It started with logs and diaries, as an easy way for characters to monologue information that was too time consuming to explain, or just happened off screen. Then came the Cassette Craze, when characters would carry around portable recorders to record the adventures of guys who traveled a lot because writing is not [[RuleOfCool cool]], and diaries are for sissies. This would evolve into the CaptainsLog later, but that's ExtyYearsFromNow, and will probably never happen anyway.

Of course, this is a JustifiedTrope when the speaker is a writer, teacher, journalist, researcher, doctor, or scientist, because it makes for better accuracy when there's a voice behind the words, and it's [[TruthInTelevision really used by said professionals]] in the field. It makes for more detailed information as the person works and better recordkeeping.

It also makes {{Apocalyptic Log}}s that end with the death of the speaker a lot more plausible. Who ''writes'' while they're being devoured? It's the in thing to beg for mercy and scream, and you just can't do that on paper.


[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* In the ''Anime/{{Witchblade}}'' anime, [[ Sohou Reina]] aka 'Lady' is obsessed with self-exploration ([[WildMassGuessing possibly]] trying to figure out [[IJustWantToBeNormal how to be normal human]] despite her [[{{Tykebomb}} abnormal upbringing]]), so she keeps a recorder and dictates her impressions whenever she has any. [[spoiler:Thus, when her recorder is finally broken, it foreshadows her own death, which was [[PhlebotinumOverload imminent]] anyway.]]
* This is used very ominously at the end of ''HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'''s Tatarigoroshi-hen, in which a tape with unknown origins (but is believed and implied to be an interview of [[spoiler:Keiichi]] done by a journalist) is discovered and essentially ends with [[spoiler:Keiichi]] going on a LaughingMad tirade. The DS novel even shows a picture of him completely nuts, although [[FridgeLogic how you can see that on an audio tape]] [[MST3KMantra isn't really ever addressed]].


[[folder: Film ]]

* In ''Film/FourteenOhEight'', Mike Enslin keeps records on tape recorder, a little more justified since he writes books about hotels at which he stays, and it's all taking notes.
* In ''BackToTheFuture'', Doc Brown uses a tape recorder as a log on his experiments.
* ''Film/{{Flatliners}}'': Randy Steckle (Oliver Platt) is constantly talking into his tape recorder, making notes about the experiments and situation and taping what the other characters are saying.
* Tom Ripley in Wim Wenders' ''Der Amerikanische Freund'' (The American Friend) tapes himself. Later he gives the dictaphone to his German stooge as an impromptu gift.
* Dr. Conrad Zimsky (Stanley Tucci) in ''Film/TheCore'' has a tendency to constantly and pretensiously narrate the journey for his upcoming biography, much to the annoyance of the other crew members. Subverted when [[spoiler: he ends up trapped in a discarded compartment with the nuclear weapon about to detonate and [[CriticalResearchFailure "jump start the planet"]]. He tries narrating his final moments only to realise how pointless it would be to keep narrating when all the evidence would be vaporised as soon as the weapon detonates, so he asks himself "[[PrecisionFStrike What the fuck am I doing?]]", drops the tape recorder to the ground and laughs until the bomb explodes.]]
* In ''Film/{{Primer}}'' Aaron constantly records everything people are saying so he can play it back [[spoiler: and cue himself during the next iteration of a time loop]].
* [[Creator/NormMacdonald Norm [=MacDonald=]]]'s character in ''Film/DirtyWork'' is constantly making notes-to-self on his dictaphone, which becomes an important plot device later when he accidentally leaves it on. Notably, the "note-to-self" thing was already an element of Norm [=Macdonald=]'s comedy before the movie came out.
* [[UnbuiltTrope Unbuilt]] in ''Film/HorrorOfDracula'': Van Helsing records notes on a nifty Edison wax-cylinder phonograph (probably a ShoutOut to Seward's phonograph diary in the novel). Alas, it only plays out as a joke when a servant wonders who the good doctor is talking to, and is somewhat taken aback when Van Helsing says he is talking to himself.


[[folder: Literature ]]

* In ''Literature/TheHandmaidsTale'', the stories told by Offred are revealed to have been discovered recorded on cassettes at the end of the book.
* ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'': Dr. Seward uses a phonograph to record his observations.


