UPDATE, 2008-02-29: Many readers have been asking what I think of the new crop of Olympus voice recorders with "ultra high quality stereo recording mode." After poring over the specs for the new WS and DS models, I just requested a review unit of the WS-311M, which seems to have the best combination of features and price to meet the criteria you've listed in the comments below. Thanks for hounding me on this! I'm looking forward to checking it out and will report back in a few weeks.
Incidentally, our intrepid reviewer Mark Nelson is currently checking out Olympus's new flagship audio recorder, the LS-10, a $399, 24-bit model that more accurately deserves the high-quality label.
Based on the avalanche of e-mail I've received, my digital voice recorder reviews have echoed around the world. The #1 reader question is "Which one should I buy?", to which I essentially respond, "Read this."
(Mark Nelson, who's in the middle of reviewing his third high-quality portable recorder for us, has an even terser answer.)
But because most people ask politely — and have intriguing applications in mind for these cool little gadgets — I usually end up adding more detail. (Favorite opener: "I am looking for a digital voice recorder for my son for his 20th birthday and came across your name in an Amazon review, which led to your website, which led me to purchase your book. I think he'll really like it." Now that's the way to grab a writer's attention! ;-)
Often, too, a reader will show me a feature I'd overlooked, like the guy who said the reason my WS-200S keeps losing the time is because its clock resets when you slide the USB plug out of the battery pack. (As I noted here, recorders that automatically stamp each recording with the time and date make wonderful audio diaries.)
Or there's the father who wrote, "I have begun to consider purchasing a digital voice recorder to capture the little melodies that I sing to my two-year-old daughter. I play music in my spare time, and melodies keep running through my head, non-stop almost! But as soon as the moment passes, I forget the melody and wish I had something to pull out and put my little ditty on so I might work on it later."
So today I thought I'd shake out the e-mail bag and share some of the insights readers and I have come up with. Here they are, in chronological order and lightly edited:
From a Female Tenor
I have been in the market for a digital voice recorder and had settled on the Olympus WS-200s, but according to Olympus it is not Macintosh-compatible. You mention in your review of the DS-2 that you will probably buy the WS-200S. I am curious how incompatible the WS-200S is with Macintoshes.
Dear Tenor: I just sent back the DS-2 (whose only real drawback was that it was too big for my pocket) and bought a WS-200S. Both models work fine with a Mac. They show up on the desktop as external drives. The DS-2 also comes with Mac software that lets you play files, name them, transfer them, edit them, and convert them to AIFF format. I found the editing section to be poorly implemented, but if you need to make precision edits, you can convert the files to AIFF and use another program.
The WS lacks a number of niceties, such as the backlight, timer, alarm, and file-naming, but it's the perfect size for me. It also has a built-in USB plug and twice the memory. To play its recordings, you'll need to download a free program like Windows Media Player or VLC, but otherwise, it's Mac-compatible out of the box. [Update: The reader eventually bought a WS-320M and reported, "I ran it through its paces at rehearsal last night and was very pleased with the results."]
From a Helpful Son
I want to buy my dad a simple digital voice recorder he can use to record meetings. He is 73, so I want something simple. He attends meetings with a sizeable group.
Dear Sonny: I've used only three voice recorders extensively, all of them Olympii, but the DS-2 might be a good choice for your dad. The important recording buttons are right on the front, the display is backlit and easy to read, and the stereo mics make conversations easier to understand.
For more on portable recording, check MiniDisco and Transom. There's also a special type of mic called a boundary effect or pressure zone mic (PZM) that's supposed to be especially good for recording rooms of people because it minimizes reverberation.
From a Reporter for Fortune Magazine:
I'm in the market for a new recorder for interviews; I think the MiniDisc has run its course. I'm curious how, now that you've had the recorder for a few months, you think it's performed. Your colleague Giles opted for the WS-200. I'm curious whether you tried that model as well and, if so, why you went for the DS-2. I basically need something that will record a full day's worth of interviews and play well with my Mac.
Dear Fortune: I sent back the DS-2 review unit and bought a WS-200S because of the smaller size, integrated USB plug, and greater capacity. Those three factors (especially size) made the WS the better fit for me, but I think many people would be better off with the DS. In short, the DS comes out ahead on its backlight, bigger buttons, and the ability to name files. Changing settings is slightly easier, and it picks up less handling noise. For interviews, you might want to use an external mic anyway so you can get closer to your interviewee.
The WS doesn't come with WMA software, so for transcribing interviews, you'd have to convert the files to MP3 with the shareware program EasyWMA I mentioned in the review. (You may also have seen my article on turning your Mac into a transcriber; the AppleScripts that power that process stopped working in QuickTime 7; I need to rewrite them.)
I did the first five interviews for my book with a MiniDisc recorder, which was easy to use but annoying because of the fiddly discs and the inability to transfer files to the computer. Newer "Hi-MD" models do let you upload your recordings, but I'm not sure if they work with Macs. [Update: The latest ones do.]
If I were getting a portable field recorder today, I'd probably go for the Edirol R-1 [Update: and now, the R-09], but that's because I also record music and sound effects. For voice recording and interviews, I think the DS-2 is the way to go.
Hey, thanks for the feedback. Interesting about the WS-200. I almost got it, but decided not to because I couldn't tell from the Olympus page whether it had a backlight or not. I ended up getting the Olympus DM-20 from Amazon.
Hey, that does look good. I wonder why I overlooked it before. (Price and size, probably. And maybe because the frequency response tops out at 8kHz.) But I like the metal case, and the MP3 playback ability could come in handy, as there's apparently no way to make WMAs on the Mac. [Update: That is now possible with Flip4Mac.]
As for the Edirol — I think that that's going to be the machine to have in a couple years, but I think it's still too big right now. I need something that records well enough for me to transcribe myself later, but not good enough to make radio shows or podcasts.
Yeah, the Edirol wouldn't have replaced a voice recorder; it's more competition for my desktop recorder, a Korg PXR4. There are several podcast producers using DS-2s, interestingly.
From Someone Who Read My DS/WS Shootout
I'm with you on the WS-200 features and I'm very close to buying it. Quick question though: In this article you stated that the DS-2 had "more Fast Forward and Slow playback speeds, with better sound quality." Which makes me concerned about the WS-200's sound quality. The DS-2 has better sound quality than the WS-200?
Dear Concerned: Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to the quality of the WS-200S's fast and slow playback, which seemed slightly worse. (I was comparing it to my memory of the DS-2, though.) But the bigger speaker on the DS-2 definitely sounded better. [Update: It turns out that the DS-2 also uses gentler data compression than the WS-200S (double the bit rate), so it should sound better across the board, other things being equal.]
From a Newspaperman
I'm developing some new media here at the Philadelphia Inquirer and am eager to see how much mileage I can get out of a DVR [digital voice recorder] as a source of audio files. If it's not too much trouble, I'm hoping you could email me a short snippet of audio from Olympus DS-2 so I can hear what it sounds like. Between your review and another on Epinions, it sounds like a big step and I'd like to learn more -- but at $100+ it's a little too pricey to take a flyer on!
Dear Philly: There are several audio examples at the end of the review.
From a Songwriter
I saw that some voice recorders have an editing feature so you can pause, go back, and re-record over a section. I think the Sonys do that. Does the DS-2 have that feature?
Dear Rerecorder: You mean punch in? I know you can do that in the Olympus DSS Player software, but I don't think it's possible on the DS-2. (Of course, with 199 nameable recordings per folder and five folders, you have a lot of organizational ability.) I may be wrong; you can download the manual to check. [Update: It appears that the WS-300 series does have punch-in ability. When in doubt, read the manuals.]
I followed up on the manual link you suggested and it doesn't look like the DS-2 has an overwrite (or punch-in) function. That's unfortunate because it seems to have the best feature set of the bunch for the money. In my case I want to get song ideas down as I have them and that usually involves re-recording verses or parts several times. For straight recording the DS-2 would be perfect; however in my case I might have to go with the Sony ST25. I read a brief review of it and there are a few concerns I have: one is an auto gain control and the other is handling noise. A minor issue would be no backlight.
I think most voice recorders have AGC. And I know it's more expensive, but the Zoom probably has more of the musician features you want—including punch-in. Better to get something that does exactly what you want than save a bit of money and compromise on usability, I think.
Do you know if the DS-2 has AGC?
It sure sounds like it. I particularly noticed it when recording from the line input. And you can't turn it off. There are two levels of mic sensitivity, but no manual level control. The directions say to adjust the level on the source when recording through the line input.
Were your recordings of the Taiko group done with AGC on?
Yes. And that may give a clue — I started the recording from maybe 70 meters away, then walked to within five. The level doesn't change much, does it?
Most of my compositions spring out while I'm in the car, so an ultraportable device with basic editing features is called for. For collecting samples, portability is also important because I hear sounds I want all times of day and night. Aside from sound quality and portability, the main advantage of going digital for me is the ease of transferring everything intact to a computer.
Because you can assemble clips in the computer, not having rewind-and-punch-in may not be as much of a problem as you think. You'd just record a "pickup," redoing the botched part in a new file. I did a voiceover session that way last week (using high-quality gear) and it was nice not to have to think about editing at the time. I just had the speaker announce the pickup ("page 3, paragraph 2") and move on. I'll sort it out later.
