs.

If you want to have more options, however, then you'll want to select a product that has an XLR input so you can plug in an external mic. Some high-end models also offer phantom power for condenser microphones. Another option for a lower-quality mic is a device with a mini-jack input.

Of course, you need to take into account your budget. Having extra ports will cause the cost of the product to rise. So, if you don't think you'll need to plug in extra mics, then don't pay extra for something you won't need.

Support for a USB connection

To be able to easily transfer your files to your computer, then having USB connectivity is a must. It's a feature that you'll find on lots of the most recent portable recorders. Look for a USB port while buying a new recorder as a single connection will help you to transfer files more efficiently.

Don't worry, though. If a device doesn't have a USB connection but it does have an SD card, then you're fine. You can simply remove the SD card from the device and plug it directly into your laptop. If your computer doesn't have the relevant slot, then you'll need to get an SD card reader.

At the end of the day, it all depends upon your budget. You can only spend what you can afford, after all. And as with all technological products, the more you pay for it, the better the quality. But that doesn't mean that there aren't some excellent low-price or mid-range options.

One way of keeping the cost down is to select a product that offers you the essential features you require without any unnecessary extras. It's great having a voice-activation mode or hundreds of hours of storage space. But if you're not going to use these features, then why pay more for them?

Each of the products on our list guarantees quality. Yes, if you buy a budget product, then you won't get premium performance. But the products on our list each represent the best quality in each price range.

Now, we're going to tell you what our ultimate top picks are in each important category and why. Let's get on with it!

1- Top pick

Our Top Pick offers a huge amount of quality for a very reasonable price tag. It's no surprise to anyone who has read our reviews that a Tascam product has won this award.

For more than 30 years Tascam has been delivering exceptional audio products to consumers. From speakers to handheld recorders Tascam does it all. And, more importantly, it always does it well.  

DR-05 version 2 is an easy-to-use, compact product that records high-quality stereo audio for a very affordable price.

The high-quality sound recording is achieved by a pair of integrated microphones that withstands up to 125dB SPL. Furthermore, one can record sound from 200 feet away without losing any detail. If you want to boost your recording capabilities, then simply add a microphone through the ⅛” stereo input.

The DR-05 is equipped with omnidirectional stereo condenser microphones. These mics record ambient audio from all directions including sound coming directly in front of them. The versatility of the mics makes this recorder effective for a wide range of applications.

The DR-05 can be easily operated with just your thumb. Recording, adjusting levels, and deleting all require a simple press of a button.

It's got lots of great extra features too, such as peak reduction. This mode automatically adjusts the levels so that the recording is more balanced.

You can also add reverb to the recording to make it sound more natural. This effect is useful when recording music or singing too. You also can overdub your recordings easily with a few clicks of a button. That's a great feature if you want to record a backing track then record vocals over the top during playback.

To make recordings more seamless, there is a voice-activation mode. This helps to eliminate long silences, such as during a class or lecture. You just need to set the minimum level for when recordings should start and stop. This can also be done with great ease.

With condenser microphones, a peak reduction mode, and a level-align feature, this is a deserved choice as Music Critic's Top Pick.

2- Premium Choice

The DR-40 by Tascam can take your recordings to a new level. Adjustable microphones, an extended battery life, and four-track recording are just some of the features that it offers.

This recorder is equipped with adjustable unidirectional microphones that can be positioned in both the A-B and X-Y positions. Advanced control over the direction of the mics allows for a wide and clear stereo sound, which translates into professional-quality recordings.

This product is equally as adept at recording loud audio as it is at capturing quiet sound sources. That's because it features a high-sound pressure design. It's a very effective piece of technology that's perfectly suited to a live music venue or lecture hall.

Nobody likes peaks where the audio is distorted and unlistenable. That's why Tascam has integrated its effective peak reduction mode into this product. Once the signals are peaking too high, then they will be detected and reduced so that you get balanced audio. You can even choose what level you want the peaks to be.

What if you need an external microphone to cover a wider zone? The XLR/TRS stereo inputs in this recorder make it possible to connect a condenser microphone and a PA console line-level output. XLR/TRS ports are made by Neutrik which are highly reliable and trusted by professional audio engineers.

If you're recording multiple voices, such as during a meeting, then you'll enjoy the align feature that's built into this product. It allows for more balanced playback where each voice will be the same volume.

The DR-40 includes a lot of features that other audio recorders don't offer. With unidirectional condenser microphones , a four-channel mode, and reverb effects, this is a premium product that our team can highly recommend.

3- Great Value

From fidget spinners to audio recorders, Aketek manufactures it all. Aketek aims to provide consumer electronics at a price that the masses can afford.

Now let's have a look at this outstanding product and the features that it offers.

The 650HR, multi-functional rechargeable audio recorder by Aketek is an affordable choice that will appeal to everyone from students to journalists.

It's an easy-to-use product that features a user-friendly interface that you don't need to be a tech whizz to master. Just hit the record button and you are ready to go!

In terms of battery life, this product is one of the best. You get twenty hours of continuous recording from a single charge. There's no need to worry about needing to carry spare batteries with you. It also offers you a whopping 7,000 minutes of storage space. You don't need an SD card for this one. There's a USB port for you to easily transfer your files to your PC too.

This product is a crowd-pleaser that will appeal to a wide range of users. With 24 languages available for the user interface, A-B repeat function, and voice-operated/activated modes, this recorder is an absolute bargain.

A portable audio recorder is a device used for capturing sound. It is primarily used to record the human voice. It contains either one or more microphones that will either work unidirectionally or omnidirectionally. The best recorders will include lots of handy features, such as voice-activation modes.

This device can also be used to record music. Some include an XLR input so that you can record vocals for a song. In other cases, you can plug in an instrument.

Just tap the “ record ” button to start recording. 

Press the “ stop ” button to pause or end the recording.

For transferring files to a PC, simply connect one end of a USB cable to the recorder and the other to the USB port in your computer. Drag and drop files to successfully transfer the files.

Advanced features require different processes depending on the recorder. As with all devices of this type, you'll want to read the instruction booklet carefully so that you know how to operate it correctly.

Be sure to sufficiently charge the recorder before starting the recording.

In short, yes. The more expensive a recorder is, the better the microphones will be that are integrated into it.

If you pick a recorder that has a condenser mic, for example, then the resulting audio will be of professional quality. Budget models won't include mics that can capture such high-level audio.

More expensive recorders will also include features that can be used to ensure the audio recording is balanced. You can even add effects - such as reverb - with pricier models.

It's important to note, however, that manufacturers are still able to offer excellent quality for less. So, if you buy a budget recorder, such as you'll find on our list, then the audio will still be listenable, clear, and balanced. It just won't be as good as if you purchase a premium model.

If you liked this review by Music Critic , please leave a positive rating:

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Best Voice Recording Apps for Travelers

• by Diana Rowe
• May 20, 2020 June 8, 2020

For those who are too young to remember, back in the day, if you wanted to record verbal notes on your travel experiences, you carried a tape recorder with physical tape cartridges. As technology advanced, next up were tapeless recorders, but travelers stilled lugged a physical recorder. Today, for those wanting to record your travel experience, all you need is a voice recording app, downloadable to your phone. Read on for the best voice recording apps for travelers.

This post may contain  affiliate links,  and Traveling In Heels may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents

If you are embarking on a trip to a tourist destination and you want to record your experience, then you need a voice recording app. Voice recording devices are equally great, but who wants to add that to your carry-on or check back. When traveling light is a priority, then apps provide the best options. The best news is that voice recording device apps are downloadable on both iPhones and Androids.

Read More:   5 “P” Skills of Digital Nomads: How To Survive On the Road

Voice recording apps make it easy for any voice actor to record demos and practice their voice-over skills on the go. Also, these apps make it easy to record anywhere you are in the world and have your demos ready for agents and clients on platforms like voquent.com .

Maybe you’re a travel blogger or writer, or simply want to record your experiences as a tourist? If you are looking for the best voice recording apps for travelers, do not worry, we have got you coved too.

Voice Recorder by Green Apple Studio

Offering high definition quality voice features, recordings using the Voice Recorder by Green Apple Studio can be saved in both MP3 and OGG file formats. Pause and continue with a click and can even be recorded when your phone’s display is locked. The live sound spectrum analyzer assists with editing and improving the audio.

Although the application doesn’t have call recording capabilities, it still offers features for recording your travel experience. And yes it’s free!

Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder

Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder is another dependable voice recording app for Android. The application is packed with features and offers a few customization options. The application is simple and user-friendly.

Audio files are saved in MP3 format but you can record in OGG, M4A, WAV, and FLAC formats. It also allows you to automatically upload recordings to Google Drive and Dropbox. There is an option to save a home screen widget for quick launch, pause, and resume recording.

Easy Voice Recorder

Created by Digipom, Easy Voice Recorder , another one of many few voice recording apps, enhances the experience, and makes it appropriate for everybody. The application records top-notch sound and even supports Android wear. The recordings can be shared through Email, SMS, and different applications. The ‘Echo Cancellation’ and ‘Noise Suppression’ alternatives make it easier to give the best outcomes.

While the free version offers the above features, the Pro version gives more alternatives such as skip silence, recording through a Bluetooth microphone, stereo, volume boost, etc. Both of the versions are accessible in Google Play.

Parrot Voice Recorder

 The Parrot Voice recording app comes with easy to use features and options to start recording voices, sound, and phone calls in great quality. Once you have made a recording, you can likewise play the recorded sound in the full waveform. There is a Pro version of the application that has a call recording feature alongside Cloud Backup Scheduled Recordings.

And of course, for even crisper and clearer recordings, be sure to purchase an external microphone.

15 Creative Ways to Track and Document Your Travels

• August 17, 2020
• Travel Tips
• 18 Comments

Documenting your travels is all about recording your adventures in some way, so that you can look back on your experiences and share them with your friends and family.

Most people (myself included) will take pictures when they’re abroad, and then post them onto social media. This is one way of documenting your travels, but there’s so many other cool ways to do it! This post will be looking at some of those methods.

For each method I’ll try to give a brief description of what it is, share a few pictures of what it looks like, and help explain how you can do it yourself. But if you’ve got any questions about anything on this list, feel free to leave a comment and ask about it! 🙂

1. Photo Albums

This is the easiest way to create a physical photo book for your trips. It involves printing out photos (normally in a 6×4 dimension) , and then putting them into a photo album.

