by Bill Eburn

A bit of misdirection is used in this solution to the "Carrying Voices" challenge.

The spectators are given the recorders with the blank stickers and asked to sign their names, or initials. The Magician then takes the recorders back and holds each one up to face the spectator who has signed it, so that they may identify theeir initials. The magician then turns on the recorder and the spectator recites whatever.

The magi then switches recorders and holds up the second one for the second spec to record his message. Each recorder is then given to the correct spec and with whatever byplay you can dream up, they are asked to play their respective recorders. The voices are unmistakably the wrong ones.

The secret is simplicity itself, requiring only a bit of acting on the part of the magi. As each recorder is held up for the spec to record his voice, the other recorder is held in the magi's other hand, which is casually held loosely about waist height, or thereabouts. When the spec is told to record his voice, the magi presses the OTHER recorder's record button, while pretending to press the one in front of the spec. this is repeated for the other spec and thus the voices are recorded on the opposite recorders.

A little experimenting will be necessary to insure that the voices can be recorded properly, but inasmuch as both will be recorded at the same volume, the lowered volume should not be a factor.