If you're worried about AGC, you may not be happy with the sound of any voice recorder. But for me, I'd rather have something with reasonable fidelity that was small enough to have with me ALWAYS. That's why I settled on the WS-200S. I think the DS-2 sounds slightly better (especially in terms of handling noise), but the WS is the ideal size, so it gets used.
From a Loving Wife
I enjoyed your very helpful review of the DS-2 and your enthusiasm for recording. I'm looking to buy my husband a digital recorder for his birthday and was comparing the Olympus DS-2 to the DM-10...what would you recommend? It would be cool to get an MP3 player thrown in, but not if it detracts from the real purpose of recording his jazz guitar lessons. He currently uses a small Sony portable tape recorder which sounds awful. The specs look similar on the two recorders and the DM-10, while more expensive, has an AC adapter...
Dear Wife: Although I haven't used the DM-10, I'd say it's probably not worth buying just for the MP3 playback feature, because it will hold just one hour of imported MP3 music. And the AC adapter is unnecessary unless his guitar lessons last more than 12 hours at a time. ;-)
One telling spec is the frequency response — the DM tops out at 8kHz, whereas the DS goes up to 17kHz. the DS also has built-in stereo mics. The DS-2 records 65 minutes at highest quality in stereo, so for longer sessions, a DS-20 (which has twice the memory) might be better.
From Another WS-200S Owner
Looking for an inexpensive, podcast-worthy recorder, I wound up purchasing the WS-200s. The onboard microphones give a tinny sound because they're, well, onboard. So I bought the Olympus ME-50s stereo microphone — another $60 (2/3 the price of the recorder) — but it resolved all my concerns. And yes, when recording only your voice, put the microphone sensitivity setting on Low. It doesn't affect the quality of the recording, and it significantly reduces background sounds. On the other hand, with the external microphone and high-sensitivity setting, you can pick up sounds you can't hear with your unaided ear!
From a Guitar Student
The part that confuses me is the pecking order of the recorders. Olympus bills the DM-20 as their top-of-the-line model (as far as I can tell), but when I look at its specs and compare them to the specs of the cheaper models, I don't really see a big difference (except in the price). Which Olympus model would give me the highest recording quality, 128MB of capacity, and USB?
Dear Confused: I suspect there are multiple pecking orders in the Olympus line. The closest models to the DS-2 seem to be the DS-20 and WS-200S. (I guess you saw my follow-up article.) According to the frequency-response specs on Olympus's site, the DM-20 would have a duller sound, topping out at just 8kHz with its internal mic. By the time you'd added a better-sounding mic, you could have bought a MiniDisc recorder.
So it seems the DS-20 or WS-200S would best fit your requirements. And if an hour of recording at a time is enough, then the DS-2 would work, too. Despite having more features, the DS-2/20 models are actually easier to use than the WS-200S because of their bigger displays and buttons. The extra features are buried.
These are still voice recorders, though. I wouldn't say they have "high-quality" sound. For recording a guitar lesson, they'll be at least as good as a cassette tape deck. But for pristine music recording, you should look elsewhere.
From a Hacker
I'm about to buy one of these great little Olympus voice recorders, and I'm wondering if you've come across any way to hack into either of them and add some more memory.
Dear Hacker: The best way to double the memory in the DS-2 would be to buy the DS-20 instead. Because it's so easy to transfer the data to a computer, you may not need as much memory as you think. I never filled my old V-90 and it was a one-way audio pit (no computer transfer capability). My WS-200 currently has 3.5 hours of recording time left. Depends if you're using it as a flash drive, I suppose, but if you need to carry huge files, you'd be better off carrying a dedicated flash drive as well.
From a Proud Mom
[My son] is entering a student journalism competition and needs to submit the entries on CD. That leads me to think I need [a recorder] that records at CD quality, despite most of his material being destined to play on the radio. It looks like the recorder you "wish you'd bought" doesn't actually record at CD quality. He has a bad track record with electronic devices, but I'd like to get him a nice one that could withstand the Arizona heat and some moderately rough handling enough to last a couple of years while he decides if this will really be his chosen profession. I followed your link to the review of the M-Audio Micro-Track 24/96, but it didn't sound very sturdy and was about $500 as well. I'm hoping to stay under $250 (and his dad would be happier if it was under $150!).
Dear Proud Mom: Guessing that the requirement to submit on CD is mainly for the judges' convenience, I would recommend the DS-20 (again, the higher-capacity version of the DS-2 that I reviewed). Your (lucky!) son can increase the recording quality by keeping the mic close to the source and/or using external mics. The DS-2/20s are also sturdier, easier to use, and come with software that makes it easier to organize and edit your recordings.
I've heard from professional newspaper and radio reporters that they were considering buying DS-2s after reading my review, so they should provide sufficient quality. I have another portable recorder I use for recording music, but it's much harder to operate.
From a Lawyer
I am probably going to invest in a Digital Dictation System for my law office, and am closely considering either getting 1) the Philips Speech Mike with USB connection (possibly the Speech Mike Exec Classic, or Speech Mike Exec Pro), which you can purchase together with the Philips transcription software bundle, called Speech Exec Pro, or 2) the Philips Pocket Memo 9400 with the same Philips transcription software described above, or 3) the Olympus DS-4000 along with the transcription software kit by Olympus, the AS-4000. If you have any thoughts on these products (digital voice recorders and the bundled software), I would be most grateful.
Dear Lawyer: I'd ask the person who's going to transcribe your files which system s/he'd prefer! You may want to talk to Shelley Chance of Pro Doc Services. I hired her to transcribe more than a dozen 45-minute interviews for my book, uploading the audio files to her server, and she did a fast and accurate job.
From a Canadian Who Wears a Suit
I've spent the evening searching for a voice recorder. Your articles are the most relevant I've found. I've got a Creative Labs MuVo Micro N200 and agree that with you that it's much too cumbersome to start a recording. I'd like something I can use instantly without looking at buttons or a small screen (e.g., while driving). Also something which can record a day's worth of presenters at a conference to assist my notetaking. Finally, I want audiofiles that can be used with Dragon NaturallySpeaking (Nuance/Scansoft-certified recorders are too expensive).
I was leaning towards the Olympus WS300M based on specs (memory, recording time, battery usage). It's $200 in Canada at bestbuy.ca) vs $170 for the DS-2. I've now concluded that DS-2 is superior. I'll visit a Best Buy tomorrow to compare the two. After the MuVo, I no longer believe that smaller is better (the MuVo display is too small to read). I normally wear a suit and may find the size of the DS-2 is a reasonable compromise for a larger screen, better sound, and larger buttons.
[Two days later]
I looked at both models again and bought the WS-300M. I like it. The buttons controls are easy enough to use. The sound quality is great (though I can't compare with the DS-2). The screen is readable. The USB connection is sooooo nifty. What an excellent idea! I wish the recorder came with a case for protection. If larger capacity models were available, I'd probably have gone with the 512 MB model, though I can certainly "manage" with what I have. I'm now set for two full days of seminars next week. Thanks again for the valuable information you provided. It really helped me make my decision.
From a Uruguayan Journalist
I will be flying to New York in a couple of weeks and I would love to purchase a voice recorder, but since there are a lot of items on the market it's really hard for me to decide which one suits me better. I can't expend much more than $100, so I really can't risk returning home with a product that is unsatisfying.
As you can guess, I'm going to use it almost exclusively for recording interviews, so what I've read about "noise reduction" [a DS-2 feature] caught my interest, although I've learned that this tends to disappoint. MP3 playing and those other things are nice, but far from a priority.
P.S.: I've a couple of friends insisting that I should go with the iPod and an accessory. They say that I would get more (MP3 playing, memory) for less cash. Are they correct?
Dear iPodder: I'd consider other features before noise reduction; it's more of a gimmick than a useful tool. Better to get a good recording than rely on cleanup. Keeping the mic close to your source is the key to that.
Of the voice recorders I've tested, I'd recommend the Olympus DS-2 or its higher-capacity twin, the DS-20. You might also consider a MiniDisc recorder. If you plan to transfer recordings to the computer to transcribe, be sure you get a model that lets you do that. MiniDisco.com is a good source of MiniDisc information.
I don't think you can get a recording iPod for $100 unless you buy used, and in that case you may need to replace the battery before long. A bigger issue is that iPods aren't designed for recording, so you'll need to fumble with onscreen controls and external mics, which is distracting in an interview.
There Ya Go!
You probably noticed some repetition in my answers; from now on, I'll probably refer readers with buying questions to this page so I can spend my time checking out new gear and techniques. Coincidentally, I just got a nifty set of binaural mics today; my hope is that they'll help me overcome the handling noise of the WS-200S while capturing an even sweeter stereo image. More soon!
UPDATE, 2007-11-19: A lot of readers are still asking, "Which is the best voice recorder for me?"
"Best," of course, is a term only you can define. My criteria in buying the Olympus WS-200S for myself included:
- Positive experiences with two previous Olympus recorders
- Pocketable size
- Stereo mics
- Standard batteries
- An integrated USB plug and USB Mass Storage support, which lets you drag files over to a Mac or PC without running proprietary software
- Reasonably simple controls
- Reasonably good sound
Olympus now offers several other models with better audio specs. Last I checked, other voice-recorder manufacturers such as Sony and Panasonic still had cruddy audio specs, which is why I've continued to recommend Olympus. The company has specs and PDF manuals for many of its recorders on its site, so after reviewing some of the issues discussed above, you should be able to tell yourself if a particular model will work for you.
