This article is about the Legend of Zelda item. For the recurring item, see Flute.

Recorder
Artwork of the Recorder
First appearance	The Legend of Zelda (1987)
Found	Level 5 (First Quest) Level 2 (Second Quest)
Use	Plays a melody with various effects
Effective against	Digdogger

"A really mysterious, magical item. Use it and it'll amaze you with what it can do."

— The Legend of Zelda manual

The Recorder, also known as the Whistle, is an item from The Legend of Zelda. It is a flute-shaped instrument that can be used to play a melody with several magical effects. During the First Quest of the game, the Recorder is found in Level 5, where it is essential to defeat the boss, Digdogger. When Link blows the Recorder, it causes Digdogger to shrink, leaving it vulnerable to Link's sword. In the Second Quest, it is found in Level 2. The Recorder also heals any jinxes put on Link by flashing Bubbles.

Outside of dungeons, the Recorder has a number of other uses. It is the only means of revealing the hidden entrance to Level 7 in the first quest and Level 6 in the Second Quest, as well as several hidden caves in the Second Quest. When used in any other section of the Overworld, it summons a whirlwind which allows Link to warp around Hyrule, depositing him at the entrance to any other dungeon which he has successfully completed. The Recorder always warps Link to the entrances of First Quest dungeons, even during the Second Quest. For example, after clearing Level 3 in the Second Quest, the Recorder takes Link to where he found level three in the first quest. Level 5's location in the First Quest becomes a Fairy Pond in the Second Quest.

It is possible to warp to the next completed dungeon in sequence by blowing the Recorder while facing north or east. If Link blows the Recorder while facing west or south, he will be taken to the previous warp destination in sequence. Also, if he blows the Recorder multiple times while the whirlwind approaches, he can cycle through the sequence indefinitely. The Recorder only takes Link places where he has completed the dungeon, so if they are done out of order, Link will skip over the unfinished dungeons in the count.

The six-note melody that is produced when the Recorder is used appears again in the main title sequence of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This is sometimes unofficially, and somewhat erroneously, referred to as "The Title Theme". The tune is also played by the Ocarina of Wind, an instrument from The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap that has a similar function.

See also Edit

• Fairy Ocarina
• Flute
• Ocarina
• Ocarina of Time
• Ocarina of Wind