Recorder

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 the Warping Theme 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.

Other appearances

Subseries warning: This article or section contains information on a subseries within the Legend of Zelda series and should be considered part of its own separate canon.

Hyrule Warriors

The Recorder appears as one of the Item Cards used to unlock secrets in Adventure Mode. The 8-Bit Recorder also appears as Zelda's 8-bit Baton.

Hyrule Warriors Legends

The Recorder returns as an Item Card used in Adventure Mode. However Zelda's 8-Bit Recorder Baton does not due to 8-Bit weapons being replaced by Level 3+ weapons.

Subseries warning: Subseries information ends here.

Cameos

The recorder appears in Super Mario Bros. 3, where it is referred to as the "warp whistle". The whistle will teleport Mario to another world in the game. When used, it has the same melody as its appearances in the Legend of Zelda series. A whirlwind will collect Mario as it does Link.

See also

• Fairy Ocarina
• Flute
• Item Cards
• Ocarina
• Ocarina of Time
• Ocarina of Wind