For a bit more cash (albeit more bulk as well), you could pick up a non-data-compressing recorder such as the Zoom H2, which our reviewer and readers liked. —David Battino
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I have an RCA VR5220 digital stereo voice recorder with USB feature that works great in noisy environments. But it does not have an alarm feature to tag at least one file. I only need about 256 or 512 meg of storage. Need USB and alarm feature most. Any help with that?
I have a question.
I am looking into digital voice recorders and I have narrowed it down to Sony and Olympus, but this is not the question. For the most part, these companies make a good product.
I want to find a software that can transcribe voice to text for meetings, lectures, teleconferences, and other forms of media. Something that I won't be directly speaking into.
After reading the horrible reviews about Dragon Naturally Speaking(all versions) that would be the last software I would buy, even when the product manager says that it's not capable of doing what I want to, it seems like a waste of money.
How can I achieve voice to text from a digital recorder without all the headaches?
I am the technical support manager for Recorders.com and we specialize in providing the right digital voice recorder solution for our clients (i.e. physicians, attorneys, law enforcement, students). Here are some links that your readers may find useful:
1. Olympus DS-4000 has been replaced by the DS-5000
http://www.recorders.com/info/blogs/70/Olympus-DS-4000-has-been-replaced-by-the-Olympus-DS-5000.html
2. WS-500M Olympus Digital Voice Recorder
http://www.recorders.com/info/blogs/59/WS-500M-Olympus-Digital-Voice-Recorder.html
3. Moving from tapes to digital - is it worth it?
http://www.recorders.com/info/blogs/42/Achieve-optimum-success-with-the-Olympus-DS-3400.html
These links are just a few samples of information available at www.recorders.com/info.
Warmest Regards,
Sandy Dean
Dear Sir,
I am completely techincally stupid.
I need a voice recorder to record lecturers taht run lessons for my culinary school so that i can then download the lessons and write a teaching manual. I need something with a good sound recording as i will be translating the lessons from Italian to English.
I was thinking of something that would involve a microphone clipped to the lecturer that will then download to a recorder thati can transfer to my computer. I dont understnad all the techinical jargon that i read on most websites at it will be the first time i have dealt with a situation like this.
Can you help with any suggestions.
Much appreciated,
Melina
i bought a olympus digital recorder model vn3200pc and when i usemy head€phones to listen to dictation only 1 of the headphones work i wasted mymoney on this product.
@Mari: To boost a weak signal, use the Normalize function in Cubase or another audio editor. Cubase should also have a Loudness Maximizer plugin, which can raise the perceived level more.
To get a louder signal the first time, make sure the mic setting on the recorder is in the high-gain position. I don't know if the Philips model offers this, but some others I've used offer both high and low settings. If the recorder has level meters, adjust the mic setting so they're close to the maximum without ever reaching the max. (That will cause distortion.)
If the paper-shuffling sounds overlap the audio, you'll need to call in some heavy artillery like Izotope RX, a powerful noise-reduction program. If they're between words, you can snip them out in an audio editor.
Is there any way you can tell me how to boost a poor digital signal from a Phillips (new) voice recorder. We recorded a seminar we were taking and went to make a cd from it and could barely hear a thing. Is there also a better way of using it to get a better signal. We were about 5 feet from the presenter and still got a poor signal. We need to get the signal boosted and make a CD copy of the seminar.
Please give us imput. This seminar cost us 1,000.00 each. We were becoming teachers of the art and now our recording of it is not good enough. We also have Cubase but the gain function is not good enough. Also there are some loud paper shuffeling sounds to get rid of or minimize.
you can send me an email at taxspam33@yahoo.com
Thanks
I have been checking out Olympus digital recorders for some time, I think this might be the best choice.
@Pepe: Is it possible to transfer recordings onto a Mac and have them transcribed into text by voice recognition software?
Yes. I recommend choosing the software first and then checking the programmer's site for a list of supported voice recorders.
Also see my article Turn Your Mac into an Audio Transcriber: It explains how I wrote my own program in AppleScript to help me transcribe interviews. It lets me control the playback of an audio file from my Mac keyboard so I can type the transcription myself. You can download the AppleScripts for free at the end of the article.
I'm a Mac user and am interested in using a digital voice recorder to record thoughts, observations and conversations for my writing projects.
Is it possible to transfer recordings onto a Mac and have them transcribed into text by voice recognition software such as Mac Dicate, or perhaps software that comes bundled with certain voice recorders?
Any thoughts on products that meet the specs for my projects?
Hi,
I seem to have locked my Olympus WS-300M. Any ideas? Also, does anyone know any good voice recognition software that could automatically transcribe a range of voices i.e. one that isn't trained for one voice?
Thanks, Sue
@Ron: I want to get a recorder for my wife to record her music group. I thought about the Edirol, but . . . the quality of the audio was not mentioned on the chart. . . . I read the quality of the Zoom H2 and H4 was not good.
The comparison chart shows the highlights of our extensive reviews, which include numerous audio examples so you can judge the quality yourself. Each review also discusses ease-of-use at length.
I have a Zoom H2 and my friend (also an audio journalist) has an Edirol R-09. We often set up both when we're jamming, and we both prefer the sound of the H2. The sound is not "stellar," as our chart notes, but it's fine for most of my applications. The main drawback for me is the H2's tiny screen.
After you browse our reviews, I'd recommend downloading the manuals for the models you're interested in and going over them with your wife to gauge how easy the recorders are to use. All of the recorders on our chart will make good recordings, but some are friendlier. Also note the comment in the article above from the female tenor who found that a simple voice recorder suited her choir needs.
I want to get a recorder for my wife to record her music group. I thought about the Edirol but I noticed on the comparison chart, the quality of the audio was not mentioned.
Any suggestions?
I would like to keep it below $400 but I read the quality of the Zoom H2 and H4 was not good.
hi am from the phillipines am looking for a best voice recording so i can back up the audio of wedding video that we cover..what we do is we put a voice recording on the wall speaker of the church
Just to answer a question below:
Stuart Jayson said:"OK, maybe I'm the only person in the world who's asking this question, and likey it's dumb, but why don't any of these manufacturers create a unit with an SD or Micro SD slot so you can expand the memory??"
The Edirol r-09 does have a SD slot.
Hi,
I do not have much Idea about digital voice recorders, never used any before. But now I am looking forward to buying one to use in the classroom for recording lectures. Something that would be able to record clear voice from a distance. Something with internal battery, not external AAA or AA. At least 7/8 hours of battery charge and memory support is preferable. And ofcourse with USB connectivity with laptop. Price range in flexible. Can you suggest me anything please? If you were in my position, which one would you have bought?
Thanks.
A Student
I'm trying without luck to connect my Olympus digital recorder to a telephone recording control device to record interviews. Any suggestions? I have a Radio Shack telephone recording control.
@Manish: Please suggest me a good model of voice recorder to record my songwriting ideas so that I won't forget them.
Lots of models will suit your needs. Some features I'd recommend would be big, easy-to-operate controls; a high-frequency response of at least 11kHz for clarity (15-plus kilohertz would be better); and a USB connector so you can back up your ideas to computer. Also look for a model that has USB Mass Storage support, which means the recorder appears to your computer as an external drive. That enables you to drag the files over rather than having to run proprietary software.
Frequency response is sometimes listed in terms of sampling rate; halve the sampling rate to find the maximum frequency response. For example, a recorder with a 22kHz sampling rate would have a maximum frequency response of 11kHz.
Please suggest me a good model of voice recorder to record my songwriting ideas so that I won't forget them. I want to capture me singing and playing the guitar or piano at the same time and I want the sound quality to be better than the sound recorder feature in Canon Digital cameras. I might sound a bit out of the world - that's because I have never tried any voice recorder yet, but am dying to get one. I also need it to record the music class sessions. Help me!
OK, maybe I'm the only person in the world who's asking this question, and likey it's dumb, but why don't any of these manufacturers create a unit with an SD or Micro SD slot so you can expand the memory??
OK, maybe I'm the only person in the world who's asking this question, and likey it's dumb, but why don't any of these manufacturers create a unit with an SD or Micro SD slot so you can expand the memory??
I found this comparison chart useful for selecting a voice recorder.
They have Olympus brand only though.
www.mdiusa.com/recorders_comp.htm
Anyone have a suggestion on a model that does a very good job with voice activation?
@Raj:
I am considering buying the Olympus WS-210s to record my concerts (I'm a musician). Would this ... produce at least CD quality sound?
No. Look into a recorder designed for music. We've reviewed a bunch here.
Hi,
I am considering buying the Olympus WS-210s to record my concerts (I'm a musician). I was hoping to connect the output of the soundboard into the mic jack, so there would be synchronous recording of vocal and all instruments. Would this work to produce atleast CD quality sound?
Thanks.
Hi,
I am considering buying the Olympus WS-210s to record my concerts (I'm a musician). I was hoping to connect the output of the soundboard into the mic jack, so there would be synchronous recording of vocal and all instruments. Would this work to produce atleast CD quality sound?
Thanks.
Hi,
I am considering buying the Olympus WS-210s to record my concerts (I'm a musician). I was hoping to connect the output of the soundboard into the mic jack, so there would be synchronous recording of vocal and all instruments. Would this work to produce atleast CD quality sound?
Thanks.
