A compact device used to record and play microcassette tapes. Usually battery-powered and monaural, microcassette recorders have become extremely popular among those who need to record telephone conversations, legal depositions, lectures, and similar circumstances. Being optimized for this sort of situation, most recorders are equipped with features like voice-activated recording and user-selectable tape speed so that one can acheive a tradeoff between recording time and audio quality. Microcassette recorders range in cost from $20 to upwards of $60, depending on the features and brand name. These devices are an invaluable piece of equipment for anyone who enjoys humorous unsolicited telephone conversations or being a general pain in the ass by secretly taping other people's activities.