For recording focus groups, I use the Olympus WS series, which records in stereo and costs about $50 from Amazon. If you pay much more than that, you are buying the ability to record music, not voice.

There are no software packages that will turn recordings into transcriptions, but there are programs that can assist you in the transcription process -- such as f4. You might also consider a USB foot pedal to aid with the transcription process.

There is the Dragon Naturally Speaking software that aims to turn recordings into transcriptions. Granted its not that great but it works decently if you have clear interviews with people who have a similar accent to whoever has set up the Dictaphone's voice recognition. It doesn't work well at all for focus groups though. I think with the way technology is barrelling along, more useful voice to transcription software will be available within the next few years.  

Here are some useful programs that I have discovered:

1. The inbuilt dictation feature in Apple OSX 10.11 is outstanding. Came as a pleasant surprise. Just has to be turned on in system preferences. It's accuracy is over 90%

2. For transcription of an existing recording, NCH Express Scribe Transcription Software Pro is fabulous. Used multiple times with great success. Will also enable transcription of video material. 

3. The small, battery powered Sony dictaphones are really easy to use, inexpensive and give excellent sound quality. Great for awkward locations. 

I would recommend Maxqda 12 which allows you to conduct mixed research methods, combining qualitative method with some basic statistical analysis.

Atlas.ti is a very useful software package for organizing and analyzing qualitative data.

If you have already ordeedr NVvivo, then I don't see any reason to consider other software packages, since they all essentially do the same thing.

DEDUCE is a web based qualitative and mixed method analysis program that has the advantage of easy access if you have several coders.  People only need an internet connection.  It also in not costly.

If you have NVivo already don't buy analysis software but do put your efforts into buying transcription equipment. I also use the Olympus WS series recorder. It is cheap and works very well. If you can afford to buy a few of them, do so.  It is nice to be able to lend them out to doctoral students for your projects and theirs. 

Edwin-I will have to try the dictation feature of Apple OS X 10.11. Thanks for that tip!

I currently used NVivo 11 for my mixed methods research. Like the others said (i.e. Barbara Pierce), I do agree on investing for recording devices and transcription software.

For my research, I do interviewing and focus group discussion, so I use Olympus Digital Voice Recorder WS-811 for audio recording and Canon Legria Mini X for my video recording (especially for focus group discussion, otherwise you will get confused who is talking during the transcription - so this is a very useful gadget). They work very efficiently together, especially when you have equipped yourself with back-up AAA batteries for the voice recorder, as well as memory card (I use Sandisk Extreme Plus 80 MB/s 64 GB) and a good tripod for the mini camcorder.

For transcribing, I currently use NCH Express Scribe Transcription Software Pro. With the use of a foot pedal, it is really an efficient combination.

Mendeley

I use NVivo and InqScribe (https://www.inqscribe.com). 

Hello, can a Sony icd ux570 dictaphone be used on nvivo for transcription for qualitative interview?

Thanks