@Ron:
I would like to transfer telephone voice mails to my computer, a disk or a recorder
To get messages off your phone, I recommend a telephone tap. RadioShack sells one for about $18 that inserts between the handset and body of the phone, routing the sound to a plug you can connect to your computer's line input. You can then use free software such as Audacity to record and edit the signal.
When I was interviewing people for my book, I started with that RadioShack model, but soon upgraded to a better-sounding one from JK Audio for about $50.
If you don't have a corded handset, you can try the suction-cup tap listed on the same RadioShack page, though I doubt the quality is as good.
Another option, if you have a speakerphone, is to record its output with a microphone. You can get good-sounding USB mics for under $100, but a voice recorder would make it easy to do live recordings of your granddaughters as well.
I would like to transfer telephone voice mails from my grand daughters (3 and 5)to my computer, a disk or a recorder - as they are "tiny" voices I want the fidelity such that I can hear them. These will be treasured by my daughter and inevitably by my grand daughters.
I have an Olympus VN-3100PC, I wanted to replace it because it's not Mac compatible so I went for the WS-210S . I'm very disappointed with this recorder because I get an overall better sound quality with the VN-3100, I would've thought the WS-210s would be better but it doesn't seem to be the case. The sound on the VN-3100 is louder and clearer, both recorders set to maximum quality settings.
What other recorder can I get? I need it for interviews in rooms and red carpet.. and must be Mac compatible.
Will the DS-40 have better sound than the Ws-210?
thanks
@Hira:
I am wondering about the voice changing.
There's lots of interesting software that can change your voice. Antares Voice Thing and Screaming Bee MorphVox are two good starting points.
Lisa: I had the same problem. I found a Format option in a submenu, and that did the trick. Good luck.
Hi there,
I am wondering about the voice changing. What is the best way to change the normal voice in technical trumps. Example: recorded voice need to change that is nit like his or her one voice.
Hope to get answer from you.
thanks
Hira
@Stan: I want a digital voice recorder that can change the voice into text.
I've heard good things about the voice-to-text program Dragon NaturallySpeaking. After some searching, I found a list of compatible voice recorders on its site. The article linked above hints that NatSpeak is available in Italian, but I couldn't confirm that.
I am a student; I am in search of a digital voice recorder. I asked my friends to give me some advice but their advice was no avail. I want a digital voice recorder that can change the voice into text. Since I am a student in Italy I need Italian and English program. What kind of voice recorder will be useful for me? Thank you
Stan
Hi, I mistakenly locked my Olympus Digital recorder Ds2. When I try to unlock it I get an error message saying “Read Only Memory. Can you help me unlocking it? Thanks
@Jeanine: Olympus sells USB foot pedals to drive its DSS software. Another (less expensive) option would be pedals and software from NCH.
We bought our secretary a new voice recorder but she is having trouble with the functionality.
Her old Dictaphone still works with tapes and the playback thus happens through a recorder.
This has a pedal that she uses to pause playback while typing and a headset to listen with.
As I understand she can load the info on her computer, so the headset problem is solved, but what
replaced the pedal?
Hi
We bought our secretary a new Olympus VN-2100PC voice recorder but she is having trouble with the functionality.
Her old Dictaphone still works with tapes and the playback thus happens through a recorder.
This has a pedal that she uses to pause playback while typing and a headset to listen with.
As I understand she can load the info on her computer, so the headset problem is solved, but what
can we get her to solve the pedal-problem
(something that she can use with her foot to pause and both hands to type)?
I run a songwriting blog (bloggingmuses.com) and we talk often about digital voice recorders. I used the Griffin iTalk on my iPod for quite awhile. It just got to be a pain always remembering the attachment. I didn't like having my songwriting scrap audio mixed in with my regular music and playlists. I wanted to keep it separate. So I bought an Olympus WS-311 and it seems to be much better because I only use it for ONE thing - capturing songwriting ideas. I even use it for recording our band during practice sessions.
No complaints here.
DM
www.bloggingmuses.com
@CBear:
I take the wav file into windows media it says "Windows Media Player cannot open the WAV file"! Is there a way of recordig onto CD's?
The WAV format is actually a container that can hold many different types of data, not just straight audio. So I'm guessing that the files your voice recorder generates contain compressed audio data. One way to check would be to look at the file size; a mono WAV file at CD resolution (16-bit, 44.1kHz) should be about 5MB. Double that for stereo.
You may be able to convert the file to a normal WAV with dBpoweramp. (It's a little tricky to set up, but instructions are available.) After that, you can burn a CD with Windows Media Player, iTunes, or many other programs.
I have just purchased a Olympus VN-3100pc Voice Recorder, with the hope of burning cd's, not with music obviously but with voice (therapist cd's). However I have downloaded the digital wave software onto my windows (2000) pc and there is no option for this and when I take the wav file into windows media it says "Windows Media Player cannot open the WAV file"! Is there a way of recordig onto CD's??? I am really a Mac user, but Olympus doesnt appear to support Mac, so have reluctantly blown the dust of the Windows PC - any help would be greatly appreciated.
@Melanie:
Try the
Formatcommand on the DS-2, which should erase all the recordings at once. If you can't find that (it's in a submenu), try connecting the DS-2 to your computer, dragging the files to the trash there, and then emptying the trash. That said,Lockis one of the choices in the DS-2 menus.Does anyone know how to UNLOCK the files from the olympus DS-2?? My recorder is full, and I want to erase the files, however it's locked, and I can't figure out from the manual how to unlock it! Any suggestions??!!
@Bob:
Sony has recently come out with a stereo recorder ICD UX 80. Records in mp3, 2 GB memory. Do you have any idea how this would compare with the Olympus models you talk about?
Hey, thanks for the tip! I just read through the manual online and the Sony does look promising — 192kbps stereo MP3 recording, built-in USB 2.0 Hi-Speed plug, and even an alarm clock. I'll see if I can get a review unit. The layout looks a bit confusing: with five buttons in a row, it might be easy to hit the wrong one.
@lindsay:
If you take the batteries out of a digital recorder does it erase the recording?
Not with any of the modern models I've tested. However, I do recommend backing up your recordings to your computer. Your voice recorder is probably in more danger of being lost or stepped on than losing data, but it pays to be redundant.
Sony has recently come out with a stereo recorder ICD UX 80. Records in mp3, 2 GB memory. Do you have any idea how this would compare with the Olympus models you talk about?
I am wondering if the Sony would be good enough for podcasting as well as recording interviews and classes.
Many thanks
Bob
Great article with some useful suggestion although its old
If you have not shake off such a predicament, as the first buyer, I will give up buying where your company
There are several steps you can take to help you get maximum performance from your laptop battery: Prevent Memory Effect - Keep the laptop battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks.
I have an Olympus DM-10 that I have not used for a while and after I replaced dead batteries, I have Chinese characters on the digital display that I cannot figure out how to change to English - - any suggestions?
if you take the batteries out of a digital recorder does it erase the recording
I use my voice recorder for all kinds of stuff. On my songwriting website at bloggingmuses.com I wrote a whole piece on capturing musical ideas with a digital voice recorder.
As a side note. My Olympus WS-300M was mismarked at Staples. It was listed around $120, and I got it for $35. Sweet!
DM
@Kelsea:
In this article, you suggest someone buy an Edirol recorder instead of an olympus for musical recording purposes. Which recorder out there would you recommend for recording musical theatre?
Actually, what I wrote was that the Edirol seemed like the best choice for me at the time. Without knowing your budget, recording skills, and many other factors, I can't guess what's best for you. (To paraphrase the great Craig Anderton, recommending a recorder is like recommending a girlfriend. It's a choice you'll have to make yourself.)
Fortunately, we've now reviewed eight music-oriented recorders in detail. For an overview of their pros and cons — plus links to the original reviews, please see our Portable Audio Recorder Comparison Chart.
In this article, you suggest someone buy an Edirol recorder instead of an olympus for musical recording purposes. I am looking to record shows and theatre and I'm trying to find the best recorders. I have looked at Olympus and Edirol and both say they have a frequency of 44.1kHz. Which recorder out there would you recommend for recording musical theatre?
@Ron:
a WS-200S...has been failing to keep time.
I was having that problem too. As another reader discovered, every time you unplug the WS-200S from its battery module so you can connect it to your computer, the internal clock loses power. If you use the Olympus DSS software, you can update the time while the WS is connected over USB. If you wait too long before returning it to the battery module, though, the clock will likely reset.
There's probably a small capacitor in the unit to maintain power for a very short time. The newer WS-311M I'm reviewing now powers its clock much longer.
I have been using a WS-200S for quite a while and am very pleased with it. However, recently it has been failing to keep time. Can't find any support at the Olympus site. Any suggestions?
@Chris:
explain what the following means in relation to file storage '4 files: 99 messages per file'
Think of it as file folders on a computer. You get four folders, each of which can hold 99 separate recordings. If you pause during recording, and then continue, that counts as one recording. If you press Stop, though, the recorder will make a new file. You can, of course, later combine multiple files in a computer audio editor if desired.
I devote different folders to different tasks: Folder A might be notes to myself, B might be musical examples, C might be interviews, etc.
I was hoping someone could explain what the following means in relation to file storage '4 files: 99 messages per file' I require a digital recorder to note down comments whilst conducting building surveys, I want it to record in just one file no matter how much I stop and start does the 99 messages mean I can only start and stop 99 times?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks
Chris
@Carl:
I want to know if it is possible to connect the audio output from my computer to the microphone jack of a digital voice recorder, and record this output and create an audio file.