A lot of photo albums, like the one above, have an area for captions. With this, you can add in locations, or give a little background to your photo!  I personally think they’re super cool, and a great way to share your experiences with your friends and family.

How to Make One

The albums are really easy to make! You’ll first need to organize (and ideally edit) your photos. Then you just need to have them printed off, and get an album for them. 

I get my photos printed through  ‘FreePrints’ . This is a app which gives you 45 ‘free’ 6×4 prints a month, with you just paying for shipping. After the 45 free prints, it’s only 9p for additional prints, so it won’t break the bank!

For the album, you can pick one up in lots of different places. But the best selection and prices will probably be on Amazon. You can specifically look for ‘Travel Photo Albums’ to find some really cool travel themed ones! 

Price / Effort Involved

The album I shared above cost me about £30 in total. That was £12 for the Album, and £18 for the photo prints  (215 of them!) . But for a smaller album of 50 photos, you would probably be looking at a cost of £10-15. 

If you were wondering, it isn’t much effort at all! The hard part is choosing what photos to use, and then editing them. Once you’ve got the album and the prints, it’s just a matter of sliding the photos into their sockets, and writing down the captions.  

2. Photo Books

These are the natural step up from photo albums! They involve creating a custom designed photo book with all of your travel photos in it. You can also expand on this by including some stories, statistics, annotated maps, and so much more! 

I make a photo book up for each trip I go on, and I love how they turn out. I hope to continue adding to the collection, and eventually have a bookcase full of them! If you want to know about my books, or read through them, check out my books page  here .

I design my books with Adobe inDesign, and then get them printed through  Blurb . Blurb has a  plugin  for inDesign, which makes the design process pretty easy! Although, this will still be pretty complicated if you’ve not used inDesign before.

Luckily, Blurb also offers a free piece of software called ‘ BookWright ‘. I’ve not tried it before, but it looks good, and pretty straightforward to use. You should be able to create something similar to my books above through BookWright.

Of course, Blurb aren’t the only providers of Photo Books, they’re just the one I use! Have a look around and see if any look better to you.

The price of a Photo Book will vary depending on how many pages are in it. For the ones I get made, a 20 page book is priced at £25. The larger one, which has 220 pages, is priced at £115… yikes!  Although, that is the ‘full’ price, before any discounts. 

You shouldn’t need to pay that, as Blurb always has a sale going on. I suggest not ordering unless you’re saving at least 35%. If you can, wait until black Friday, where they do a 50% off sale. That’s when I order my books, and it saves me so much money!

The amount of effort involved really just depends on what kind of book you want. My books take a while to create, as they have quite a lot of custom design and content. It takes me maybe 10 – 15 hours for a 20 page book, which includes editing the photos, creating the map, writing the captions, arranging the photos, and everything else! 

But for a more basic book, you could probably design it within a few hours. 

3. Journal / Sketch Books

While I don’t personally use one of these, I’ve bumped into a few travellers on the road who do, and they always look amazing! I love the idea of being able to record your experiences, with your own hands, while you’re in the middle of it.

There’s just something about it which feels more personal, and a better way of doing it than simply taking a photo, or writing about your trip once it’s done with. Even more so, I love the idea of filling a sketch book with your hand-drawn favourite travel moments. 

Unfortunately, I suck at drawing. And I’ve never been good at keeping a diary! So this method maybe isn’t right for me. But if you’re an artsy type, then definitely think about it! It would be a great way to document your travels, and people would love seeing it. 

The photos above are some examples I found online, and I think they’re brilliant! The links to the authors are in the image captions if you want to see more. I especially love the sketches from Marc-Antoine Mouilleron-Vignon, which you can see more of  here . 

(If you’ve ever played the Life is Strange video game series, especially the second one, the sketchbooks from that are the kind of thing I’m talking about!)

Nothing complex about these! Just get a book and start writing. 

The diary entries can be daily, weekly, or just whenever you have something worth writing about. The sketch entries can be planned, or just spur of the moment. 

If I were to make one, I would focus on the sketches, and write a diary entry at the same time. I’d find somewhere quiet to sit down near a landmark or scenic spot, and just start sketching with a pen! I’d probably keep them simple, and just stick to black and white. 

Other than a book and a few pens (which shouldn’t be expensive) , there’s no real cost involved here! Although, writing the diary entries and drawing the sketches could be time consuming, especially if you want to write a lot, or add in lots of details / colour. 

4. Scrapbooks

Okay, one last type of book!  Scrapbooks are just full of everything related to your trip. This can include boarding passes, museum entry tickets, subway passes, pamphlets, maps with routes on them, photos, and just about anything else you want to put in!

If you want, you can even make it into a sort of diary. Write a story about what you got up to each day, and then include any souvenirs you collected during the day next to it.

Personally, I’ve never made a scrapbook. Most of my creativity is in digital art and design, not so much with my hands. Plus, I use my ticket stubs and other collected scrap in a different way (entry number 5 of this post) . 

That being said, they could still be a great option for the right person. I found the above photos online, and I think they look really neat. Feel free to follow the links in the captions to see more of them, and get some inspiration for your own scrapbook! 

All you need to make a scrapbook is a blank book, some glue, and a lot of creativity!

Just make sure not to throw anything out when you’re on your trip. Keep every receipt , every ticket, and anything else you think might be neat to include. Plus, if there’s any maps, business cards, or pamphlets available, be sure to grab one!

All you’ll really need is a blank book and some glue, so there’s no huge cost involved. However, making a scrapbook does look like a pretty time consuming process.

5. Scrap / Photo Wall Displays

The next few methods on this post are going to be about ways to physically document  your travels inside your own home. Specifically, I’ll be sharing some of the ways I’ve covered my own bedroom walls with all my favourite travel memorabilia!

The first method is through scrap or photo wall displays. Similar to the scrap book mentioned above, the scrap wall display includes all of my random travel memorabilia. Stuff like ticket stubs, travel passes, foreign currency, and any leaflets I’ve picked up.

The photo wall display is just a collection of photos of myself, during some of my favourite travel moments! They’re mostly 6×4 prints, but I’ve also got a larger framed picture on there. It’s great to quickly glance at them, and have the memories flush back.

You’ll collect scrap throughout your travels naturally, so just try not to throw any of it away! You also might want to start up a little collection of specific things. Some good ideas are foreign currency (notes + coins) , travel cards, and flight boarding passes.

For the photos, you can get some cheap 6×4 ones printed off through ‘FreePrints’, or use a range of other websites to get larger prints created. 

Once you’ve got everything ready, try to visualize how you want it to look on your wall, and then get to work sticking it up there! I use a mixture of blu tack and small pins.

It’s not expensive to do this, unless you want to get a lot of large photos printed off. Smaller 6×4 photos are really cheap, as are the blu tac and pins to stick everything up. 

If you’ve got a lot of scrap and photos which you want to use in your display, then sticking everything up and making it look nice and even can be a massive pain! I re-arrange my walls once every couple of years, and it honestly takes me a full day to do it.

6. Postcards

You’d normally use a postcard to send a message to your loved ones back home (and make them super jealous) , but they’re also one of the best pieces of travel memorabilia you can collect. And once you’ve got them, they’re fantastic for displaying! 

I’ve got mine aligned up all along my wall, just next to my photo wall display. They’re really fascinating to look at, and are normally showing off a beautiful photo of the most memorable landmark of the place you were visiting. 

The great thing about postcards is that they’re sold everywhere. In the airport, in corner stores, and in every gift shop, ever. You won’t have any problem finding them!

When you’re picking them out, try to always get ones of a similar size. Having one postcard be landscape when the rest are portrait, or having a single postcard which is twice the size as the rest, is a real pain when it comes to trying to displaying them.

I’d suggest buying a few at a time. There’s normally a deal on, such as 3 for $1, so you may as well. Then you can keep your favourite, and give the others away as little gifts.

To display them, you can stick them on your wall, put them into a scrap book, or even just leave them inside an old box and look through them every once in a while. They’re about the same size as 6×4 photo prints, so you might want to combine your postcards with a photo wall display, or put them into a photo album you’ve made up.

Postcards are really cheap! You’ll normally be able to pick up a few of them for £1. 

They’re also really lightweight, so carrying a bunch of them around won’t be a hassle. But if you want to, you can always just buy a stamp and send them back to your house, to pick up when you get home. Conveniently, they’re quite good for that!

When it comes to displaying them, it shouldn’t be much work. Having them all be a similar size makes sticking them onto a wall, or into a book, a really easy task. 

7. Fridge Magnets

Fridge magnets are one of the most generic ways to document your travels, but they’re also one of the best! Most people will already have a few of them on their fridge, brought back as a gift from family / friends who were away on their holidays.

But buying your own is also an option, which is something I’ve been doing for the last few years. My collection actually got too big for the fridge, so I’ve ended up moving them into my bedroom and just sticking them onto my wall! I think they look brilliant.

Each magnet has it’s own style which resembles the location and reminds you of your time there. For example, my Hollywood magnet, which is in the shape of a walk of fame star, covered in glitter. Or my Barcelona magnet, which is bordered with the famous Gaudi artwork patterns found throughout the city.   

Similar to postcards, fridge magnets can be found just about everywhere. They’ll be cheapest in the little gift shops throughout the city, but if you forget to pick one up, then you’ll normally be able to grab one from the airport as you’re heading back home . 

Try to get ones with some personality to them. The simple squared fridge magnets with a photo on them will be the cheapest, but they’re also quite boring. If you can, go for something with a bit more depth, which will make your display look nicer. 

When it comes to displaying them, the obvious choice is to stick them on your fridge. They’ll look great, and you can reminisce  every time you go to get some food! But you can also display them on your walls, either by sticking them up with blu tack, or by getting a magnetic display board to hang up and then putting them on there. 

Depending on where you are, magnets can be somewhat expensive. The most I’ve ever paid for one is about $10 in the USA. But you should normally be able to pick one up for under $5. The larger and more artistic ones will be more expensive, but I think it’s worth the expense to get them over the more generic, flat squared image magnets. 

When making the display, it’s actually really easy, especially if you’re sticking them up on the fridge. It should only take a few minutes to do.

8. Scratch Off Maps

Scratch off maps are another one of the more popular ways to document your travels, and they are a common feature inside the home of any avid traveller! 

