There are two basic approaches one can use when considering portable equipment for digitization projects. The first is to use a laptop computer combined with a USB audio interface, microphones, editing software, and optional compact scanner. The second involves the use of traditional stand alone recording devices that operate in a way similar to portable tape recorders of the past that this group emulates. These devices offer simpler more cost effective methods for digital capture of in the field. The second two options are both tapeless systems that rely on proprietary file formats saved to internal hard drives. The files can be converted and exported to external sources.