Yes, but you'll get better quality by resampling the sound within the computer. That's because the voice recorder's analog input will likely add hiss to the signal, squash the dynamics, and store the signal in a lossy format such as DSS or WMA.
To resample my computers' outputs, I use Ambrosia WireTap (Mac) and Applian Freecorder (Win).
I want to know if it is possible to connect the audio output from my computer (which normally goes to the external speakers) to the microphone jack input of a digital voice recorder, and record this output and create an audio file.
Thanks for your help. CCP
@Kevin:
I need to purchase a digital voice recorder that easy enoguh to use for a 10 year old. We need to be able to hear the teacher but hopefully not too much of the classroom background noise.
Most voice recorders should be easy enough for a 10-year-old to use. I'd recommend going for an inexpensive model that doesn't have multiple modes. (For example, the Olympus WS-311M I'm reviewing now has both recording and music-playback modes, which could be confusing.)
To minimize background noise, put the recorder as close as possible to the teacher. Maybe ask to have your son sit in the front row, or have the teacher keep the recorder on his/her desk.
Consider also how much recording time and battery life you're likely to need.
I need to purchase a digital voice recorder that easy enoguh to use for a 10 year old. He has some auditory processing difficulties and we need to record the lessons in the classroom so we can go over them at home. We need to be able to hear the teacher but hopefully not too much of the classroom background noise. He will also use it to record and playback items he needs to study. Any suggestions?
@Dr. Robert:
What I need is a digital recorder that I can use two ways: Recording my own comment while I am reviewing the material on the imac, as well as the possibility to record my own voice while I am...wearing a sterile gown & facemask).
Interesting! Any recorder with USB Mass Storage Class support should work for the note-to-self situation. (That means a recorder that looks to your computer like an external thumb drive, as opposed to the models that require special software to transfer files.)
For the operating-room scenario, I imagine you'd want to put the recorder in a plastic bag and use an external clip-on mic. For that, I'd look for a model with buttons big enough to hit reliably through plastic. Let us know how it works out.
Hi David,
I have read through your wonderful site with so much information- but I still do not know what to do! I am an anesthesiologist working with an imac computer and Apple's Final cut Studio to make short medical clips that I use for teaching our residents how to perform regional anesthesia procedures. What I need is a digital recorder that I can use two ways: Recording my own comment while I am reviewing the material on the imac, as well as the possibility to record my own voice while I am performing a regional block procedure on a patient (that means I am wearing a sterile gown & facemask). You must get lots of requests and I will of course understand if you are too busy to answer me directly; but if you have the time, your advice would be much appreciated!
Robert Stieneman
@Dana:
Naming recordings on handheld recorders — when possible — can be tedious, akin to entering the letters in Morse code. Several models offer varispeed playback, but the quality varies as well. I'd recommend browsing the online manuals of the devices you're interested in to determine how tricky they are.
If you have a laptop computer, another option would be to get a mic for it. (The Sound Professionals SP-USB-MIC-1 looks promising. I haven't tried it, but I'm happy with another small mic I bought from them.) Naming files on a computer would be easier, and there are numerous inexpensive or free programs that can change playback speed. Some even support footpedal control.
Could use some help.
Let me begin by stating that NO ONE would ever accuse me of being technologically saavy or computer literate.
I am currently a court reporting student who has been using a Sony tape recorder. It has served me well; however, I'm tired of buying tapes and would like something less bulky. smile.
I don't need stereo playback, but I do need to be able to record dictation in a classroom setting. What would also be helpful would be a multi-speed playback. It's nice to practice the same piece of dictation at various speeds. (For instance, something read at 100 words per minute could be slowed down to 80wpm or sped up to 120wpm, etc..)
I'd also need to be able to name the files so I could easily find the dictation piece I needed to practice.
Any suggestions? Please keep in mind that I'm a student and I don't want to pay an exorbitant amount, nor do I need something with lots of bells and whistles.
Thanks for your help, DEW
All the files on my Olympus DS-20 are locked and I can't remember or figure out how to unlock them. The only help I can find online is the troubleshooting page that says "problem = locked file", "solution = unlock file". Yeah right.....but how do I unlock the files? Can anyone help please?
Trying to find manual for RCA Rc5022A digital recorder as I have locked it and can't remember how to unlock! The manual has disapeared
@Wendy:
I [connect] my olympus vn-3100pc to my computer and it makes the noise that is connected but I cannot find it anywhere.
You need to install the Windows transfer software that came with it. As noted elsewhere on this page, the 3100PC does not work as a flash drive. (Use your Web browser's “Find in This Page” command — typically Ctrl-F followed by Ctrl-G — to search for a specific word on this page.)
I have a question about my olympus vn-3100pc. I connect it to my computer and it makes the noise that is connected but I cannot find it anywhere. and can I download files from the recorder into vegas 4.0?
Another low budget unexperienced wannabe-recorder.
Basically, i need one for (more or less), large halls, recording debates, and interviews(in more or less noisy places). I don't need it for anything besides recording(and being able to transfer to the computer_
My budget is about 100$, but they're more expensive here(the price is double).
i was looking at the Olympus VN2100/3100, are those good?
@Wayne:
If I tried to play it on the recorder, it got about halfway and then stalled
That's a drag. I suppose you could re-record the headphone output of the voice recorder (if it has one) into your computer to salvage the first part of the file. On a live interview I did last year, I ran two recorders in parallel. That turned out to be a good idea, because one of the recordings came out much better.
Ironically, for an earlier phone interview with legendary producer Phil Ramone, I also ran two recorders, but hooked them up in series. (In other words, I fed the output of one into the line input of the other.) I must have been running both off AC adapters, because the combination produced an overbearing ground-loop hum.
Hi David, don't ever recommend an RCA RP5022A recorder. The thing corrupted an important eighty minute file on me. Via USB it said "file corrupted". If I tried to play it on the recorder, it got about halfway and then stalled, even though the recording is reported to be, and is the correct size for eighty minutes.
Back to tape...
I would like a simple micro recorder to record class lectures. What do you recommend?
@Ashleigh:
i was wanting to know if the olympus voice recorder VN-2100 would be able to transfer on to computer
The specs for that model show that it doesn't have a computer interface. You could transfer your recordings in real time by playing them out of the voice recorder, through a cable, and recording the analog signal into the computer, but that's a hassle and degrades the sound.
would i be able to record sound from tv or dvd player
Yes, but it would be faster, easier, and better sounding to plug the TV or DVD player directly in to your computer. For DVDs, you can also use programs such as Audio Hijack (Mac) or Total Recorder (Win) to grab the audio directly from the computer's DVD drive.
Hi
i was wanting to know if the olympus voice recorder VN-2100 would be able to transfer on to computer.. so you can playback. would i be able to record sound from tv or dvd player
thanks
Hi,
any news on the Mark Baker (Freelance for radio) question? I really can't afford anything over $200. I looked at the Olympus DS 40 which costs around $145 at Amazon these days, but I'm not sure if I should go for it.
Do you think I could use it also for acoustic guitar and singing recording (good quality but not professional)?
Thanks a bunch!
Nicole
@Anonymous Student:
I need something that isn't too expensive.
What’s your budget? If money allows, I’d go for a stereo recorder, because they give your ear more information to work with. The other important spec is frequency response; the higher the number, the clearer the sound (to a point). Shoot for at least 13kHz. The best voice recorders top out around 20kHz, though few people can hear above 16kHz or so.
@Brad:
I'm looking at the WS-110 and the WS-311m
Comparing the specs shows the 311 has double the memory and better high-frequency response, which should provide a clearer sound. It also appears to have a high-speed USB 2.0 interface (vs. “full speed” USB 1.0 on the 110), which would greatly speed transfers. Any one of those improvements would warrant an extra $15.
I just had a quick question. I'm a college student and need a recording device to record lectures. I need something that isn't too expensive.
I think the more I researched the more confused I became so if you would just point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it.
HI David,
I'm looking at the WS-110 and the WS-311m digital recorders from Olympus. I run an ibook so I've chosen to go with a recorder that uses the WMA format. Any way, I was wondering what you thought about my choices. My main use is to record my own voice and not for interviews or anything like that. I found that I can get the WS-311m for about $15 more and wondered if it would be work doing that. I know that it is also a music player, but I have an ipod and wouldn't use it for that. So, I'm trying to figure out if there is another feature that makes it work spending the extra $15 dollars. Thanks for any insight.
Hello,
Wow. This site is pretty interesting... I appreciate the overview of DVR technology on this site.
I'll apologize in advance for the longish post. Gotta love refining ideas while you write them. :)
I was just wondering what sort of digital voice recorder or other system would be right for me? It's only use would be to record my voice, not anything else.
I'm too shy to fiddle with recording buttons, hold anything up to my mouth, or wear anything visible near my face/ears.
For some reason though, I would enjoy crafting and wearing a pendant to house a tiny wireless microphone. Are there any DVRs that are wireless-microphone enabled? (I'm guessing it'd be a BlueTooth standard?)
Basically, the purpose of having the digital voice recorder would be to have an audio diary for the day. The end result I'm looking for is a transcript of everything I said that day, along with the time-of-day of the recording. I'd be hand-editing everything so I could win I-told-you-so arguments (kidding). I haven't had much success with free speech-to-text software yet, so ideally the DVR would come with speech-to-text software. Windows or Linux is fine. I don't own a Mac, though.