Most people get a global scratch off map, but you can also get maps limited to a specific country or region. In additional to my global map, I’ve also got one for the USA states.

The maps are covered in a thin layer, which hide world beneath it. You can then use a penny to scratch this layer off, just like you would on a lottery scratch card. The end result is your own map, showing where you’ve been, and where you’ve yet to go!

There’s plenty of places to buy scratch off maps, but I find Amazon to have the widest selection. There’s literally thousands on there, giving you plenty of options!

The maps range in detail, and often have some neat features attached. My USA map for example, tells you about the most ‘famous’ part of each state, and has a little picture of it. Other maps might also include scratch off flags, national animals, or other neat stuff.

Once you’ve got it, you’ll need to scratch off where you’ve already been, then hang the map up. And in the future, you’ll just scratch off any new places when you visit them. 

Scratch off maps vary in price quite a lot, but they’re not too expensive. You should be able to get a good quality one for about £15. I got my global map as a gift so I’m not too sure how much it was, but my  USA map  was from Amazon, and cost £15.

When it comes to scratching the areas off the map, it’s actually quite tricky, especially when you’re trying to navigate around the borders with a penny! Scratching off large sections of the map can be quite time consuming, if you want to keep things neat.

When I got my USA map and had to scratch off 13 states, it took about 2 hours, and left my hand aching for a while afterwards.  But that amount of effort was a one time thing, and updating it in the future will be pretty quick and easy. (unless I ever visit Texas..)

9. Digital Maps

These are just like physical scratch off maps.. but in a digital form! You just tick off all the countries / regions you’ve been to, and the map will colour them in for you!

You can even add pins to show exactly where you’ve visited, and add in colours to all the countries which are on your bucket list, to show where you want to visit in the future!

The above maps are ones I’ve made for myself. The first one shows every county / US state I’ve been to, and all the countries / states which I want to visit in the future. 

The other two maps are the ones I use on this site in my  destination  pages.  They show what regions of a country I’ve been to, and where exactly I went to in those regions. I think they’re a great way to show where you’ve been, in a digital format. 

I make mine through a WordPress plugin called ‘MapSVG’. But unless you’re running your own travel blog, you’re probably not going to want to spend the $50 to buy that. So instead,  I had a look around and found a few pretty good free options! 

The first is ‘ Been ‘. This is a free app for IOS/Android, that allows you to check off countries/US states you visit. It also shows you how many places you’ve been to overall in the form of a percentage number, which I think is a pretty cool feature! 

The second is ‘ MyTravelMap ‘. This is an easy to use website that allows you to track where you’ve been, with larger countries broken down into smaller regions. Like Been, it also shows you how much of the world you’ve seen as a percentage number.

The third is ‘ Matador Network Travel Map ‘. This one is more basic than the above, but it allows you to add countries to your bucket list, which is a great feature! 

Personally, I like MyTravelMap the most, and that is what I would use if I weren’t using MapSVG. But it’s worth trying them all out, and any others you come across, to see which one works the best for you. 

The three digital maps mentioned above are free, and checking off all the places you’ve been to should only take a few minutes.

10. Google Maps Location History

If you’ve got the Google Maps app on your phone, then there’s a pretty good chance that it has been tracking everywhere you go. A bit creepy, but also super cool if you’re interested in the data! Go to  this link  and sign into your Google account to check. 

If you’ve had the option turned on, then you’ll see that it has been tracking every single place you’ve visited. It can tell you where you went, when you went there, what route you followed, and even what modes of transport you took. 

You can see a general overview of every place you’ve been (like in the first image) , or look at a specific day and see what you got up during it  (like in the second image) .

You can even use a third party website called ‘Location History Visualizer’ to create a heatmap of your travels! I used it to create the above image of the UK. You can see where I live, where I’ve visited, and even that I’ve took the train to London a few times.

Just make sure you have Google Maps on your phone, and have location history turned on. You can learn more about how to do that  here . It should work even if you don’t have any internet connection due to GPS tracking! Plus, it doesn’t use up any extra battery. 

Your trips and location history will automatically track, and you can view it in the timeline tab of Google Maps. It won’t be 100% accurate, but it will be close. If you want to, you can manually adjust your location history to make it more accurate. 

For the heatmap, just visit  this page  and follow the instructions provided. 

There’s no costs for this, and no real effort either, unless you want to manually edit your location history. The only time I do any manual editing is to fix the red dots which appear in the overview map of all the places I’ve been.

Sometimes I’ll get a dot for somewhere I’ve not been, or a dot will randomly appear in the middle of the ocean during a flight! If you’ve got a lot of dots on your map already and want to fix them, or add in any new ones, then it might be pretty time consuming.

The heatmap above is also free, and only takes 5 minutes to set up.

11. Destination Tracker Spreadsheet

If you know me, then you know I love my spreadsheets! They’re a brilliant way to stay organized, and they’re also the perfect way to keep track of your travelling. 

I create a spreadsheet for each trip I go on, but I’ve also got a separate spreadsheet to keep track of everywhere I’ve been, and to log all of my travel related statistics.

The spreadsheet I’ve made lets me create a bucket list of places I want to visit, and see how far along it I am. It also lets me visually see where I’ve been, how long I’ve spent away from home, how much I’ve spent, and some other cool statistics / information! 

I use Microsoft Excel for my spreadsheets, but Google Sheets is a good free alternative. 

There’s no easy way to really describe how you make one, you just.. do it! Try to plan out all of the information you want to include, and then build the spreadsheet around that. If you can, try to use formulas and attractive formatting to make things user friendly! 

If you want, you can click  here  to download a copy of mine and use that as a template. It isn’t fully automated, but if you’ve got some experience in using excel then you should be able to work it out. I’ve put some tips in there too, which should help you set it up! 

Google Sheets is free, but Microsoft Excel is part of Microsoft 365, which costs about £50 a year. With Microsoft 365 you also get 1TB of OneDrive storage (I back up all my photos/videos on there) , and 60 minutes of free Skype calls (great for making free international calls) . I personally think the £50 a year is well worth it!

As for effort involved, well that really just depends on how advanced you want your spreadsheet to be. You could make a basic one within an hour, or you could spend a whole week making one! I think mine took me about 10 hours, but it is fairly complex.

12. myFlightradar24

FlightRadar24 is a pretty cool website where you can view and track every flight that is currently in the sky across the planet. Even better, they also have a related page called ‘ myFlightradar24 ‘, which allows users to keep track of their own flight history.

The above images show what my profile looks like on myFlightradar24! If you want to see it in more detail, you can view my page  here . 

I think it’s really neat! I love being able to see how far I’ve flown, and how long I’ve spent in a plane ( far too long ). I also love seeing my most visited airports, and the map that gets created is a fairly good way to see everywhere you’ve travelled to. 

Once you’ve signed up, you need to add information about your past flights. Depending on how many flights you’ve been on, this could be easy, or a total nightmare! 

You can manually add flights on the page. If you have your flights flight number and departure date, then there’s a neat little lookup tool which you can use to find your flight, and then the rest of the details about that flight will self populate for you. 

If this doesn’t work, then you’ll need to manually enter the data. I had to do this for some of mine, and it sucked! You don’t need fill every section, but I suggest doing what you can. I only left the ‘aircraft type’ information out of mine, as that was hard to find. 

You can also import your flight history into myFlightradar24 from TripIt. And you can easily import your flight history into TripIt if you still have the booking confirmation emails saved.. so that might be worth looking into if you’ve got a lot of flights to add. 

There’s no cost to use myFlightradar24. However, if you need to import tens or hundreds of previous flights, then that could take a while! But once you’ve done that, adding new flights in the future will only take a couple of minutes each time. 

13. Travel Videos

Travel videos are a great way to document a trip! I personally find them to be really inspirational, and I love watching the videos that other people put together. They’re one of the main things which inspired me to start travelling and see more of the world. 

The first video above is one I put together in 2019, showing my travels over the previous year. The second is one of my favourite videos on YouTube, showing a couple travelling all across the world and having some great experiences over a period of 200 days.

Videos like these allow you to document your trip more vividly, in comparison to just taking pictures or writing about it. When I re-watch the old videos I’ve taken during my trips, it really brings me back to the moment, and makes me smile like a fool!

If you want to see more travel videos, I’ve created a playlist of my favourite ones  here .  

Obviously to record the videos you’ll need some kind of video recorder. Using a smart phone will work, but for a better quality video you might want to get something like a Go-Pro, or a camera which has good video recording capabilities / stabilization.

During your trip, you can record lots of short clips (under 10 seconds each) and then combine them all together into a longer montage. Or you could create vlogs, where you talk to the camera for a while and give updates on how your trip is going. 

There’s really no set way on how to make a travel video, but hopefully the playlist I shared above will give you some good ideas on what sort of video you want to make. 

Once you’re back home, you’ll need to organize your footage and then edit it together with a piece of video editing software. Try to align the clips with some fun music (copyright free) , add some colour correction, and then upload the final video to YouTube. 

Unfortunately, getting everything you need to create a nice travel video can be pretty expensive. A GoPro + the recommended accessories will set you back about £300. A nice camera and a gimbal to go with it will be even more expensive than that. 

There’s some free video editing software out there, but if you want to make a better video with more effects in it, then you’ll probably want to invest in a piece of software like Sony Vegas, Final Cut Pro, or Premiere Pro. They range in price from £40 – £300.

The actual editing process can take a few hours, or a few weeks. It just depends on how much footage you have, and how complex you want your style of editing to be. My ’23’ travel video shown above took me around 15 hours to put together! 

My personal advice would be to get a GoPro + the recommended accessories, and then buy Sony Vegas Movie Studio for £40. A GoPro is waterproof, lightweight, durable, and has fantastic stabilization. Sony Vegas Movie Studio is pretty cheap, and while it lacks some pro features, you should still be able to create a quality travel video with it.

14. Social Media

You probably already do it, but if not, then you should know than social media is a great way to document your trips and share them with your friends. The most common way is through Instagram, but Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat are all great for it too. 

Instagram is great for creating a collection of all your favourite travel photos. And Facebook is perfect for uploading all of your photos from a trip into an ‘album’, and sharing it with all your friends and family. I mean, who doesn’t have Facebook?

But the coolest social media feature, in my opinion, are ‘highlights’. They originated on Snapchat, but I think they’re best done on Instagram now. You can post little ‘in the moment’ story updates during your trip, and then collate them all into a ‘highlight’. 

