A system for recording or transcribing dictation including means (70) for selectively placing any one of a plurality of recording media, such as tape cassettes (80), in a position for recording or transcribing dictation on the media, a means (94) for displaying parameters of the dictation recorded on the particular medium in the recording or transcribing position, a means for storing the parameters of dictation on said medium when it is removed from the recording or transcribing position, and a means for again displaying the stored parameters when said medium is returned to the recording ortranscribing position. Disclosed embodiment of the storage and display means include a mechanical means, an electrical means utilizing a separate memory for each recording medium, and an electrical means utilizing an addressable memory having particular memory locationsfor each recording medium.