Recorder

Yamaha YRS302B Recorder
$32.50
While I can't compare this plastic recorder to the insanely more expensive wooden models, I can compare it to the ultracheap plastic model I was playing with previously. I could have saved myself quite a bit of frustration had I just gone with this Yamaha model. The difference in tone quality is HUGE - it was only after playing this recorder that I realized how much of my old recorder's sound was breath instead of tone. This instrument sounds *pure*. Also, the difficulty in reaching the high notes has also been fixed with this recorder - it plays second octave notes just as effortlessly as the first octave notes, which was a stunning discovery for me. The notes only start becoming difficult in the third octave, but it's still a world's difference better from my old instrument. It was a great bargain for the price.

Yamaha 20-Series 3-Piece C-Soprano Recorder (Translucent Pink)
$9.49
Very sturdy construction and sounds great. Cant beat the price. I thought it was standard practice to include a cleaning stick to help with the spittle, but this did not.

Yamaha 20-Series 3-Piece C-Soprano Recorder (Baroque-English Fingering, Ivory)
$9.49
I bought this recorder for a friend as a gift to replace a cheaper one. It sounds so good that I bought another one for me, and another one for my son, just to start learning music. As I said, excellent recorder for the price.

Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)
$99.99
My Wife is a freelance writer and conducts interviews on a regular basis. I wanted to get her a recorder to simplify her note taking habits but didn't want to invest hundreds of dollars in something that she wouldn't really use. This recorder sounds excellent and has easy to use features that does exactly what I'd hoped - makes her job easier!

I am very pleased with the quality of the look/feel and function of this device. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good, basic recorder.