Audio Notetaking Technology Comparison

The DRC provides loaners and training for several audio notetaking technology options (Genio Notes, Livescribe Echo 2 smartpen, OneNote, Otter.ai, iPad audio notetaking apps) to students who need to use them as a notetaking accommodation. Read below for a comparison of the features of these unique audio notetaking technologies. 

Genio Notes (Web and Mobile App)

• Licenses are available for checkout by eligible DRC students.
• Unique audio notetaking web and mobile app that automatically breaks up recorded audio into visual "chunks" (representing discreet phrases) that can be color-coded, edited, transcribed, summarized, and quizzed for optimal learning and organization 
• Use the C.A.R.E. process for notetaking --> Capture, Annotate, Review, Engage 
• Record audio in any major web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Firefox) on your laptop or with the free mobile app. Audio and notes are synced between devices via the cloud. 
• Import PowerPoint slides, PDFs, images, and/or screen captures into an "event" (e.g., class lecture) and integrate them with your recorded audio and typed notes accordingly. 
• Adjust voice playback speed (slow down or speed up instructor's speech).
• Have all or selected audio automatically transcribed after recording is done.
• Have custom multiple-choice quizzes generated from transcript (and lecture slides if available) via Genio's AI. 
• No need to buy special notebooks or deal with hardware problems that can occur with smartpens. 

Livescribe Echo 2 Smartpen

• Available for checkout by eligible DRC students. (*Visit Smartpen Loaner Program for more information)
• Echo 2 records audio via the microphone built into the pen.
  • Livescribe Echo demo video 
• Records audio and syncs it to notes that are being written while the pen is in record mode (and also when the pen is in playback mode) 
• Requires the use of unique dot notebooks in order to record synchronized audio and digitize your notes. Cost = $30 for 4-pack of single-subject dot notebooks.
• Easy to retrieve audio notes just by tapping on a written word, sketch, symbol, etc. - hear the audio that was being recorded at that exact moment in time. 
• A digital version of the notes can be uploaded to the free companion software (Livescribe+ Desktop for PC/Mac), where it can be reviewed and organized. Uses handwriting recognition so you can do keyword search of your written notes 
• Alleviates the stress of note taking; never miss anything in class when you record audio 
• Easy to use, but it’s up to you to employ a notetaking technique and structure that works for you.  

OneNote software/app

• Free digital notetaking software for Mac/Windows; part of Office 365.
• Endless canvas with no margins; no need to save document – it is done automatically and syncs with OneDrive 
• Sync your notes between multiple devices (laptop, smartphone, tablet) 
• Create notebooks (e.g., Fall quarter) with sections (courses) and pages (daily lecture notes) 
• Use the "Insert audio recording" feature to record lecture audio that will sync with whatever you type (or write/draw if using a tablet like Surface Pro). Click on what you typed/wrote and hear the audio recorded at that moment in time. 
• Use the “Insert File Printout” (Win) or “Insert PDF Printout” (Mac) to import lecture slides into OneNote so you can take notes on them during class. 
• Convert your handwritten notes to text (works best on tablet computers) 
• Stay organized by clipping webpage articles, inserting photos, creating to-do lists in their appropriate notebook sections  
• No need to buy special notebooks or deal with hardware problems that can occur with smartpens. 

iPad Audio Notetaking apps (Notability/GoodNotes)

Notability

• Records lectures while students write, type, or annotate PDFs.
• Connects handwriting and recorded audio by timestamp, so a student can revisit the point in the lecture associated with a particular note.
• Provides searchable, time-stamped transcripts; students can copy transcript text into their notes.
• Plus plan include audio recording and transcription along with a limited number of monthly quizzes and flashcards.
• Transcription requires an internet connection and works best with clear, single-speaker, single-language recordings. Notability audio transcripts

Goodnotes

• Records audio while students write, sketch, type, or annotate.
• Tapping handwritten notes jumps playback to the matching moment in the recording.
• Produces searchable, editable transcripts; recordings and transcripts can be reviewed and edited.
• Includes controls useful for review: adjustable playback speed and silence skipping.
• Offers on-device transcription on supported Apple devices, which can work offline and keeps audio on the device; cloud transcription supports 99 languages. Goodnotes audio recording, Goodnotes transcription FAQ

Current U.S. subscription costs

• Notability: Plus is $16.99/year (regularly $19.99) and includes recording and transcription. Pro is $79.99/year (regularly $99.99) with unlimited live transcription, AI summaries, quizzes, and note chat. Pricing can vary by region. Notability pricing
• Goodnotes: Essential is $11.99/year and includes unlimited audio recording; Pro is $35.99/year and adds broader AI, sync, and collaboration features. An AI Pass costs $9.99/month. The free plan has a 20-minute recording limit. Goodnotes pricing

Otter.ai

• Licenses are available for checkout by eligible DRC students.
• Live captions and transcripts make lectures easier to follow in real time, including for students who are deaf or hard of hearing or who process spoken information differently.
• Searchable lecture notes let students find a topic, term, speaker, or date without replaying an entire recording.
• Synced audio and text with speed controls supports reviewing difficult sections at a comfortable pace.
• Automatic summaries and action items can help students identify main points and organize follow-up work.
• Speaker identification and editable transcripts can make class discussions clearer and allow correction of errors.
• Flexible access through web, iOS, Android, and desktop apps supports different devices and study locations.
• Audio/video import enables transcription of permitted recordings after class.
• Potential hands-free support: speech-to-text can reduce reliance on typing or manual note-taking.

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If you would like a consultation and training on one or more of the notetaking technology options described above, please visit Assistive Technology for more information.