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California provides an exception-You can record someone without their consent, if it will be used to prove kidnapping, extortion, bribery, or a violent felony. Most states will not allow you to record someone in furtherance of your own crime or tort.
I think it's always OK to record conversations without permission or delivering prior knowledge but the anti - recording laws are meant so that it can't be used in court if it's done illegally without permission or delivering prior knowledge, not that they can separately punish you for doing so.