The recorder includes: a converter acquiring external sound and converting the sound into a first signal; an amplifier amplifying the first signal to generate a second signal; a recording unit recording the second signal; a display unit displaying a level of the second signal; and a controller controlling the amplifier and the display unit. The amplifier includes an ALC (automatic level control) unit adjusting an amplification degree for amplifying the first signal according to the level of the second signal. The controller allows a choice of whether or not to cause the ALC unit to operate, allows a choice of whether to display or hide the level of the second signal on the display unit when the automatic level control unit operates, and keeps the level of the second signal displayed on the display unit when the automatic level control unit does not operate.