Recording device for interviews
Clips on. Captures every word. No phone on the table.
Plaud NotePin S is the wearable recording device for interviews that sits on a lapel or clip and captures natural conversation. HR managers, journalists, UX researchers, and academic interviewers walk out with a full speaker-labeled transcript, a clean summary, and shareable notes. No device on the table and no bot in the room.
Trusted by 2M+ users globally since 2023
What a wearable recording device for interviews does differently
Every interview captured. No phone on the table. No bot in the room.
Plaud NotePin S is a wearable recording device that clips on and records natural conversation without placing a device on the table between you and the person you are interviewing. Phone recorders and tabletop devices create a visible barrier and can change how freely sources speak. Plaud NotePin S sits on a lapel or clip, captures both voices at close range, and delivers a speaker-labeled transcript and structured summary in under 60 seconds after the interview ends.
3 artifacts, ready when the interview ends
Speaker-labeled transcript
Every word attributed to the right voice. Searchable, timestamped, and exportable for quotes or compliance.
AI interview summary
Key themes, direct quotes, and follow-up questions extracted automatically from the conversation.
Shareable structured notes
Paste directly into Google Docs, Notion, or your research platform. No reformatting and no manual entry.
Works across every interview format
Plaud NotePin S clips on. No phone on the table and no attendee bot in the session.
Workflow fit
Is Plaud NotePin S the recording device for interviews that fits your workflow?
Most recording devices for interviews are phones or tabletop recorders that sit between you and your subject. Plaud NotePin S is a wearable clip that stays out of sight and captures both sides clearly. Check whether the difference fits your workflow.
Built for your role
Built for professionals who conduct interviews every day
Pick the role closest to yours.
HR managers and hiring teams
Pain
Interview notes depend on who was paying attention and who wrote fastest. Candidate responses get paraphrased or lost between the interview and the debrief.
How Plaud helps
Plaud NotePin S captures the full conversation and produces a verbatim transcript with speaker labels. HR teams compare candidates from the same accurate record.
Best output
Interview transcriptJournalists and reporters
Pain
A phone on the table or a visible recorder changes how sources speak. Transcribing a 60-minute interview from audio takes time that cuts into deadline.
How Plaud helps
Plaud NotePin S is worn rather than placed. The transcript is ready before you leave the interview location. Exact quotes are searchable in seconds.
Best output
Verified quotesUX researchers and product teams
Pain
Running a user research session while simultaneously taking notes means missing detail. Transcribing sessions manually takes hours per participant.
How Plaud helps
Plaud NotePin S records the session while the researcher listens and asks follow-ups. The transcript arrives automatically with speaker labels for analysis.
Best output
Research notesAcademic researchers
Pain
Qualitative interview data requires a verbatim record that can be coded, cited, and shared with a supervisor or IRB. Manual transcription is slow and introduces error.
How Plaud helps
Plaud NotePin S produces a timestamped verbatim transcript that is exportable in text format. Coding and citation are ready to begin immediately after the interview.
Best output
Verbatim recordHow it works as your recording device for interviews
How Plaud NotePin S captures your interviews
Compliance & trust
Record interviews safely and legally
Interview recording consent
Always obtain explicit consent from the interviewee before recording. For employment interviews, document consent in writing. For journalism, follow your outlet's editorial standards on recording sources. Many jurisdictions require all-party consent for recorded conversations. Check local law before every interview.
Privacy by design
Recordings stay on-device until you choose to process them. No background uploads and no audio sent to third-party servers during the interview.
Encrypted storage
AES-256 encryption in transit and at rest. Your interview audio is never used to train AI models.
Data handling
Full verbatim transcript is available for any downstream compliance, legal, academic, or audit workflow. Structured summaries are organized by speaker and theme.
Why people switch
Why journalists searching for a recording device for interviews choose Plaud instead
Based on buyer reviews and community posts about recording devices for interviews, these are the three setups professionals came from and the specific reasons they switched.
Switched from
Phone recorder app
Most common starting point for interview recording
"Recording on my phone works, but the phone has to sit on the table the whole time. Sources clock it immediately and it changes the conversation."
Why they left
- Phone must stay face-up and visible throughout the interview
- Audio quality drops if the phone is moved or covered
- No transcript or summary. Manual transcription required after every session
What Plaud does instead
- Plaud NotePin S is worn, not placed. Nothing visible on the table
- Both voices captured clearly at close range regardless of room layout
- Full transcript and summary delivered automatically at the end of the session
Switched from
Tabletop digital recorder
Standard professional interview recorder
"The Sony captured clean audio. But I still had to sit down and transcribe the whole interview myself. A 45-minute interview took three hours to process."