If you look at my Instagram  here , you can see the highlights I’ve created in the past.

There’s nothing complex about using social media. Just, try to not post every single picture you take. People don’t want to see a billion photos, so just share the best ones!

To make an Instagram highlight, you’ll want to take pictures and post them to your ‘story’ as you along on your trip. Try to include some videos where you can, and make good use of text, hashtags, and location tags to help identify things!

Then when your trip is over with, go onto your profile and create a new ‘highlight’. This lets you combine multiple story posts into one, and allow anyone who visits your profile to see them all. They’re super cool, and will appear as little circles just under your bio!

Using social media is free, and posting your photos there isn’t time consuming at all. The only effort involved will be when you’re trying to decide what photos to post, and what filter looks best on them!

15. Travel Blog

The final item on this list is… making a travel blog! They’re one of the best ways to really write in depth about your travel experiences, and share them with the world.  

I started Travelling Tabby because I wanted to do just that. I also wanted to help others with their own travelling, by giving out any advice or inspiration which I could. That’s why I’ve made little ‘destination’ pages, and also why I’ve got a ‘resources + tips’ page.

You can do that too, or you can just use your blog to write about your own experiences on the road, almost like an online diary. This can then be shared with your friends and family, or even shared publicly so that the whole world can read about your adventures.

Making a travel blog can be complex, or very easy! It just depends what you want from it. In my case, I wanted more of a travel website, which was customized to my own needs and preferences. As a result, my website took months of work to make.

If you want to know more about how I made my website, I’ve included some questions on it in my FAQ  here . Although that is quite basic, and I do plan on making a longer post about it one day. In the meantime, if you’ve got any questions, feel free to get in touch!

In short, you basically need to set up your own website. This can be time consuming and somewhat complex. But if you just want a simple blog to document your travels and write sort of ‘diary entries’, or columns with pictures attached, then it’s much easier.

In that case, there’s a number of websites you can set your blog up with, such as Tumblr, Blogger, WordPress, Squarespace, ect. I’ve not used any so I’ve not got much advice there, but there’s lots of posts about it online! 

The simple blogs I mentioned above will be free and quick to set up. As a trade off, you won’t be able to do too much customization, you may not get your own custom URL, and you may not be able to have ads on your blog to potentially generate income. 

On the other hand, the more complex blogs where you make your own website can be very complex and time consuming! They’re a better option if you want a professional blog, but just be aware that it will probably take weeks, if not months to set up.

The complex blogs won’t be free, but they won’t break the bank either. For reference, my blog cost about £60 to create, and has a running cost of £32 a year. (although this running cost may increase in the future if I gain more followers)

The nice thing about blogs is that they can actually earn you some money too. However, this isn’t an easy thing to do. So don’t start a blog with the sole intention of making money, as chances are you won’t make any. Only start a blog if you really want to do it.

Honorary Mentions

Well, there you have it! Fifteen different ways you can document and keep track of your travels. Everything from tracking them into a spreadsheet, to creating a photo book, to sticking up postcards on your wall. I hope this post gave you some ideas for yourself! 🙂

Of course, there’s plenty of other methods out there. In addition to the above 15, I’m going to quickly mention a few additional ones below. And if you document your travels in some other way, I’d love for you to leave a comment and let me know how!

When I say souvenirs, I’m specifically talking about physical things which remind you of a destination. Maybe ‘trinkets’ is a better word. For example, some which I have are: a traditional handheld fan from China, a Harley Davidson motorbike figurine / a baseball from the USA, and a little glass bottle of sand from Spain.

Just little items like that which remind you of a location. Maybe you could fill a bookcase with them, which would be really neat. Each item would have it’s own story!

Unfortunately the issue here is that these little souvenirs can be expensive, and they can take up quite a bit of space. Not a huge issue if you’re just visiting one location, but if you’re travelling to 3+ places in one trip, then picking up 3 souvenirs like this will be a pain, in comparison to just picking up 3 postcards, or 3 fridge magnets. 

These are probably next in line after postcards and fridge magnets. They’ll be cheap, lightweight, and widely available. Once you’ve got a collection, you can display them in a number of ways, such as sticking them up on a wall, or just leaving them in a box. 

You’ll probably collect too many to put on your personal set of keys, but the neat thing here is that you can add your favourite keyring to your daily set of keys! And you can change them around from time to time, reminding yourself of different memories. 

This is a really cool travel app, which tracks your journey for you. Admittedly I’ve not used it before so I’m not sure exactly how it works. But from what I’ve seen, it should automatically track your trip for you, saving what route you took and where you went.

It’ll then compile all of this into a little interactive story, which also keeps track of your distance travelled, what the weather was like, and other neat stuff like that. You can add in photos and little diary entry type posts, before sharing the story with your friends and family so that they can follow your journey.  Check out an example of what I mean  here . 

These stories are saved onto your profile so that you can build a collection. Your profile will also track some travel stats for you, such as  what countries you’ve visited, your time spent travelling, and it will even tell you the furthest you’ve been from home! 

And finally, the app will create photo books for you out of your stories. Not just generic photo books, but they’ll also include maps of your route, your diary entries, your distance travelled, your dates, and more. The books are very nicely designed, and I assume you can customize them to your needs, before you share / print them off.

Honestly, the app looks fantastic, and I’ll definitely be trying it out on future trips. My only complaint is that adding a past trip into it is a pain, and looks very time consuming.

In short, the app covers half this list on it’s own. It can be a travel blog, a social media post, a photo book (both digital and physical), and a destination tracker spreadsheet. It’s a great ‘all in one’ alternative to tracking your travels through other means.

Hey, I’m John!

Just a normal guy from Scotland who has an obsession with travel, and a totally rational love of cats. 

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18 responses.

Full of interesting information and how to do it, Very informative, really helpful.

With all of your travels so far and your age you’re going to have a lifetime ahead of you of wonderful trips I imagine, I will look forward to reading your blog

Thank you so much! 🙂

Wow, great information, details, explanations and very easy to follow. Loved it!

Thank you! 🙂

Thank you for the information.

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Great post! Thank you for all the useful tips! I bought the GoPro Cam you suggested 🙈!

Thank you, and oh I hope you make good use of it!! I’ll be getting one too for my next trip! 🙂

Great information documenting trips ✈️

great content, thanks for sharing

Interesting information. Thanks for that. I’m looking for an App that I can use to document an old journey. I have reconstructed a travel from approximately 50 years ago from letters, photos and memories. I would like to store that in in a Polarsteps like App. All those kind of Apps however are made for recording current travels. Any suggestions?

I’m not sure if there would be a better option, but you could still try Polarsteps! It works best for recording current trips, but you can manually add in past trips too. You can add the dates/locations, attach photos, and write little journey entries. Then it should map it out for you, and display it like it does for any other trip.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article, which is an excellent guide for anyone who loves to document their travels. The writer starts by emphasizing the importance of recording your adventures, not just for personal nostalgia but also for sharing them with friends and family. What sets this piece apart is the writer’s acknowledgment that there are more creative and diverse ways to document your travels beyond just posting pictures on social media. The promise of providing descriptions, pictures, and practical tips for each method is exciting. It’s an engaging and informative read that leaves you eager to explore new ways to capture your travel experiences.

Thank you, very informative in assisting me with my research before I start my own travels.

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Really enjoyed this post on how to document travels! Your tips on combining photography, journaling, and collecting mementos to capture the essence of each trip are inspiring. I’ve always struggled with organizing my travel memories effectively, and your suggestions seem very practical. Do you have any advice on the best digital tools or apps that help streamline this process, especially for those of us who are not as tech-savvy? Thanks for such a helpful guide—looking forward to implementing these ideas on my next journey!

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The Black Box: How Flight Recorders Work, And What They Actually Capture

In the high-stakes world of aviation, the black box, officially known as the flight recorder, is recognized as an important device for flight safety and accountability. Black boxes have often been misunderstood and shrouded in mystery, but these devices are fundamental to understanding the intricacies of flight incidents.

We're taking a deep dive into the sophisticated technology behind these crucial tools of the aviation industry, exploring the dual components of the black box: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), and how they accurately capture an enormous amount of flight information. From recording pilots' conversations to tracking critical flight data, these devices provide invaluable insights into the mechanics and human factors of aviation. Together, these two devices capture a comprehensive narrative of a flight's journey.

By investigating the layers of flight recorder technology, we can gain a deeper appreciation for their significant role in enhancing flight safety and improving our understanding of air travel when disaster strikes.

The anatomy of a black box

An aircraft's black box consists of two separate systems: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). The FDR logs and stores a wide range of data points for a 24-hour period, including measurements of altitude, speed, engine temperatures, power, flight path, and others. It effectively records any parameter for which there is a sensor or gauge in the aircraft.

The second part of the system is the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). It captures all radio communications, as well as ambient sounds, through a central microphone. Some systems are even capable of recording sounds from outside the cockpit if equipped with external microphones. Its primary function is to preserve an audio log of all flight activities up until the point of a crash. The device records continuously but only actually saves the last two hours of data.

Both of these devices are designed to simply record and store data and survive extreme temperatures and impacts. Some newer models combine the FDR and CVR into a single mechanism, but it's still very common to see both of these inside a plane. The casing is typically made with steel or titanium to survive the high impacts associated with a plane crash. Inside the casing are the hard drives where the data is stored. The hard drives are then surrounded by sealed thermal insulation to prevent damage in the case of a fire or submersion.

Early black box technology

Flight recorders have undergone various design iterations throughout their history. One of the earliest examples, from 1939, was quite basic, functioning by photographing instrument readings. A major breakthrough came in 1954 with David Warren's invention, the first modern flight recorder, which electronically logged flight data and cockpit conversations.

The initial flight recorders used photographic paper, a method later replaced by magnetic tape in the 1960s. However, both these storage mediums had notable limitations, such as the need for increased maintenance and regular replacement to maintain consistent data recording.

The transition to digital memory chips in the 1990s marked a significant improvement in flight recorder technology. These chips were superior in many ways, particularly because they allowed data to be overwritten after each successful flight, significantly reducing maintenance requirements.

The rise of commercial aviation after World War II, bolstered by its surge in popularity as a travel method, brought new challenges. Most early flight accidents were attributed to human error, and without survivors, it was often difficult to ascertain the exact causes of these crashes. This predicament led to the creation and gradual refinement of flight recorders, known colloquially as black boxes, which became essential for investigating plane crashes and enhancing overall flight safety.

