Exhibit 99.1

    Digital Recorders, Inc. Announces Surveillance Product Orders

    DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2006--Digital Recorders, Inc.
(DRI) (Nasdaq:TBUS), a technology leader in transportation, law
enforcement, and security digital communications systems, announced
today its Digital Audio Corporation (DAC) business unit, based in
Research Triangle Park, N.C., received a $600,000 order for audio
processing and other specialized equipment from a U.S. federal law
enforcement agency.
    DAC's audio filter products -- CARDINAL and PCAP II Plus -- were
among the products ordered. The orders are expected to be delivered in
the second quarter of 2006.
    "DAC is a well-established, respected supplier of investigative
audio forensics and covert surveillance equipment for U.S. federal,
state, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as their
counterparts in a number of countries. Out of respect for the customer
and these orders' specific purposes, we are limiting our comments
pertaining to order details. However, these orders illustrate
continued recognition of the utility of DAC's covert technologies in
assisting our dedicated law enforcement officials in combating illegal
activities and lawlessness," David L. Turney, DRI's Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and President, said.

    ABOUT THE DAC BUSINESS UNIT

    Founded in 1979 and acquired by DRI in 1995, the DAC business unit
is a leading provider of forensic audio solutions for law enforcement,
intelligence, military, and security organizations in a number of
countries around the globe. Based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., DAC
designs, develops, manufactures and sells audio technologies to
support audio collection, enhancement, and countermeasures
applications. For more information about DAC products, go to
www.dacaudio.com.

    ABOUT THE COMPANY

    Digital Recorders, Inc. is a technology leader in transportation,
law enforcement, and security digital communications systems using
proprietary hardware and software applications. Our products improve
the flow and mobility of people through transportation infrastructure,
mitigate security threats, and enhance law enforcement agencies'
surveillance capabilities. Our transportation communications products
- -- TwinVision(R) and Mobitec(R) electronic destination sign systems,
Talking Bus(R) voice announcement systems, Digital Recorders(R)
Internet-based passenger information and automatic vehicle
location/monitoring systems, and VacTell(TM) video actionable
intelligence systems -- enhance public transportation and mitigate
security threats worldwide. Our electronic surveillance tools,
including microphone amplifiers and processors, countermeasures
devices, speech activity detectors, and noise cancellation equipment,
help law-enforcement agencies around the globe arrest and prosecute
criminals. For more information about DRI and its operations
worldwide, go to www.digrec.com.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Any statement, express or implied, concerning future events or
expectations including the expected timing of order deliveries is a
forward-looking statement. Use of words such as "expect," "fully
expect," "expected," "appears," "believe," "plan," "anticipate,"
"would," "will," "goal," "potential," "potentially," "range,"
"pursuit," "run rate," "stronger," "preliminarily," etc., is intended
to identify forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties including that the assumptions behind the timing and
amount of expected revenues and product deliveries may not prove
accurate over time as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth
in our Annual Report on 10-K filed April 17, 2006, particularly those
identified in Risk Factors Affecting Our Business. There can be no
assurance that any expectation, express or implied, in a
forward-looking statement will prove correct or that the contemplated
event or result will occur as anticipated.

    CONTACT: Veronica B. Marks
             Manager, Corporate Communications
             Digital Recorders, Inc.
             Phone: (214) 378-4776
             Fax: (214) 378-8437
             E-Mail: veronicam@digrec.com