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Look for some of the following features when purchasing a recorder, especially a digital recorder:

Format

Ask your transcriptionist which format(s) she uses, and buy a recorder with those formats in mind. Yes, you may be able to convert your recorder's format, but that would be a nuisance. Under certain circumstances, it could also lower the quality.

Connection

It should be easy to copy your audio file to your computer. Will it work with your USB port? Do you need special cables or software? Did you see a demonstration?

Recording to your hard drive

Some recorders allow you to connect your recorder to the computer and then under certain circumstances you can record directly to your hard drive and create a file of your choice on the hard drive instead of or in addition to the file on your recorder. If the file is created on the hard drive then there is nearly no limit to the size of the file. That size is determined only by the available hard drive space and you probably have a tremendous amount of room there sufficient for a very large, very long recording indeed. This might be a nice feature but it means that you have to be close to the computer when recording.

File continuity

Some recorders have an annoying feature. Once you stop a file it starts a new file instead of allowing you to continue on the same file. Others let you continue the file when you press record again, and you can start a new file whenever you want to, but the recorder doesn't automatically decide for you.

The transcriptionist can certainly work with multiple files. There's no problem there and with email it's actually easier to send a number of small files. It also reduces the possibility of corruption. On the other hand, when you are creating the recording it could be a nuisance to keep making new files each time and then to have to keep track of them. See if your recorder makes it simple despite the advantages of short files, you want it simple for yourself. See if your new recorder that you're going to buy will easily add on data to existing files or whether it is a complicated procedure to do so.

Dedicated recording

Some recorders also have a lot of other features. They have FM radios, mp3 players, and players with other formats and many other things. There's nothing wrong with that, of course. However, you might want a dedicated player which can handle the recording far more efficiently than one which "also" does recording.

Some MP3 players do just about everything, but the recording features may be weak. It may be difficult to tell when the device has begun to record. It may be difficult to stop the recording without turning off the entire gadget. Many of these devices specialize in fine-quality MP3 song playback, and the recording add-on is bugged.

If you are serious about making recordings then make life easier for yourself and get a dedicated recorder - one that only does recording.

Neck strap

That's right. You might want to look for a recorder that has a neck strap or a hole to accept a neck strap.

When you walk around it is very convenient to be able to dangle the recorder from your neck, possibly tucked into your (shirt) pocket, so that you don't have to search for it when you need it. You're not likely to lose your neck, so the recorder is always available. You can add information or data as you think of it.

Buttons

That's right. You're going to want to have a recorder that has a lot of buttons. The alternative to a lot of buttons would be to have to go through some menus, trying to remember what each menu does, and searching for the right feature that you want. It means that instead of concentrating on recording you have to pay attention to the recorder itself. It means that you cannot operate the recorder in the dark, such as in your car or in bed just reaching for it when it's sitting on your nighttable.

The ability to have a lot of buttons and to get used to them and what they do and just to click on what you need is very useful if you're going to be doing a great deal of serious recording.

These are not the features that the salesman in the store would tell you to look for. He doesn't understand the needs of a transcriptionist. That's why we have listed them here.