Delving into the FDR: Capturing the aircraft's story

The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) plays a crucial role in any aviation crash investigation, providing extensive data. Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations mandate the recording of 88 distinct data points, although some FDRs are capable of capturing even more. The FDR logs a wide range of information, including altitude, heading, speed, and the status of the autopilot. While some of this data might seem inconsequential, it becomes vital in the event of a crash.

Investigators use the comprehensive data from the FDR to construct an accurate 3D model of the aircraft's movements and actions. This model helps answer key questions, such as whether the pilot overcompensated with the controls, thereby aiding in determining whether a crash was caused by mechanical failure or pilot error.

A notable example is American Airlines Flight 587. Following the crash, which occurred soon after the events of 9/11, there were initial concerns about another terrorist attack. However, analysis of the data from the FDR conclusively showed that the cause was pilot error. The tragic loss of lives onboard and on the ground was a profound event, but the clear evidence from the FDR helped prevent further nationwide panic.

The CVR: Preserving the voices of the cockpit

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is the second essential component of a flight recorder system. It includes a dedicated microphone that constantly captures sounds inside the cockpit, including all communications transmitted through the airplane's radios. This isn't just a morbid curiosity but an integral part of the system. Having the firsthand account of the pilots on record can be another way to determine what went wrong and, hopefully, prevent future accidents.

A stark illustration of the CVR's importance is the case of Aeroflot Flight 593. Analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data alone made no sense to investigators. The plane was functioning perfectly fine but then suddenly began to bank and turn off course. It eventually stalled when the pilots tried to overcompensate, and ultimately, it spiraled down and crashed, killing all aboard.

The narrative from the CVR, however, told a different story. It revealed that the captain had allowed his teenage children to enter the cockpit and simulate flying. Unknowingly, they deactivated the autopilot while handling the control stick. Tragically, by the time the pilots realized what had happened, it was too late for them to avoid disaster. In this case, without the CVR recording, there would be nobody to tell the tale and consequently reinforce regulations that could save lives in the future.

The retrieval and analysis process

Contrary to their nickname, flight recorders, also known as black boxes, are actually painted bright orange and covered with reflective tape. This color choice is intentional as it makes them easier to locate after a crash. These devices are built to withstand extreme impacts, prolonged submersion in water or fuel, and high-pressure depths, making a dark color like black impractical for visibility.

The challenge in recovering flight recorders often lies in pinpointing their location, particularly because they are usually stored in the tail section of the aircraft. In situations where the plane breaks apart in mid-air, the recorder may land several miles away from the crash site. This is a common occurrence in crashes over vast bodies of water.

When a flight recorder lands in the water, a special feature is activated: a device that emits ultrasonic pulses to assist in its recovery. This beacon can send signals every second for up to 30 days, powered by its self-contained battery.

In some instances, recovered flight recorders are kept submerged in containers filled with water. This method is employed to prevent damage from saltwater and other minerals, which could harm the recorder's contents if they were to dry and form deposits. Keeping the recorder submerged safeguards the data until it can be safely extracted and analyzed.

The impact of black boxes on aviation safety

Flight recorders and black boxes have significantly improved airline safety since their introduction. Many of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations are the result of thorough investigations and insights gained by analysis of previous crashes using data from flight recorders.

The FAA is also considering adding a potential new regulation that would mandate black boxes to increase their capacity from two hours to 25 hours of data. If implemented, this would be a significant victory for the National Transportation Safety Board, which has been advocating for this change since 2018.

These recorders are mandatory on all commercial flights and play a significant role in continually improving aviation safety, even preemptively. Beyond commercial aviation, flight recorders are crucial in experimental and test flights. They capture a wealth of data, including pilot actions and experiences, during these flights. This data not only provides a detailed record of the flight but also allows for thorough analysis, which is vital to identifying potential advancements and refining flight safety protocols and procedures.

This continuous cycle of data collection, analysis, and application is key to advancing flight travel, enhancing efficiency, and elevating safety standards in the aviation industry.

The future of black boxes

Black boxes are an important part of the safety and accountability features in the aviation industry. Finding the cause of a crash can help prevent future crashes and determine the underlying cause of an incident.

However, as previously mentioned, their effectiveness hinges on their ability to withstand the crash and subsequently be located. If you haven't been on a major airline flight in the last few years, you may not be aware that many now offer full-service Wi-Fi on certain flights. The technology and infrastructure are available for the flight crew to stream large amounts of data, even from 30,000 feet in the air.

This has sparked a proposal to live-stream flight data to a secure cloud or server, bypassing the need for a physical black box that might be damaged or lost in a crash. In theory, this would ensure the data's continuous availability.

However, this idea has faced a certain amount of criticism. Detractors argue that the technical challenges, such as potential gaps in satellite coverage or data blackouts in extreme weather, could disrupt the stream during critical moments. There's a significant concern regarding cybersecurity, too. They believe that live-streaming data could open up flight controls to hacking, potentially exposing the cockpit and its systems to security risks.

Despite these debates, the role of black boxes in the future of aviation is clear. They will continue to be a key tool in helping investigators understand flight incidents, contributing to improved safety measures, and potentially saving lives.

Audio Production

Traveling Music Producer – 5 Studio Equipment You Can’t Leave Home Without

Making music shouldn’t be limited to be only in the studio. In fact, I’m now composing & making more music out the studio while traveling. Here I talk about the studio equipment that you’ll need when out traveling.

My experience from making music while traveling? You can get great musical ideas from your traveling experience. After all, being in a studio with no natural sunlight for too long can quickly drain your creative juices.

The problem with making music on the road is that you lose the luxury of having a complete studio at your disposal, from a full 88-keys keyboard, large studio monitors, powerful computer and a sound treated studio.

However, it’s still possible to make great music as a traveling music producer. So in this post, I’ll show you the 5 studio equipment that you’ll need as a music producer who travels.

1 – A Decent Laptop

You can make pretty good music armed with just a laptop these days. A music production optimized laptop whether Mac or Windows, would be able to take on literally anything you throw at it. Composing, mixing or even mastering, you name it.

Here is what to look for when buying a laptop for music production as a traveler.

Laptop Performance

The first thing to look for when buying a laptop for music production is to make sure it has enough firepower for the work you do. Nothing is more frustrating than coming into performance bottlenecks when producing, killing your creative workflow.

If you’re going for a Mac, either get the 13″ Macbook Pro or go for the Macbook Pro 15′ base model would get you pretty far in music production. It comes with a maxed out 16GB of RAM, which you’ll need, a nice 128GB SSD hard disk (very beneficial for music production) on top of an i7 processor. Don’t bother upgrading the 13″ base model as the 15″ is definitely more worth it.

If you’re going for a PC laptop, make sure you have enough RAM onboard, i7 processor recommended and an SSD hard drive. The performance jump in having an SSD hard drive is seriously a lot and you’ll love it for its speed.

Still confused about whether to go for Mac or PC? Read my previous post here: Mac or PC for music production?

Laptop Battery Life

Producing music on a laptop takes a lot of battery juice, and I mean A LOT. I hate to break it to you, but the winner for all laptops for battery life is the Macbook Pro. Of course, Windows laptops like the Surface 4 or HP Spectre 360 has pretty long battery life too, but they simply don’t have enough power for serious music production. Sure, you can get by with few tracks and VSTs in your arrangement, but you’ll soon hit performance bottlenecks.

While battery life is very important towards the mobile music producer, I’m currently on a Asus GL552VW which is essentially a gaming laptop and not the best when it comes to battery life, but I’ve always gotten by finding a power socket at the places I travel to.

Laptop Connectivity VS Portability

This one should be regardless of whether you plan to travel or not. It’s important to have connectivity options like USB, Firewire, etc. on your laptop, to connect to your MIDI controllers, analog synths, audio interface and portable hard drives. Many lighter laptops don’t have much connectivity options and isn’t really built for the music producer, so you might have to forget the ultrabooks for more connectivity.

The Macbook Air would be alright for this but I’ll never go for a laptop/tablet like the Macbook. Bottom line, I’ll rather carry heavier than to lose my connectivity options.

Some people look to the iPad to make music when traveling. While the iPad has many great music apps like Morphwiz & SampleWiz by JordanRudesss , I still don’t think the iPad is ready for serious music making. You can scratch up great ideas on the iPad and record with apps like Garageband iOs, but you definitely can’t finish a mix on the iPad.

2 – Mobile MIDI Controller

Depending on the type of music production work you do, a MIDI controller is a must. If you write music and compose a lot with VSTs, I recommend you get a mobile MIDI controller for the road. I’m not a fan of clicking in MIDI notes as I feel it takes too much time. Not only a MIDI controller will help you work faster and write more music, it’ll help you to program music more naturally. (Try clicking in notes for a piano riff. It’s not impossible, but it definitely will take a lot of time!)

Here are 4 mobile MIDI controllers that are worth buying as part of your music production equipment, and I’ll tell you why.

The CME Xkey comes in two variants the XKey which connects to your laptop via a USB cable and the Xkey Air that connects with Bluetooth.

Why the CME Xkey? It’s seriously portable and playable. Unlike some mobile MIDI controllers that sacrifice playability for portability, you’ll be delighted to find that the CME Xkey, although made ultra slim is very playable. This means you’ll be able to actually control velocities very well on this MIDI controller. The latency on the XKey is also very low. Best of all it’ll fit in your backpack or luggage pretty easily without adding too much weight.

Read a review on the CME Xkey here: CME Xkey Review

Korg Microkey Air

The Korg microKey Air is a mobile MIDI controller with USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The latency is pretty amazing (even when on Bluetooth) and it has a very nice touch response with keyboard like keys. There are a few keyboard sizes to choose from, but the 25-key or 37-key variant would appeal more for the traveling music producer.

Why the Korg microKey Air?  Although the keys are smaller than standard size keyboards, it’s still a nice experience to play on the Korg microKey. The 37-key variant allows you to plug-in a sustain pedal or keyswitch which is a godsend for producers whose primary instrument is the piano.

When traveling, you also want to minimize the number of cables you carry and the Korg microKey’s Bluetooth connection allows you to go wireless. The microKey Air is powered by two AA batteries and you can get AA batteries from literally anywhere in the world.

