Recording Sphere

Recording Spheres are a magic-based elven innovation, co-opted by the technology-fearing kingdoms of the Edenian South during the Second Age. Used extensively by the Sages of Saltgate in their record-keeping, recording spheres remain the United Kingdom of Wonderland’s preferred method of capturing audio to this day.

Construction

Each sphere begins its life as a translucent glass orb—just an ordinary crystal ball. After an enchantment is placed upon it by a competent spellcaster, the sphere turns opaque. Its color is an off-white by default, but darkens to a rich gray as its storage is filled. The sphere turns red while recording and green during playback.

Abilities

Each sphere can record up to 60 minutes of audio. The quality of the recording is dependent on the space in which the audio is captured. While the sphere does its best to make sure each and every speaker is intelligible and to cancel out any obvious background noise, it does not perform nearly as well in a loud, crowded room as it does in a smaller, cozier space.

Cost

The spheres are more cumbersome than other recording methods, though not any more expensive. The greatest challenge to using them is transporting them to the recording location.

Limitations

As they are made of glass, recording spheres are prone to accidental damage and must be handled with care. They are also designed to be write-once devices, so that must be taken into account (though rumors abound that if you place a piece of Scotch Tape over the right part of the sphere, you can record over its original contents).