I'm sorry if this doesn't make a lot of sense. Basically I'm trying to say, I'll fight with making a wireless microphone work, so the DVR should support wireless microphones, and I'm tired of fighting with poor speech-to-text software, so the DVR should come with that too.
Thanks in advance, and I'll continue reading this site. I just had to start posting before reading through them all because there are so many, and, it's so late. :)
Sean
@Will:
How do I save my old VN-900PC files and keep my new VN-3100PC files on my personal computer?
I believe the scary warning about deleting all the VN-900 components refers to the program components, not your recordings. However, it would be wise to back up your recordings to CD-ROM. To do that, you'll need to find the folder on your computer where they're stored. Try searching for WAV files; I think the VN stores recordings in ADPCM-compressed WAV format.
As a full time professional journalist I have numerous digital recorders. Mostly I use two Olympus VN-960PC recorders. I have downloaded dozens of interviews from those onto my personal computer. Recently I bought an Olympus VN-3100PC and attempted to install the new "Digital Wave Player for Windows 2000/XP/Vista" disc that came with it. However before I got it installed I was greeted by the following message: "Do you want to completely remove the selected application and all of its components?" Options: "OK," and "Cancel." What does that mean? What I do NOT want to do it lose any of the VN-900PC files on my personal computer. How do I save my old VN-900PC files and keep my new VN-3100PC files on my personal computer? Yours humbly... Will
:Can anybody suggest me a good digital voice recoder cum mobile phone? Would like to use for singing lessons in a closed room. Does the voice recorder which comes with certain mobiles (NOT PDAs or smartphones), is it effective?
@Rob:
Do both the DS and the WS models have a pocket clip to keep them secure?
It's not visible in the photo above, but both have a loop through which you can attach a lanyard. The DS also has a case with a belt loop.
I am interested in carrying a digital voice recorder in my pocket while carrying my equipment.
I don't want it to fall out and break.
Do both the DS and the WS models have a pocket clip to keep them secure?
Thanks,
Rob
Need to purchase a voice/music recorder, which should be fairly portable, for my daughter for music recordings of voice and orchestra music. Was suggested we get a sony walkman mini disc, but I suspect this may not be the best thing to do plus can't find much about it. With this recorder she will upload to a MAC and audit and burn onto CD's for practice and auditions. What would you suggest?
I am a medical student I need a good voice recorder to record lectures. Do you have any suggestion. Please Let me know..Thank you
looking for a didital voice recorder that can record voice over music playing with no hissing sound. I am therapist that makes hypnosis tapes for patients to take home and want better recordings. then I want to down load to make a cd. any suggestions
@Gian:
How do I know if the transcription software will work with any particular recorder?
The software documentation should specify which audio file formats the software supports. Typically, that will be WAV and MP3 at 16-bit, 44.1kHz (aka "CD quality") resolution. There are numerous free programs that will convert other formats to that.
How do I know if the recording is editable when I research the recorder?
As long as you can convert the audio file to WAV format, you should be able to edit it. Sound Forge is an excellent program for that.
See my article QuickStart: Digital Audio Editing for an intro.
I really like your comments. They are very helpful.
I have access to software that will automatically transcribe a voice and I am thinking of trying that for endless self recorded notes.
Question 1) How do I know if the transcription software will work with any particular recorder?
Question 2) Do both Sony and Olympus make the recordings that can be edited on the computer? I have both a Mac and PC. How do I know if the recording is editable when I research the recorder?
Should a program such as Sony Sound Forge be able to do this editing?
Thanks,
Gian
@panOptiko:
it directly records on mp3 format so I had no problem with my Mac computer.
After installing the free Flip4Mac Windows Media components for QuickTime, I found I was able to open the Olympus WMA files in my Mac audio editor, BIAS Peak, so I no longer have to use EasyWMA, the conversion program I mentioned in the article.
@Geek:
I'm wondering if you know how well the recorder(s) you favor might work relative to the fairly loud background noise
Your best bet is to get the mic as close as possible to the speaker’s mouth. If the recorder you’re using accepts external mics, you might try using a shotgun mic. O’Reilly blogger Adam Weiss reviews one here.
I am planning some research where I'd like to ask system administrators to record comments and questions that come up while they are working in a corporate data center setting. I'm wondering if you know how well the recorder(s) you favor might work relative to the fairly loud background noise that is continuously present. I have concerns about how well the voice may standout from the noise, voice activation, etc.
Thank you very much for the info! It helped me a lot to get an idea of what to take into account when looking for a digital recorder.
I just wanted to share that finally I decided for a Sanyo ICR-S278RM. It is just OK for conferences, the record button is just ready to use and the design for USB connection could also be used to make the recorder stand by itself. And more attractive, the principal reason why I opted for this, it directly records on mp3 format so I had no problem with my Mac computer.
@taffyjones:
My typist recieves .wav files by e-mail from other clients They are much smaller
Mono WAV files at 16-bit, 44.1kHz resolution consume about 5MB a minute. So a 20-minute recording would be about 100MB. For dictation, you could easily drop the sampling rate in an editor like Audacity to 22.05kHz and halve the file size without substantially affecting the quality, but that's still a big file.
Convert a WAV to 64kbps mono MP3 instead and the size will drop dramatically, to maybe a 20th the original size.
So unless you need to record on the go, I'd recommend continuing to record into Audacity and then using MP3 encoding software on your computer to crunch down the files for transmission.
E-mail is really best suited for files under 4MB, so you may want to try a free upload service instead. I like www.senduit.com. You click a button, upload your file, and then copy the download link the page generates and send it to your typist.
Great site with highly technical information.I couldn't find any 'reviews" on the web that were not really fronts for merchants.
I have a simple & specific need to send audio recording via e-mail to a typist . I tried audacity & a headphone mike Even on the mono setting 20 minutes of dictation is 116Mb. My ISP will not transmit. Zipped its still 86MB.
My typist recieves .wav files by e-mail from other clients They are much smaller & it seems their recording devices compreses the files before sending. That is all I want to do, save an audio file & e-mail to a typist.I read all your posts & couldn't find an answer.Probably becuse this is such a simple question. I did notice a comment that some high end recorders don't compress the files. So I presume many do compress.Some may have their own proprietary systems.However I would like to find a recorder that can save as a compressed .wav. I know the typist can work with that format. Quality & frequency response are not so important to me
One more question. I'm looking for a recorder that can upload recordings to a MAC. Some of the newer Olympus models say they have a USB connection to PC's. Do you know anything about their compatibility to MAC's? Do you still recommend the DS-2? Or is there a newer model that is compatible with Mac's that you would recommend?
I am looking for something to record interviews with that I could then use later on radio. I was very convinced by your article that the DS-2 is the way to go. But I also saw that your review was written in 2005. Has anything new come out on the market that I should know about before making my purchase?
@Angela: I've heard that Nuance Dragon Naturally Speaking is the best voice-to-text software, though I haven't used it. You'll still have to proofread the transcriptions, though. Even human transcribers make mistakes. Dragon is sometimes bundled with voice recorders, particularly Sony models.
Clean-sounding recordings are easier to transcribe and transcription software works best when trained to your voice, so you may not get very good results with telephone recordings.
I wrote a Macintosh program to help me (manually) transcribe the 56 interviews in my book. You can download it for free. There's a link in that article to a free Windows transcriber program as well.
I am looking for a voice recorder where we can record telephone conversations and then have them transcribed directly on to a PC, i.e., with some voice recognition software, so that no one has to sit down and listen to hours of phone conversation and type them up. Does such a product exist? If so, where do I look, and what is it called? Is there any one product that you recommend over others? Any idea of costs?
What do you recommend for a digital voice recorder that I can use to record exercise class and play back at home and which my husband can use to record telephone conferences on technical matters?
@50+: Please see my reply to Aussie Cop below: We reviewed three top iPod mics here. I've found that dedicated tools work better than add-ons.
Hi, I'm going back to school again, but I'm also pretty old and wish to have a great voice recorder to help me remember what teach is talking about, I like ipod, italk, how do you see ipod , italk compare to a real voice recorder, which one will you suggest for me as an old student ? Thank you so much...old student....
@Lance: Technology marches on, and there are several new models with more memory and better sound quality than the WS-100. Here's a list of Olympus models; you might look at Panasonic and Sony too.
I find that stereo recording helps, but you can probably improve the sound on your current model even more by using an external mic such as those from Giant Squid Audio Lab and Sound Professionals.
For significantly better quality, check out a portable recorder that doesn't compress the sound, such as the M-Audio MicroTrack, Edirol R-09, or Zoom H4. Mark Nelson has reviewed all of them for us and is working on a review of the newest Zoom model, the H2, which costs just $199. Early reports are encouraging.
Hi there. First off I want to say thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. It's much appreciated. I hope mine is simple.
I bought the Olympus Digital Voice Recorder WS-100 and it's fairly decent for me when I record my singing lessons with my vocal coach. Of course though if something is better out there I would like that.
My model doesn't have stereo and I am not that good with technology. Does having stereo do something to make the sound better and or clearer? Cause if so then I will pick a stereo one up ASAP and my other question is, is the WS 200 the latest up to date Olympus version? I don't really need tons of space just the best sound(in other words if there is a 300 version that sounds the same with just more space I would take the 200 version still). Thanks a lot.
Very impressed with you comments. Will be looking at the Olympus DS-20 & the WS 200S and WS 300M tomorrow at Best Buy.
