Olympus DS-2300 Digital Voice Recorder

Other products by Olympus

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 3 x 8 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0009XTDHO
• Item model number: DS2300
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

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  Electronics > Portable Audio & Video > Digital Voice Recorders

• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 16, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
The Olympus DS-2300 Digital Voice Recorder is a professional-grade digital voice recorder in a sleek and stylish package. Advanced features include removable flash memory (the DS-2300 comes with a 16 MB xD-Picture Card), and a backlit LCD to keep tabs on recording times, battery life status, and more.

Powered by two AAA batteries, the DS-2300 can provide up to 20 hours of recording time before needing fresh batteries. The built-in microphone records at an input Level of 70 dBv, and the DS-2300 comes with built-in speakers and a headphone jack for quick playback convenience. The DS-2300 can create up to five folders and can hold 199 messages per folder for a total recording time of up to five hours and thirty minutes in LP recording mode (two hours and thirty minutes in SP recording mode). With convenient USB connectivity, this digital voice recorder is compatible with Microsoft Windows Me, 2000, Professional, XP Professional, Home Edition, Mac OS X 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4 operating systems.

Product Description
The included 16MB xD-Picture Card provides abundant memory and the durability & reliability you need in a removable media card, while superb sound, a large backlit LCD, file management options and other features supply the professional performance you seek in an easy to use, sleek and stylish package. A full dot, backlit LCD provides for easy viewing, even in bright conditions, for clear and quick viewing of recording times, battery life status and more Recording Format - DSS (Digital Speech Standard) Save files in high-compression DSS format using the included DSS Player software Manage audio files in up to 5 customizable folders Use the easily accessible Erase button to quickly erase single files or entire folders Switch between Conference and Dictation settings Compatible with voice recognition software 2 AAA batteries or 2 Ni-MH rechargeable batteries Enjoy efficient battery power with up to 20 hours provided Compact and lightweight design for easy portability Input Level - -70 dBv PC Interface USB Folders Messages - 5 folders, 199 messages per folder Practical Maximum Output - 220 mW or more Speaker Built-in - 28mm round dynamic speaker Microphone & Earphone Jack - 3.5mm mini-jack System Requirements - Microsoft Windows Me, 2000 Professional, XP Professional, Home Edition, Mac OS 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, Intel Pentium II class 333 MHz processor or faster (Processor 500 MHz or faster is recommended), 128MB RAM or more (256MB or more is recommended), Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 or 100% compatible card, 800 x 600 pixels, 256 colors or more, 2x or faster CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM drive, One or more free USB ports, Microphone input and earphone output or speaker, Earphone output or speaker Dimensions - 4.3 x 1.9 x 0.7 inch Weight - 101 grams

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great machine; software buggy with Mac, December 14, 2005

By	J. Brooker (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Received the DS-2300 yesterday. The machine is a keeper. However, if you are thinking of buying this because of it's Mac compatibility, read on.

The DSS Player software installs OK but the first time you connect the recorder with the supplied USB cord, an error pops up that the system extension was not properly installed, that it should be either reinstalled or a replacement obtained from the vendor.

Many of the software functions do not work because of the issue with the extension. Although you can see the device as a drive and the file import function works, none of the functions in the download area of the software are available. You cannot download a folder from that menu, you cannot change the user name, rename a folder on the machine, set the time from the computer, etc.

I paid to activate DSS Player Plus so I can use the software to either split or join files. I tried to split a file a couple of times. It doesn't work, the software crashes and in the process only one half of the split is completed.

I spoke with Olympus tech support on the phone about this hoping to find out there's a replacement driver. No. They confirmed the DSS Player does not run well with Mac OS X (10.4+). No information on when there may be an update.

An email 5 days later from Olympus Tech Support in answer to the same question basically claimed the problem is Apple's fault.

Next question. I can find nothing in the documentation that indicates whether the unit will work with the new M-type XD cards larger than 512MB. On the phone, tech support said I could run the firmware update that's on the OlympusAmerica website and that the unit would work with the 1GB XD card.

However, the email from tech support 5 days later says there is no firmware update for the DS-2300 (it's on their website as an EXE file - I could do the update with a PC), and that the M-type XD cards cannot be used with the DS-2300.

Today I noticed that the description for the firmware update on their website has been changed and now lists the 1GB M-XD card as one of those that can be used.

Sounds like a case of "your mileage may vary".

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid It, March 6, 2007

By	. "just another customer" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

The quality of sound and manufacture of this unit is unacceptable. It was made in China. Although it has an attractive design, the outside is made from the same inexpensive plastic that my $29 Panasonic DVR is made from. The recorder has two modes, SP and EP. SP is the highest quality, but playback still sounds cheap at the highest quality. There also are two microphone settings, Dictation and Conference. In Dictation mode, the microphone can only pick up what is said within about 12 - 18 inches. The quality is audible, but not great. Conference mode only works when one person is speaking in a completely quiet room, something that is not realistic with people shuffling about. Any background noise will render the recording inaudible. Even in a quiet room, the quality is muffled and unacceptable. The high price for this unit definitely is not indicative of its quality, which appears to be low. I have other, less expensive units, that are better built and have a higher audio quality. I do not understand the other reviews, other than to believe someone with less experience using DVRs would have a different expectation. Perhaps it works better with an external microphone or when used solely in a closed environment (such as a quiet, closed interrogation room), which I believe defeats the purpose of a small pocket-sized unit meant to be carried around.

A 1 MB XD card gives 168 hours in SP mode or 358 hours in EP, which would be great if the product worked. Similar to other brands, the controls are not intuitive, but can be learned easily and are not a drawback.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Product, November 6, 2006

By	Kelman Rehabilitation - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are doing professional dictation this is the best machine for the job. Each time you stop to listen and possibly edit or continue, this machine does NOT create additional files/folders! Many recorders automatically create a folder which becomes a secretaries nightmare. The 2300 is easy to use and the dss file format is a high compression which means the files are much smaller than wma. Quality of sound is superb. I would highly recommend this recorder. Mark