[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In the FamousAncestor episode of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Shannon O'Donnell, Janeway's [[IdenticalGrandson surprisingly identical ancestor]], uses a tape player to record logs of her travels.
* In ''Series/{{Farscape}}'', John Crichton uses a tape recorder to record messages to his dad. You think he would have picked up something better at an alien pawn shop, but nope.
* Parodied on ''{{Scrubs}}'': J.D. and Turk claim to carry a dictaphone around to take patient notes, but they actually use it to tape their singing when no-one's about.
* Alex in ''AshesToAshes'' records her experiences on a tape recorder, addressing her daughter in them.
* Diane, I've noticed that Agent Dale Cooper in ''TwinPeaks'' constantly records his observations on his handheld cassette recorder, including personal opinions having nothing to do with his job. In fact, there are hints that 'Diane' may not be a person, but the name he gave the tape recorder.
* In the PilotMovie ''The Invisible Woman'', Bob Denver's character used one of these devices.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'':
* The Made-For-Audiocassette ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' Captain Sulu adventure "Cacophony" is presented with the framing device of a Federation special investigator making a report on an suspected prime directive violation by Sulu and the Excelsior. Because the investigator is a bit of an eccentric (played by [[Series/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy Simon Jones]]), he's had all of his source documents transferred to twentieth century audio cassette (The implication is that his final report is the same physical cassette the audience is listening to)


[[folder: Newspaper Comics ]]

* ''ComicStrip/{{Luann}}'''s titular character uses one of these as her diary.


[[folder: Radio]]

* Radio adaptations of ''Dracula'' and ''WarOfTheWorlds'' have appropriately replaced the character's diaries with recording machines. It's especially effective in ''Worlds'', in a late scene the narrator is interrupted by the entrance of another refugee; their important conversation is recorded simply because he doesn't bother to turn off the machine.


[[folder: Theater]]

* The premise of ''KrappsLastTape'' by Samuel Beckett. The main character takes a tape out and listens to it, then makes a new tape. The tape he listens to is always wound to the same part.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'', the citizens of Rapture kept their diaries, notes and messages to each other on personal voice recorders, all of which you find lying about the city. This allows you to listen to their {{Apocalyptic Log}}s while walking around.
** As did its predecessors, ''SystemShock'' 1 & 2.
** Similarly used in the PC game ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}''. Logs and messages from both invading alien races can be found all over the place, often with reams of subplot, and occasionally with hints about unlocking special skills.
** ''VideoGame/{{Doom}} 3'' also used this. As in ''System Shock'', they would sometimes contain door access codes and computer passwords.
** ''Franchise/DeadSpace'' also sprinkles audiologs around like it is candy, with characters telling about how everything went bad. In one extreme example, a man record his monologue ''while he is sawing of his legs''.
*** A lot of those are justified, as they are actually BlackBox recordings from RIGs, backups from security recordings, or sessions of [[MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate somewhat flimsy medical experiments]]. Or, of course, people simply leaving a warning in a bit less blunt of a way than painting it on the wall in their own blood. It's the occasional, random, everyday stuff meant to make you empathize with people who died that you'll never see that makes no sense.
* Done in ''Franchise/TombRaider: Underworld'', to allow Lara to give hints without having to use her VoiceWithAnInternetConnection, which [[TheScrappy annoyed a lot of people]] in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend''.
* ''NelsonTethersPuzzleAgent'' uses a tape recorder. He has a tendency to [[IsThisThingStillOn ramble on without remembering to turn it off.]]
* Though lacking any technical means of conveying the recordings to the player, ''VideoGame/{{Dear Esther}}'' is basically this trope in and of itself. The whole plot, whether you perceive it as a spiritual experience with internal monologue, or metaphorical journey with author's voiceover, is a series of disjointed thoughts narrated in a manner similar to a diary in an epistolary novel. Besides all sorts of musings and associations, it contains a log of a man who deteriorates and dies of his injuries on his way to the top of the mountain.


[[folder: Web Original ]]

* This is pretty much the ''basis'' of ''MarbleHornets''. Justified early on by the fact that most of the characters are film students, and later since [[TheSlenderManMythos the resident]] HumanoidAbomination shows up on tape even when people can't see/remember it, so taping yourself can be a damn good idea.


[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* [[TheSimpsons Bart Simpson]] uses one.
* In ''{{Metalocalypse}}'', Nathan Explosion carries a digital recording device at all times in the event that he has an idea for a song out of nowhere.
* In the ''Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'' animated series, Cruella de Vil is often seen speaking into one: "[[MadLibsCatchPhrase Memo to myself:...]]"
* [[ReBoot AndrAIa]] blatantly {{Expospeak}}s into a cassette recorder about her and Matrix's journey through the games. Including covertly expressing concerns about Matrix's morale, even though he's standing right next to her. And then the cassette recorder is never seen again.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' episode "Ghosts of the Sargasso," Doctor Venture's pretentious narration gives way to panic and desperation as his underwater exploration doesn't go as planned.


[[folder: Real Life]]

* The "black box" from an airplane, often recovered when the plane crashes.