Why they left
- Device on the table creates a visible cue that changes how subjects speak
- Audio file only. No transcript, no summary, no searchable quotes
- Manual transcription and note-writing required after every session
What Plaud does instead
- Plaud NotePin S clips on. No device between interviewer and subject
- Speaker-labeled transcript produced automatically from the audio
- Key quotes and themes extracted without manual review of the full recording
Switched from
Laptop or tablet recording
Common setup for remote and in-person interviews
"Typing notes on a laptop during an interview meant I kept missing things. And the mic pickup was inconsistent depending on where people were sitting."
Why they left
- Typing during the interview means missing detail and disrupting flow
- Built-in mic captures room noise and drops off-axis voices
- No automatic speaker ID or structured summary
What Plaud does instead
- Plaud NotePin S records hands-free so the interviewer can focus entirely on the subject
- Close-range wearable capture picks up both voices consistently
- Automatic speaker labels and structured summary ready when the session ends
Stop transcribing interviews. Start analyzing what was said.
Get Plaud NotePin S built for interview capture.
Customer stories
What interviewers say about Plaud
“I used to dread the transcription step. Now I walk out of an interview with the full transcript already done. I can focus on the follow-up questions instead of typing.”
Read story →
“We conduct dozens of candidate interviews a week. Plaud gives every interviewer the same accurate record. No more relying on whoever had the best handwriting.”
Read story →
“I used to spend three hours transcribing a one-hour interview. Now the transcript is waiting for me when I get back to my desk. I can start coding the same day.”
Read story →Real Plaud customers. Full stories at plaud.ai/blogs/user-story.
Recommended devices
Choose the right recording device for interviews
Pick the form factor that fits how you conduct interviews.
If you...
Conduct in-person interviews and want a wearable device that stays off the table and out of sight
If you...
Run phone or video interviews and need AI transcription from a dedicated device
If you...
Primarily conduct phone call interviews and want a lightweight recorder that attaches to your phone
wearable AI recording device
Plaud NotePin S
Best for in-person and fieldwork interviews
- 17.4 g wearable design, worn as lanyard, clip, or wristband
- 20hr continuous recording for full interview days
- Nothing on the table. Records hands-free at any location.
physical AI note taker
Plaud Note Pro
Best for phone and video interviews
- 50hr battery for multi-day interview trips
- 4 MEMS microphones, picks up voices up to 5 meters
- Covers phone calls, video calls, and in-person sessions
AI voice recorder
Plaud Note
Best for phone call interviews
- Pocket-sized, attaches to your phone for call recording
- 20hr battery
- One-tap recording, no app on call
30-day money-back
1-year warranty
Lifetime support
Which device is best for recording audio?
For interview use, the best recording device depends on where the interview happens. In-person interviews benefit from a wearable device like Plaud NotePin S because it clips on and keeps the desk clear. Phone and video interviews work well with Plaud Note Pro, which sits flat and records both sides of the call. Both produce a speaker-labeled transcript automatically.
What is the best voice recording device?
For interviews specifically, the best voice recording device is one that captures both voices clearly without creating a visible barrier between you and your subject. Plaud NotePin S is wearable and clips on, so nothing sits on the table. It transcribes in 112 languages and produces a structured summary automatically after the session ends.
What is the best recording device for sensitive topics?
For interviews on sensitive subjects, you want a device that is unobtrusive and processes audio securely. Plaud NotePin S is worn rather than placed, so it is less visible during the session. Audio stays on-device until you choose to process it. No background uploads occur during the interview. Always obtain participant consent before recording.
Do I need consent to record an interview?
Yes. Always obtain explicit consent from all participants before recording any interview. For HR and employment interviews, document consent in writing. For journalism, follow your outlet's editorial standards on recording sources. Laws vary by region. Many US states require all-party consent for recorded conversations. Check your local laws before every session.
What is the best recording device for journalist interviews?
For journalist interviews, Plaud NotePin S is the strongest option because it is worn rather than placed on the table. Sources speak more freely when there is no visible device between them and the interviewer. The transcript is ready automatically after the interview, with searchable quotes and speaker labels. No manual transcription is required.
Related articles
How to Record Interviews and Capture Accurate Quotes
A practical guide to recording interviews clearly, capturing exact quotes, and getting speaker-labeled transcripts ready for publication or research.
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5 Best Wearable AI Note Takers for Journalists in 2026
Compare the top wearable AI note takers for field journalists, including Plaud NotePin S, for transcription and recording on location.
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What's the Best Wearable AI Recording Device for User Researchers? (2026)
Compare the top 5 wearable AI recorders for in-person user interviews, field studies, and contextual inquiries.
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How to transcribe interviews efficiently in 2025: tools, tips and real examples
Use AI tools for automated transcription, speaker ID, and summaries to get fast and accurate interview transcripts without manual typing.
Read more →Before you record: let everyone in the interview know and obtain their consent. Recording laws vary by region. Many US states require all-party consent for recorded conversations. For HR and employment interviews, document consent in writing. For journalism, follow your outlet's editorial standards. Plaud's built-in disclosure beep plays at the start of each recording to help cover the notification step automatically.