Read a full review on the Korg microKey Air here: The Korg microKey Air review

Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII

Designed to fit backpacks and studio production desks, the MPK mini is a mobile MIDI controller with drum pads, assignable knobs, and buttons for octave up and down.

Why Akai MPK Mini MKII ? I don’t have the need for drum pads, but I know many music producers who need them. The Akai comes with 8 velocity-sensitive drum pads, so you don’t have to sacrifice your creativity juice when you travel. The MPK Mini is also really small and light. You can basically use the MPK Mini anywhere from a cramped up seat during your flight or in a small cafe.

Line 6 Mobile Keys

A straightforward mobile MIDI controller, that comes with inputs for sustain & expression pedals, along a USB input which can be powered by a laptop or even an iPad.

Why the Line 6 Mobile Keys ? This is one of the most affordable mobile MIDI controller out there in the market. The keys have a nice feel to them and is very lightweight, making it ideal for traveling.

4 -Monitor Headphones

Monitor headphones would be your best friend when composing or mixing music on the road. While it’s almost ideal that you mix and master with studio monitors in a treated studio, with trained ears, it’s also possible to finish a music mix on a pair of headphones.

When traveling you’ll want headphones that are durable. Avoid buying headphones that have plastic made bands. Those will snap after some use and even faster if you constantly have them in your backpack or squashed in your luggage as you travel.

Here are some monitor headphones that I recommend for traveling. Again I’ll tell you why:

Samson SR850 Studio Headphones

This headphone is literally indestructible. You can twist the headphones as much as you want to and it won’t break that easily. The Samson SR850 headphones will take a lot of beating before it snaps.

But really, why the Samson SR850?  Super affordable and it really sounds good as well! You might find the lacking bass on this headphone, but the details are pretty accurate. I’ve mixed few commercial productions on this headphones and didn’t have to do many alterations to my mix when back at the studio.

One thing to note is that the Samson SR850 is a semi-open headphones, which means the sound you get is more natural but people next to you will hear what you’re listening to if you are monitoring at a loud level.  If you want a closed back version, consider the Samson SR950 headphones.

Check out the Samson SR850 review post

Sony MDRV6 Studio Monitor Headphones

The Sony MDRV6 is a very comfortable studio monitor headphone and you’ll be able to find replacement parts for the headphones.

Why the Sony MDRV6?  You get a quite good sound isolation on this headphones because of its closed back design. Background noise will be blocked out and you can focus on your music, making the headphones a great companion when making music in a noisy place like a cafe. Soundwise, the headphones are excellent and uncolored. In fact, this headphone has been around for some time and that just shows that it’s indeed a great headphone.

5 – Portable Recorder

The last thing to add on before you hit the roads is a microphone or a portable recorder. Again depending on the music you create, you can go without a microphone but being able to record as you travel is a huge advantage.

You probably won’t be able to get a high-end studio quality, but having a microphone at your disposal is great when you meet people that would love to collaborate with you. I’ve done vocal & voice over recordings in hotel rooms. And for music, I’ve recorded some outdoor sounds which I then used them in my film score or music piece.

Here are microphones you can consider when traveling:

Zoom Portable Recorder (Zoom H5, Zoom H6, Zoom H1)

The Zoom product lineup is amazing not only because they are pretty affordable, but you get a lot features all packed into one. If you want a portable recorder that acts as an audio interface, the Zoom H6 would be ideal for you. Able to record up to 6 inputs, it’s like carrying a portable studio with you.

If you’re just looking for something small, the Zoom H1 is a great handy recorder that you can use for quick instrument or vocal recordings and even recording outdoor sounds.

Shure SM57 Microphone

The industry standard for recording and performance, you’ll the Shure SM57 in almost any studio around the world. The SM57 would be a suitable all-rounder microphone for any musical recording from recording guitars, bass amps, strings, vocals & more. Being a multipurpose microphone, it makes it ideal to bring one of this when you travel.

The Shure SM57 is a dynamic microphone though so it won’t be too ideal to use it for voice over projects that require a rich frequency range. You’d want a condenser microphone to achieve full-bodied recordings.

Lewitt LCT240 Condenser Microphone

Another great all-rounder microphone, just that the Lewitt is a condenser microphone. The frequency range on the Lewitt LCT-240 is wide and it sounds seriously good.

You might not be able to record in an outdoor environment with the Lewitt LCT-240, but you’ll definitely be able to record great sounding recordings in a hotel room or apartment, just as long you’re in a quiet indoor environment. The high-pass filter on the Lewitt will also help you to filter away low rumbles and boom when recording in non-treated rooms.

What other recording studio equipment did I miss out in this post? Let me know in the comment section below as I love to learn from you as well.

Through the years of producing music, I slowly got rid of the GAS syndrome (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and became quite minimal in music making, whether writing, composing, mixing or mastering. I mainly do all my work in the box right now.

Because of that producing music while traveling seems to be working well for me and I hope it will for you too, as making music out the studio is definitely a nice experience.

Don’t stay in a room, go out and get creative!

Adriana Cerundolo

What about an audio interface for the mics? Or are the USB-connected mics you recommend?

Dmitry Shishkin

Not only for mics, but connecting headphones through the audio interface is mandatory to monitor what you’re doing with greater accuracy.. I’d add that in order to make creative possibilities wider, it worth to take 1-2 hardware synths along (there are lots of great sounding portable ones around). At least I can’t imagine production completely in the box. Mixing in the box is fine, but not the production.

DeSantis signs law to cover up records of his travel and visitors ahead of anticipated 2024 presidential run

• DeSantis signed a bill into law that will hide his travel records from public view.
• The law comes as he's expected to mount a presidential campaign. 
• It'll even apply to trips the governor has already taken. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Thursday that would hide records about his past and future travel, as well as powerful people he meets with, at a time when he's widely expected to be on the cusp of announcing he'll run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. 

DeSantis signed the bill into law unceremoniously on Thursday afternoon, among more than 35 other bills. His office sent an email to the press that listed the bills that were now law. 

Under the new law, details about the governor's trips — whether on state planes or private, chartered flights — will be redacted, including names of staff and family members that travel with DeSantis. Visitor logs to the governor's mansion and his office also will be hidden. 

The redaction will shield information not just from journalists but from DeSantis's political opponents, who would likely compile droves of research to use against the governor for public scrutiny. Chief among these could be instances in which DeSantis traveled with lobbyists or others who might have been trying to curry favor with him. 

Wealthy donors helped pay for DeSantis's travel during his successful 2022 reelection campaign and for him to travel to rallies to support other Republicans, according to an Orlando Sentinel investigation.  

Asked about the legislation last week, during an unrelated press conference on public safety, DeSantis said the measure hadn't "necessarily" been his idea but was "motivated by security concerns." 

"The issue is, with a security situation, how you do patterns of movements if you're somebody that is targeted — which unfortunately I am, and I get a lot of threats — that could be something that could be helpful for people who might not want to do good things," DeSantis said.  

Under the new law, other state officials would receive the same protection as the governor over travel records, including the lieutenant governor, leaders in both chambers, Florida Cabinet members, and the Supreme Court's chief justice.

The security argument was nonsensical to Ben Wilcox, research director and co-founder of the good government organization Integrity Florida, given that the new law will apply to past travel records.

"It strains credulity to suggest that hiding travel records could somehow prevent a security breach in the future," Wilcox told Insider. His position is that the public should know how taxpayer money is being spent to fund the trips, particularly because DeSantis's official stops — on everything from signing a bill into law to announcing new funding — often mimic campaign events with DeSantis ticking off his accomplishments or attacking President Joe Biden. 

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"How else can we know whether the travel was an appropriate use of public funds and hold those responsible accountable?" Wilcox asked. 

For decades, Florida has had one of the strongest open records laws in the US, broadly providing reporters access to a wide array of documents, meetings, text messages, and emails. These "sunshine" laws, which provide public access to government proceedings, are part of Florida's state Constitution. 

But under the DeSantis administration, state agencies forwarded more than 280 public records requests to the governor for review in 2021, which delayed their release, according to a WKMG investigation.

Barbara Petersen, executive director of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, told WGCU last week that the measure DeSantis signed into law represented "the biggest assault on our public records law" in her 35 years of working on ethics and transparency issues in the state.

Past Florida officials, including 2003 Senate President Jim King, have been found to have improperly used state planes. "The only reason we know about past transgressions by senior officials and former governors is precisely because people had access to such records in the past," Bobby Block, executive director of the Florida First Amendment Foundation, who testified against the legislation, told Insider. 

Block said his organization and others are considering ways to challenge the law, and accused its proponents of trying to "prevent inconvenient facts from making the news." 

"They want to put information that was formerly in the sunshine and put it in the shade because of their own political ambitions and their desire to — dare I say — not subject their trips to public scrutiny," Block said. "That's not sunshine and that's not accountability."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement still plans to make the total cost of flights for the year available, but it won't be broken down by each individual trip, Block said. A better solution to assuage security concerns, he said, would have been to consider redacting specific information about law enforcement personnel, citing the number of security staff that travels with the governor as a possible option to consider.  

DeSantis has not definitively answered questions about whether he'll run for president but is widely expected to do so sometime after Florida's lawmaking session ends this week, though an announcement may not come until June or even later. 

Should he enter the contest, he'd face off against former President Donald Trump, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley , former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy . Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina announced an exploratory committee  and former Vice President Mike Pence is also expected to enter the contest. 

Trump has relentlessly attacked DeSantis over the last six weeks, and while the governor has dropped in the polls he still remains the only hypothetical presidential candidate from a growing list that polls second to Trump. 

Trump's campaign recently criticized the governor for being on a foreign trip and book tour while Florida lawmakers were in session, circulating an email to reporters with an image headlined "Never in Town."

Another elections related bill is headed for DeSantis that will allow him to maintain his seat as governor while running for president. The re-writing of the so-called "Resign to Run" law will also ensure that DeSantis could return to the governor's mansion if he were to lose the GOP primary nomination contest or the presidency. 