Thanks again for this info.
Dr. W.R. Kotter
@Jim: Thanks for the Diasonic tip. I looked up the specs and was amused to see it boasted a "Super High Quality (32Kbps) Recording Mode!" 32kbps is pretty cruddy. The Olympus models start at double that rate, and current models have 128kbps recording.
Hello,
Have you looked at the Diasonic DDR-5100? It supposedly has a feature that when you play back in fast mode it does not sound like "donald duck". It does seem to only support USB 1.0.
@Chris: Don't expect miracles, but I've heard that Dragon Naturally Speaking is the best voice-to-text program out there. Typically these programs need to be trained to the user's voice, though.
I'm sorry, I misunderstood the reason for this page. I was only asking a question as it pertains to this big mounting problem that I have now. I have probably 2000 tapes to transcribe and am trying to find a fast and easy way to proceed.
Sorry for the confusion!
Can you tell me if something like this even exists? What I need is:
To transcribe interviews from tapes onto CD/hard Copy, Is there a way to play the tapes and have them record on the CD and then have the computer someway automaticaly turn into a text copy so I can print out?
Thank you!
Excellent suggestion. Thanks for all your help!
Suzanne
@Suzanne:
I'm a little concerned it's got *so* many bells and whistles, it'll take a novice like me forever to figure out
In a well-designed product, those extra features would be hidden, exposing just the most common ones. I haven't yet tested the DS-30, but found other Olympus recorders used that two-level approach. I'd suggest downloading the manual and seeing how much you understand.
Thanks for the swift response! I've found a reputable online outlet selling the DS-30 for $120. It has a detachable stereo mic and lots of other goodies. Have you tested this product? I'm a little concerned it's got *so* many bells and whistles, it'll take a novice like me forever to figure out how to do the simple stuff. Any thoughts on it before I take the plunge?
@Suzanne:
Both interviewee and I are soft-spoken women. Will I need an external mic?
You should be fine with the internal mics on the better voice recorders (say, $50 and up). Try using the high-sensitivity setting and placing the mic on a table between your interviewee and you. If the room has a lot of hard surfaces, you might try putting the recorder on top of a heavy towel to minimize reflected sound.
I'd also recommend recording in stereo at the highest quality setting, which gives the ear more information to work with. Make some test recordings at home to familiarize yourself with the recorder's performance.
I think having a computer grinding away would be distracting.
One spec to look for in a voice recorder is frequency response, which determines how bright or muffled the recording will be. Again, the higher the frequency response, the more data your ear has to work with. Shoot for at least 10kHz, but don't worry if you can afford only an 8kHz model; telephones top out around 3kHz and we can still understand them. Of course, the telephone mics are very close to our mouths.
For transcribing, you might try Express Scribe, a free program that runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. I found the interface confusing at first, but quickly figured out how to map function keys to control playback.
Hi David,
Thanks for all the great information. Here's my question. I need to record a series of audio interviews. I need sound that's good enough to transcribe accurately, but no need for broadcast quality. I'd like to be able to transfer the audio to my iBook G4 via USB. Can you recommend an inexpensive, Mac-compatible audio recorder with good sound for, gulp, $100? (I know, I'll probably have to spend more). Here's the details:
1. The interview will be in the interviewee's home, so I can't control for background noise--AC, fridge, dogs, kid, etc. Both interviewee and I are soft-spoken women. Will I need an external mic? Can you recommend one?
2. Another alternative is buying Mac's GarageBand and hooking up an external mic to my G4. I'd prefer a more portable audio recorder than my laptop, but may not be able to afford both Olympus and mic. Do you have any thoughts about this method?
3. Would any of the Olympus's that have come out since this article appeared fit the bill?
Thanks in advance for your help!
@Carrie: Macs can play WAV files, so I'm not sure why Olympus says they can't. One possibility is that it's because WAV is actually a container format that can hold many different types of files, so the Olympus WAVs may contain data-compressed audio. (See my article on embedding MP3s in WAVs for background.)
Indeed, the VN3100 FAQ says the recorder uses two types of data compression, CELP and ADPCM, so I bet that's what's going on: the files it produces are nominally WAV format, but with compressed innards. You may be able to play them with QuickTime, particularly if you install some additional decompression components.
However, from Amazon reader reviews, it appears that the 3100 does not work as an external drive — a terrible design decision in my opinion. So you'll have to keep searching for a PC that will run the Olympus software. If you urgently need to get the files off the recorder, you can do an analog transfer by connecting the recorder's headphone output into your computer's audio input.
Wish I had consulted your website before buying the olympus vn3100pc...and believing the Radio Shack salesperson who insisted it would work with my Mac. It doesn't. Not only is the software incompatible (it only records in WAV) but it does not show up on my mac as an external device--nothing at all happens when I plug in the USB connection.
Not only that, but I borrowed a PC in order to download my audio recordings, and the softwre that came with the device whon't load, and the download available on the Olympus website seems not to be the actual "digital wave player" that one needs (even though it is labeled as such). So I can't download the audio either to my mac OR to the borrowed PC.
any suggestions? If only I could get the device to act as an external drive I'm sure I could figure out a way to tranfer the files to some mac-compatible format....
thanks!
@Jim CT:
your website, my website?
That's up to you, but typically people list their own site. The concept, I believe, is to give our audience some recognition. When someone posts an especially clever comment, other readers can then go to the source for more.
how I can get the best fidelity with as little noise as possible?
In general, you'll want to speak in even tones and keep the mic close to your mouth — yet a little off to the side or angled to minimize the bursts of air from P's and B's. (See podcaster Adam Weiss's mic tips.) I haven't tried the tie clip mic, but have noticed significantly richer sound with some other external mics. Bottom line: experiment. You'll hear right away what works.
I want to go from the DS-2 to Garageband.
With what type of recordings? Voice? Nature sounds? Because the DS-2 can function as a USB mic, the simplest option for voice would be to plug it in to the Mac and select it as a microphone in GarageBand.
If you want to import other recordings you've made, use the Olympus DSS Player software to transfer them to your Mac and convert them to AIFFs, which you can then drag into GarageBand.
Good questions. Thanks for writing.
(In the box above, it asks for a website. Does that mean your website, my website? Do I need to have a website?)
1) Is is true that there's no way to conntrol input (recording) level, and that it can only be done by proximity and mic sensitivity? If it's true, explain how I can get the best fidelity with as little noise as possible. How should I be using the mic and does the external tieclip olympus mic improve things?
2) I want to go from the DS-2 to Garageband to create podcasts for my iweb school site. Please explain as simply as possible. Are there any other sofware programs that I should use? (I did install "Switch" but I don't really understand how to use it.
Going from WMA to AIFF (to MP3??) to Garageband is so confusing to my mind that I am about to send the recorder back to Amazon.
Thanks so much.
@Aussie Cop: The Olympus recorders I’ve used simply number the files sequentially; they embed the date and time in the audio files themselves. You need to use Olympus’s DSS Player application to see the date and time. Other recorders may name their files more descriptively, as shown in our iPod mic shootout.
Thanks for your comments Dave. I still have a question that is not covered in your reviews or questions. When the voice files are created is the time and date recorded in the file name??
Thanks, David. That really helps. - Ben
@Ben: For Mac compatibility, you'll want a device that supports the USB Mass Storage format, meaning it shows up as an external drive when you connect it to a computer. All the Olympus recorders I've tested do that, although based on the number of reader inquiries I receive, Olympus is not making that clear.
Some other recorders, notably Sony models, require a proprietary Windows program to do file transfers.
For recorders that do support USB Mass Storage format, you can simply connect them to your Mac (or PC) and drag the files over, although the recorder may come with a program that offers more flexibility. Olympus's DSS Player, for example, can copy just the new files to your computer, and it enables you to enter descriptions of each file. See my DS-2 review for more background.
The Olympii I've tested use two audio formats, DSS (low quality/small file size) and WMA (higher quality/bigger file size). You'll need the Olympus program to decode the DSS files. In the past, I used a shareware program called EasyWMA to convert the WMA files into more common MP3s, but I noticed that after installing the free Flip4Mac, I could play the WMA files in QuickTime Player or import them directly into BIAS Peak, my audio editor.
Hello David,
I've skimmed through your posts and have been unable to find an answer to a very specific question. I'm looking for a cheap digital recorder that is Mac compatible. During my research, I've not been able to find any cheap recorders that are marketed as being Mac compatible. After reviewing your posts, however, I've come to learn that some recorders are compatible even though they are not marketed as such. My question is: What features does a digital recorder need in order to be Mac OS compatible? Does it just need a USB port or a PC Link cable and the ability to record WMA files, which can then be played using Flip4Mac? If so, is it possible to transfer these WMA files from the recorder to a Mac even though it's not technically Mac compatible? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Best regards,
Ben
@Raj 2: An external mic could still work for those times you want to record your thoughts without showing off your recorder. Just get one that clips on to your collar.
A simpler option would be to call your voice mail and leave yourself a message. There are some Internet-based voice-mail services that e-mail you an MP3 of the recordings.
David,
Thanks for your reply. That helps me little bit. But, I am not looking to record conversations of other people. That is the reason I said handy is better but, not particular about that. I need to record all the ideas that I get in to this recorder and as I do this mostly in my travel, by the time I get back and store them in a computer it would be long time like a week or two. That is the reason I am trying to get a recorder with password protection even, if I loose the instrument, my ideas are not lost. If it doesn't show any signs of a recorder, no one would steal it.