Watch: How Ron DeSantis rose to the top of the GOP

• Main content

Pakistan highlighted as ‘core part’ of Emirates’ strategy as Dubai’s annual Arabian Travel Market event concludes

Sa’adia Reza DUBAI: Pakistan was highlighted as a “core part” of Emirates’ growth strategy as the annual Arabian Travel Market concluded in Dubai on Thursday, having discussed new trends in a sustainability and tech-driven future. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates Airline, also identified future areas of growth of Pakistan. “Pakistan remains a core part of the strategy for Emirates,” Kazim told Business Recorder at the Arabian Travel Market. “The demand for outbound Pakistan-Dubai flights is very solid. We are covering Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sialkot.” “As Emirates grows, we want to see more capacity being deployed especially out of northern Pakistan, while cities like Lahore and Islamabad too, can take more flights, as we see demand getting to a bottleneck situation. “And this is precisely where the engagement comes in,” he said, adding how the governments are talking to each other. He remains hopeful that access can be granted where Emirates is able to provide capacity that meets the current demand. Kazim also spoke to Dubai’s record tourism numbers as well as the burgeoning hospitality industry. “The industry, especially in the UAE, is booming.” The annual event featured over 2,000 exhibitors and representatives from more than 160 countries, and was attended by over 46,000 industry professionals, including 33,500 visitors. The 31st edition of ATM also featured industry leaders in seminars and workshops focusing on the latest and the pressing industry topics. Meanwhile, Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, added how Dubai was able to “break its own tourism records”. “We have 5.2 million tourists who came in through the doors in Q1 of 2024 — a 11% year-on-year growth,” he said on the sidelines of the event during an interview with CNN. Wafi Ishaq, Regional General Manager ISC and GCC (Revenue & Commercial division) at Etihad Airways, also alluded to the strong demand coming out of Pakistan. “UAE is one of the biggest destinations that we are trying to promote, and attract business out of the subcontinent and GCC especially in Pakistan. “Pakistan is one of the important regions that we are focused on for 2024. We are increasing our flights out of Karachi and making sure we are doing well in Islamabad and Lahore also. “In the future, we hope to cover more destinations out of Pakistan,” he added Experts at the 4-day event also highlighted how the future of travelling demands passenger experience is time-efficient, seamless and customised to suit individual needs. This year’s theme, ‘Empowering Innovation – Transforming Travel through Entrepreneurship’, also highlighted the importance of start-ups and entrepreneurs in shaping the sector’s future. On cue, airlines have identified several innovative measures such as the use of AI and data sharing as the key differentiating factors between an ordinary and a unique travelling experience. Thought leaders emphasised the overall travel experience rather than simply transporting passengers from point A to point B, with airlines putting the onus on a holistic approach to identify touch points that can further ease comfort. The Middle East, courtesy its geographical positioning, has also developed into a focal point of travel and tourism, with the passenger numbers in the region predicted to reach 429 million this year. Recent research by IATA further shows international passenger traffic increased by 20% in March this year in comparison to March 2023. Moreover, travellers, too, have changed their priorities over time, with more emphasis on sustainable and mindful travel. With this kind of burgeoning air traffic, advancements and innovations in the aviation landscape have become necessary. “On the ground, the industry is working on several innovations, not only to make aviation more sustainable but also to use infrastructure more efficiently,” said Kashif Khalid, Regional Director, Africa & Middle East, IATA, while speaking at a seminar at ATM. “One of these solutions is One ID, where we digitalize tokens for passengers, which enables us to facilitate passengers seamlessly,” he added. With all information and authorisation in place, passengers will be ‘Ready to Fly’ even before they reach the airport, completely doing away with physical documents. With several such developments on the verge, it is no surprise that the UAE has been a leader in bringing these changes. Often touted as the ‘Gateway to the West’, the country has witnessed a massive increase in traffic on airports, both for tourism and transit purposes. Dubai airport alone catered to around 87 million passengers according to recent data; the number is indicated to go up to around 260 million when the new Al Maktoum International Airport becomes operational. For UAE, the aviation industry has taken massive strides from the 3-storey terminal building that was Dubai Airport in the 1970s to have now become the second busiest airport in the world. Moreover, the vibrant air travel landscape is about to undergo a huge amount of technical change in the next 10 years and the country seems ready for it. “Dubai is well positioned to take advantage of that change with the announcement of our new $35-billion DWC Al Maktoum International Airport expansion programme,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, while talking to Business Recorder on the sidelines of the ATM. “Eventually the project will have the capability to house 400 aircraft on individual stands and a total capacity of about 260 million. This proactive approach will ensure that we retain the title we’ve had for the last 10 years of the world’s largest international hub.” Since sustainability was a key component at the event, the discussion also cantered around fuel-efficiency. Narrow-bodied, smaller aircraft which are also more fuel-efficient are taking over, and this will eventually lead to regional airports connecting with much bigger hubs, such as Dubai. According to Griffiths, Dubai could potentially be connecting to 300 cities, which means that airports need to be architecturally- designed to accommodate a much lower average capacity aircraft. This is why the upcoming Al Maktoum International airport will have no less than 400 gates. “We have done some very solid mathematical calculations on how many gates and runways we need,” added Griffiths.

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iOS 18 could finally help iPhones catch up to Pixel's Recorder app

Published on 14 hours ago

• iOS 18 will reportedly include a new AI-powered audio transcription and summarization feature that works across Apple Notes and Voice Memos.
• The feature will likely be offered on iPadOS 18 and macOS 15, too, which Apple will officially preview during WWDC24’s opening keynote.

On multiple occasions, Apple has indirectly confirmed that iOS 18 will be an AI-centric release. While the operating system’s official preview won’t be revealed until next month, rumors have given us an idea of what to expect. The latest report suggests that iOS 18 will bake AI into the Apple Notes and Voice Memos apps, allowing iPhone users to transcribe and summarize their audio recordings automatically.

AppleInsider has learned that iOS 18 could finally bring automatic audio transcription and summarization to the iPhone. If this feature makes it to the public release, users will be able to read a transcript of the audio they’re recording in real time. The AI-powered addition — just like Google’s Recorder app on the Pixel 8 Pro — should also be able to generate a summary that highlights the recording’s key points.

This feature could spare college students the need to rely on third-party solutions for lecture recording and note-taking. While the transcription could naturally have some errors, the original audio recording will remain accessible as a reference. The execution could be similar to iMessage’s existing audio message feature, which allows users to listen to a received recording or read its auto-generated transcription.

iOS 18’s potential AI upgrades in Apple Notes and Voice Memos will likely be available on iPadOS 18 and macOS 15 as well. Considering these features will probably utilize the on-device Neural Engine, Apple could restrict their availability to new iPhones , iPads, and Macs. Either way, WWDC24 kicks off in just four weeks, and we will soon receive conclusive answers.

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Middle Tennessee city recorder abruptly resigns amid financial woes: 'An absolute mess'

Millersville's finances are in shambles and the person who is most qualified to make sense of them submitted her resignation, effective immediately.

Holly Murphy, the city's recorder, sent the commissioners, interim city manager and city attorney a 1,700 word email Monday detailing payroll errors — including employees not getting paid or paid incorrectly — and several payments made from incorrect accounts.

Millersville sits about 15 miles north of Nashville, primarily in Sumner County, though a sliver of the city lies in Robertson County. The most recent population estimate, from July 2022, was a little more than 6,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Murphy served as Millersville's city recorder and finance director before her roles were recently split in two.

More: Millersville names police chief as interim city manager after months of turmoil

Earlier this year, she was placed on paid administrative leave amid a spate of firings in city leadership and was called in at least once during her leave to demonstrate how to handle the financials, according to comments made during public meetings.

She was scheduled to retire in a couple months after training a new finance director. Instead, the buildup of work, from her time on leave and since her return, became overwhelming, she wrote in her resignation.

"As I leave the position I've held for the last 27 years and eight months, I would be remiss if I didn't report to you the current state of the City's finances," she said. "They are an absolute mess. It's apparent that the lack of accounting knowledge, knowledge of our system and just not knowing what they don't know are contributing factors."

Murphy routinely works until 8 or 9 p.m. each night, she said.

"Utilities is a full-time job that requires full-time attention," she said. "Not everyone can do it. I have had very little time to spend with the new finance director and still have no knowledge of her credentials or accounting abilities."

The new finance director did not provide a report at Monday evening's work session, where Commissioner Cristina Templet asked pointed questions about the monthly reports.

Templet said January was comparable to December, but when she looked at February, the financials were not close to similar.

“Like, there’s no expenditures where we had workman’s comp and we had just little, little things on here, service repairs, different things, and it’s like that across the board," she said. “I don’t know what it is, but they just don’t seem to be correct. There’s just a lot of zeros here that don’t seem correct."

Murphy, in her resignation email, pointed out several issues with payroll.

Former employees who were let go or submitted their resignations have not yet been paid their accrued vacation at the end of their employment. Some employees were not getting paid correctly, or at all, Murphy said. Wages were under-reported to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System and nearly $8,000 in taxes for 10 separate payrolls were either not called in, called in wrong or late to the Internal Revenue Service.

Murphy noted that the city "will be penalized by the IRS" for the inaccurate and lack of reporting.

Many of the city accounts were also mismanaged.

Several payments were duplicated, Murphy said, while other expenses were paid from the wrong accounts. In one instance, funds earmarked for street paving, over $344,000, were transferred from the street paving construction account to the general fund to pay a bond payment on City Hall, Murphy said.

"Another vendor was paid by check but then the same check number was used in another transaction, which is normally paid by draft," she said. "Sewer invoices are being paid from the street fund and general fund. Street fund expenses are being paid from the sewer fund. Solid waste expenses are being paid from the sewer fund."

With the mixup in payments, some were missed.

"The City has always paid its bills on time but is now receiving multiple calls from vendors asking when they can get paid," Murphy wrote.

• Travel Planning Guide

Travel Budget for Moscow Visit Moscow on a Budget or Travel in Style

• Moscow Costs

• Is Moscow Expensive?
• How much does a trip to Moscow cost?
• Russia Costs
• Saint Petersburg
• Nizhny Novgorod
• Vladivostok
• How much does it cost to travel to Moscow? (Average Daily Cost)
• Moscow trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

Is Moscow expensive to visit?

• How much do I need for a trip to Moscow?
• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to Moscow?

You should plan to spend around $63 (₽5,802) per day on your vacation in Moscow. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $14 (₽1,315) on meals
• $6.18 (₽566) on local transportation
• $80 (₽7,330) on hotels

A one week trip to Moscow for two people costs, on average, $887 (₽81,233) . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 63 ₽ 5,802
• One Week Per person $ 443 ₽ 40,617
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 887 ₽ 81,233
• One Month Per person $ 1,900 ₽ 174,071
• One Week For a couple $ 887 ₽ 81,233
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 1,773 ₽ 162,467
• One Month For a couple $ 3,800 ₽ 348,143

Are You an Experienced Traveler?

Help other travelers! Answer a quick question about your past travels. Click here: let's do it!

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Moscow cost?

A one week trip to Moscow usually costs around $443 (₽40,617) for one person and $887 (₽81,233) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Moscow on average costs around $887 (₽81,233) for one person and $1,773 (₽162,467) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Moscow will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Moscow on average costs around $1,900 (₽174,071) for one person and $3,800 (₽348,143) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Moscow has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Moscow is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Russia, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its overall travel expenses. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Moscow is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Europe for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Novi Sad, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Avignon.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Moscow Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Moscow?

The average Moscow trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Moscow travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Moscow

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Moscow is $40 (₽3,665). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Moscow is $80 (₽7,330). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 40 ₽ 3,665
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 80 ₽ 7,330

Hotel Prices in Moscow

Looking for a hotel in Moscow? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Transportation Budget in Moscow

The cost of a taxi ride in Moscow is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $6.18 (₽566) per person, per day, on local transportation in Moscow.

• Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 6.18 ₽ 566

Recommended Services

• Private Transfer from Tangkerang Labuai to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) Viator $ 41
• Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Kedungsari Viator $ 41

Flights to Moscow

Rental cars in moscow, what did other people spend on transportation in moscow.

Typical prices for Transportation in Moscow are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Moscow, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Two Metro Passes ₽ 135

Food Budget in Moscow

While meal prices in Moscow can vary, the average cost of food in Moscow is $14 (₽1,315) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Moscow should cost around $5.74 (₽526) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Moscow is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 14 ₽ 1,315

What did other people spend on Food in Moscow?

Typical prices for Food in Moscow are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Moscow, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Lunch for Two ₽ 550
• Lunch in the Center Market ₽ 300
• Breakfast for 2 ₽ 1,000

Entertainment Budget in Moscow

Entertainment and activities in Moscow typically cost an average of $16 (₽1,471) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 16 ₽ 1,471

Recommended Activities

• 2 Days Private Tour to See Bull Race and Raflesia Arnoldi Flower Viator $ 250

What did other people spend on Entertainment in Moscow?

Typical prices for Entertainment in Moscow are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Moscow, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Theater Tickets ₽ 1,150
• Kremlin Entry (2) ₽ 1,000

Tips and Handouts Budget in Moscow

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Moscow is $0.25 (₽23) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Moscow is 5% - 15% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 0.25 ₽ 23

Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Moscow

Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Moscow is $1.25 (₽115), as reported by travelers.

• Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1 $ 1.25 ₽ 115

Alcohol Budget in Moscow

The average person spends about $7.94 (₽727) on alcoholic beverages in Moscow per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 7.94 ₽ 727

Water Budget in Moscow

On average, people spend $0.70 (₽64) on bottled water in Moscow per day. The public water in Moscow is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 0.70 ₽ 64

Related Articles

Moscow on a budget.

Neighborhoods

Food and dining, transportation.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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Gray Zone Warfare What Comes Up quest guide – How to find the flight recorder

Following up on the flight information you grabbed for Handshake in  Gray Zone Warfare , he wants you to go a step further. He knows where a particular plane went down close to Pha Lang Airfield and wants you to find the aircraft’s flight recorder.

The information you need to find should still be on the aircraft. However, the plane’s exact location is unknown, and Handshake needs to seek it out. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any critical details to make finding the plane easier, but he does share that it’s a click out from Pha Lang Airfield, which means you need to find it on foot in  Gray Zone Warfare . Prepare to do some walking to complete What Comes Up.

Where to find the flight recorder for What Comes Up in Gray Zone Warfare

You need to find the plane to the southeast of Pha Lang Airfield in  Gray Zone Warfare . It’s much further away than you might be used to tracking down targets, and you have to adventure through the forest to the southwest of Pha Lang city. It’s a much further distance to travel than the other quests for Pha Lang Airfield, such as Manifest Destiny and A Single Drop .

Hopefully, you’ve unlocked the Golf 2 landing zone (LZ) over by Pha Lang Airfield . This should cut down your journey by a small amount, but it’s not a huge deal if you have to use the Golf 1 LZ. The difference between the two LZs is roughly a minute or so. When you land, it’s time to start walking through the forest and make your way southeast of Pha Lang Airfield. So long as you don’t get close to the airport, NPCs shouldn’t bother you on this journey. You only have to worry about other players who might be on this mission if you cross their path.

When you reach the location, look for a downed plane that’s broken into two pieces. You want to approach the side with the tail and bend down to peek inside. The flight recorder should be sticking out of this part , and you can freely grab it. The flight recorder is an item you need to carry in your inventory, so make sure to place it in your SafeLock slot to ensure that even if you die, this item stays with you, and you can take it back to Base Camp.

The last thing you must do is call a helicopter to meet you at the nearest LZ. You should expect to trek back to Pha Lang Airfield, likely calling a helicopter at Golf 2 LZ. When you return to Base Camp, hand over the flight recorder to Handshake, concluding the What Comes Up quest in  Gray Zone Warfare .

Europe’s STOXX 600 opens higher as travel and leisure sector shines

Europe’s STOXX 600 index edged higher on Monday as travel and leisure stocks led sectoral gains, with this week’s key U.S. inflation prints and a slew of economic data from the euro zone set to test the benchmark index’s record-breaking run.

The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.1%, as of 0715 GMT. The benchmark index scaled to a record high on Friday and logged its biggest weekly gain of 3% since late January, underpinned by a strong set of corporate earnings.

All eyes will be on the U.S. producer and consumer prices inflation, due on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the euro zone’s final inflation and flash first-quarter GDP in the latter half of the week for the global monetary policy outlook.

Europe’s STOXX 600 hits record high on earnings, rate cut optimism

Travel and leisure was the top sectoral gainer, while construction and materials sub-index was the worst hit.

Shares of shipping group Maersk jumped 8.1% to the top of the STOXX 600 as trading resumed after two days.

Italian medical diagnostic group Diasorin rose for the second session, up 2.3% on the day, following Friday’s first-quarter earnings.

German consumer electronics Ceconomy rose 4% after announcing its full-year earnings above estimates.

Citi expects Pakistan to strike new $8bn IMF deal by end-July

Pakistan, imf mission begin discussions on further engagement, kse-100 closes nearly 1% higher amid rate cut hopes, settles at record high of 73,799, rupee registers marginal fall against us dollar, wheat crisis: pm suspends passco higher-ups, india, iran sign 10-year agreement to develop port project, pakistan, us pledge to continue counter-terrorism cooperation, pm shehbaz resigns as pml-n president, makes way for brother nawaz, deputy pm dar arrives in beijing for strategic dialogue, ecp suspends lawmakers elected on reserved seats denied to sic, service long march tyres commits investment of around $108mn to double capacity in pakistan, read more stories.

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Met Gala 2024: What is it, how it started, this year's theme, who will be in attendance

One of American pop culture’s biggest nights, the Met Gala, is happening tonight.

Many fashion moguls, public figures, and celebrities will be stunning the Met’s carpets in original and experimental clothing by designers and brands such as Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Elsa Schiaparelli and Hubert de Givenchy. This annual event is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and is an important night in the fashion world. 

This year's benefit is arising the "sleeping beauties" of fashion, following last year's gala, which honored designer Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019.

Iconic moments at the Met Gala in the past include Zendaya waving goodbye to her Disney roots in a Cinderella ball gown , Kim Kardashian in Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress and Jared Leto "feline" himself as Lagerfeld's pet Birman cat, Choupette.

Think of the Met Gala as a royal ball in fairy tale movies. Here is what to know.

What is the Met Gala?

Met Gala, also known as The Costume Institute Benefit, is actually a fundraiser that benefits the museum's Costume Institute. Last year, the event set a record and raised over $22 million, according to Vogue Business .

Is the Met Gala the same every year? 

There is a different theme every year, as it matches an exhibit at the Met. This year’s theme for the benefit "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," also the name of the accompanying exhibit at the Costume Institute. 

The "sleeping beauties" are not inspired by the Disney princess, but rather refer to treasured garments in the museum's collection that are so fragile that they need to be housed in special glass "coffins" rather than on mannequins, curators said. Garments will be displayed in a series of galleries organized by themes of nature.

Is the Met Gala theme also the dress code?

The theme and the dress code are different, but related. This year's dress code is "The Garden of Time," inspired by J.G. Ballard's 1962 short story of the same title, according to Vogue. 

Does the Met Gala have hosts?

Yes — they’re called co-chairs and honorary chairs who work with Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue. Chairs for the Met Gala are usually celebrities who actually do some work before the actual Gala, such as helping with decorations, choosing the menu, curating guest lists, and hosting the guests as they arrive. Think of it as a committee that’s planning a big event. 

This year’s Met Gala co-chairs include Zendaya , Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth, and honorary chairs are Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew . 

How much is a ticket to the Met Gala?

For invited individuals, the cost of entry to this year's gala is $75,000, according to CBS .

When is the Met Gala?

The Met Gala is the first Monday in May, as is tradition. The exact date for the 2024 event is May 6.

What time is the Met Gala red carpet? How to watch live, stream

The Met Gala will be livestreamed on Vogue's website and social media channels beginning at 6 p.m. ET, and will air live on E! starting at 6 p.m. ET.

Who will be at the Met Gala?

Guests at the Met Gala are typically a surprise, but the co-chairs are among the handful of confirmed attendees. Several guests at the Met Gala have already been confirmed, including Rihanna, Sydney Sweeney, Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist, Nicholas Galitzine and Kelsea Ballerini, according to Capital UK . 

Recent attendees have been Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Cardi B, Serena Williams, Usher , Doja Cat, Barry Keoghan and couple Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade. It's unclear if they will give their best on the carpet again this year.

What happens after the red carpets?

What happens inside the Met Gala event is not recorded. This night includes a dinner followed by performances, according to CBS . Cher, Rihanna, Madonna and Lady Gaga have performed at the Met Gala in years past, among the world's most coveted art and notable artists. 

After the Met Gala, attendees are invited to after-parties where brands and designers unleash more fashion moments.

Naledi Ushe contributed to reporting.