@Raj: Interesting questions. For stealth, you could keep the recorder in your pocket and use an external mic. When I use my Sound Professionals binaural mics, people assume they're earbuds, not mics. That company also builds mics into pens and headphones.
Some new Panasonic voice recorders offer password-protected folders.
Hi,
I am looking for a voice recorder with couple of features which I am not sure is available. I appreciate your help in finding one of this kind. Thanks in advance
1.)It should not show any signs that it is a voice recorder. No labels like Rec,FF/Rew e.t.c.,
2.)Most important is, It should have password protection. Which means, when I record anything we should be able to retrieve it only by keying in a password. If that keying in is on the instrument instead of connecting to computer, it would help.
3.)As always, It would be better if it is handy
My main aim is no one should be able to view the recordings with out my permission. Looks like there are instruments using which we can move our recordings into a secure folder. But, I need something like, after recording any lecture, before we try to perform any kind of function on the instrument, even if we loose the instrument and someone else grabs it, they should not be able to view the recordings.
Olympus have recently release a new range of recorders, the DS-30/DS-40 and DS-50 in the advanced and pro range and the VN-2100PC / VN-3100PC in the lower end of the market. The DS-30, in Australia as well as other countries I am sure, replaces the popular DS-2 model. I have had a play with a DS-30, its very very good. It has a build in mono mic but comes complete with a plugin stereo mic. Its also packed with features, like variable voice control. It has heaps of memory and can store up to 66 hours of audio. Well worth a look. Olympus are certainly stepping up with these models. If you are in Australia or New Zealand have a look at www.dictate.com.au
Thanks.
@George P: Please see my comments to Mike, who asked the same question. You might even try booking an hour in a local recording studio to get a feel for the process. You can get commercial-quality results at home, but it takes time to develop proper microphone technique and experience to process and edit your raw vocal into a polished master.
If you do use a voice recorder for the basic capture, you'll get better results by adding an external mic like a Giant Squid. I'd also recommend using one of the newer recorders that has higher resolution.
I authored 25 books. I see a big demand in having those books on CDs for listenning in the car.
Please recommend the best one to buy and the easiest to handle.Thank you!
GP
i am in Srilanka at Kilinochchi
how i get this?
how many $
and send any detail of this
thanks
@Gail: Quality goes up with price; what do you want to pay? Whatever you pick, I’d recommend using good headphones instead of the internal speaker.
Am an actress who needs to listen to my voice as I study and learn different accents. Which recorder would you recommend that is the best on voice quality?
@Mark: You read my mind. The Edirol seems like a good option, or, once you suss out the menus, the Zoom H4, which streets for $299. Zoom has an even more affordable model on the way called the H2 that we hope to review soon. Alternatively, Olympus recently released the DS-30 and 40 pocket voice recorders, which promise higher quality than previous models. I'll try to check them out soon.
@Mike: For a project of that scope, I highly recommend recording directly into your computer and editing there rather than using a voice recorder. You'll get much better sound quality and the editing will be far easier. For background, see our articles Killer Interviewing Tips for Podcasters, Part 1 (recording), Part 2, (editing), and my QuickStart: Digital Audio Editing.
For input, the simplest approach is a USB microphone. I've been pleased with the sound of the Rode Podcaster, but you can get other decent models for less from Samson, MXL, and Behringer. I prefer the ones with headphone jacks that let me hear what I'm recording so I can adjust my speaking position.
I have authored two novels, and I am writing two more. I have decided to self-publish these manuscripts as audio books and market them on my website. I need a digital recorder with start, pause, stop, edit capabilities, with usb capabilities for upload to the website, and with an mp3 format for downloads. The recorder must have at least 32 hours of recording capacity, since the books are more than 130,000 words in length. Can anyone recommend the best recorder, under $200 that will fulfill these requirements? Thanks a million, Mike
Great reviews and thanks for being so thorough. I am a freelance radio journalist thinking of upgrading from my mini-disc technology to a dedicated digital voice recorder. I was wondering what your thoughts on the best recorder for radio-quality interviewing. Some of the must-have features for me include:
1. Very good to excellent recording quality
2. Able to handle external mics and line-in
3. Good battery life (and preferably store-bought batteries for buying replacements at short notice)
4. Mac compatible
5. Relatively light and easy to carry
6. Reliable and durable
7. Easy to switch on and record fast
8. Easy to dump down onto a computer and edit on the fly
Things I don't really want or need:
1. An MP3 player (just more buttons and menus to try and figure out)
2. Anything with too many recording options and menu lists (too many decisions)
3. Anything that's way too expensive (creeping over the $300 limit would be my no-go zone)
It doesn't really matter what recording format is used, since you can export to the format of choice and edit on Amadeus (or whichever software you like) on the computer. You can also fiddle with other technical settings in the software, so it's not really necessary to have a recorder that's too "smart."
Well, I have read all the posts and I know you'll probably nudge me into professional products like the Edirol and similar -- still I was curious if there are more widely available consumer model that would fit the bill as well.
Thank you!
Mark
I just bought a WS-300M and it looks that I will have to go on for an external microphone for capturing soft-spoken presenters. Any suggestions on what should I look for in an external microphone or if someone can suggest a model that will be even better.
cheers,
@Midwest attorney: Here are four thoughts on capturing soft-spoken presenters in a large room:
I recently purchased an Olympus VN 3100PC for use in recording legal conferences in large halls. With the mic setting on "high" and recording at the second highest quality level, I was able to record the entire day-long conference. All speakers are attorneys and are used to projecting in the courtroom. However, in this large conference hall, which had excellent acoustics, only the speakers who projected the most are easily understood on playback. The more soft-spoken speakers are not so well understood, and there was a fair amount of background hiss. I was recording from the middle of the room in a spot that was probably about as good as any. Do you have a recommendation for a replacement that will do a better job, while keeping the price reasonable (preferably under $150--I paid $58 for the Olympus).
The questions keep pouring in. Here's a bit more perspective:
I think I found my voice recorder thanks to your review of the Olympus DS-2—i.e., Mac compatible, high quality, etc. Anything you've discovered since you'd like to pass on? I'm making a little film using still photos and wild audio and this one seemed a great choice.
The main point I'd emphasize (I mentioned this in the review) is that voice recorders still distort the sound with dynamic compression (i.e., automatic gain control) and heavy data compression. You'll get significantly better sound quality with a non-compressing recorder such as the M-Audio MicroTrack, Edirol R-09, or Zoom H4. We've reviewed all three. Although we haven't posted the H4 review yet, I discuss it with the reviewer in this Digital Media Insider podcast.
You can also hear the effect of using external mics with an Olympus recorder in that podcast. Bottom line is that voice recorders are like pocket digicams—they'll capture some wonderful snapshots you'd have missed otherwise. The non-compressing recorders are like SLR cameras—bulkier and more expensive, but producing significantly better sound quality.
Again, as we mention in the podcast, the decision should rest on your application. For a film in which the audience is distracted by video and background music, little touches of lower-quality sound can work well.
@Johnny: The DS comes with a belt case. See the photo here: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/digitalmedia/2005/05/18/ds2.html.
Both models have loops for a lanyard, so you could thread a string through that and tie the other end to your belt.
I'm interested in carrying a digital voice recorder in my pocket while carrying my equipment. (picking up and setting down) I don't want it to fall out and break. Do both the DS and the WS models have a pocket clip to keep them secure?
Thanks,
I would have liked to get the DS-2 but I have Windows 98, I see on the Olympus site that it requires Windows 2000/higher.
I need good quality recording for voice and music as well, but am not prepared to spend more than £100. Is there anything decent, compatible with Windows 98?
Digital recorders have come a long way since I bought my first in 1995. Unfortunately, I have been unable to duplicate the functionality of my'95 model. The product descriptions tend to be too ambiguous to know whether a particular model will do what I want. My primary use is as a reminder device. As such, each entry should be able to be tagged with a time to play it back. But not play back the actual memo at the appointed time, only beep. (This actually happened to me with a Sony model I tried ... picture arriving at a meeting before the reminder went off, only to have it blurt out, Go to the #%&*@# meeting!).
The voice-IQ was perfect for this except that the later models removed the ability to enter the alarm/remind time by hand. (I believe this was the ultimate reason for the product's commercial failure.) The digital quality
was lousy, but the ability to have multiple, one time, and multiple recurring reminders has only been duplicated as far as I know with PDAs and recently possibly with some cell phones. The Voice IQ even had a very nice algorithm for persisting in reminding that beeped every 5 minutes three times, then every 15 minutes three times, then once per hour. That algorithm allowed one to ignore the reminder if more important things were happening in the
present. Additionally, each memo is time stamped and if you run through the list visually, it tells when it was recorded and when it is supposed to be played back.
Do you or anyone else know of any digital recorder that does all of this? I bought several of the originals off Ebay, but they have all worn out...
TJ
I want to buy a voice recorder to recorder in classroom required:
1. Clear audio from far distance
2. Small, easy to use
3. Recorder for two hour or more
Michael: Try turning down the level on the tape player. It sounds like you’re overloading the voice recorder's input.
? for you? I am transfering tape cassete from a handheld tape player out the phone jack to a mic jack on my digital voice recorder. How can i get rid of the intferience? It records but looses massive quality and doesen't come out clear.
thanks