Customer Reviews

Olympus DS-50 Digital Voice Recorder (275 Hours)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The manual does not specify the most important quality difference between recording in STXQ mode versus STHQ.

STXQ results in 128kbps WMA recording.
STHQ results in 64kbps WMA recording.
Both modes are 44.1KHz 16 bit.

The conclusion is that if you are recording music or otherwise want the highest quality, you must record in STXQ mode.
To achieve the best possible recording using an Olympus mic intended for this DS-50 recorder, consider ordering the ME51S mic, which is superior to the included ME53SA.

This is a fantastic recorder. But it is not the ultimate recorder for musicians. For example, see the Zoom H4 or the Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder.

If you have a Mac or otherwise want to convert the WMA files to the more universally playable MP3 format, consider downloading the EasyWMA program (or one of many other similar free or inexpensive programs). This recorder is compatible with Mac computers if you are willing to convert WMA files after transferring them to your Mac (setting USB class in the DS-50 menu to "Storage Class" allows drag-and-drop from the DS-50 to your PC). The manual does not make this compatibility clear, and might mislead you to think it is only compatible with Windows.

See also the Olympus DS-61 (2GB) and DS-40 (512MB) for basically identical recorders at different price points. The DS-40 is a great bargain for those with more limited budgets or who do not need as much recording capacity. The DS-61 is not yet available on amazon, but is available elsewhere.

I bought the Olympus DS-50 Digital Voice Recorder so I could record my music rehearsals. It works great. You can listen to your recorder through the built-in speaker. You can connect the unit directly to your computer and record songs off the computer in real time. You can upload files from the recorder onto your computer. You can transfer the files from your computer to your ipod. I don't know whether ANTonline (through Amazon) still offers it, but I got the "package" deal where my unit included a remote control recording switch, which is nice because the recordings don't include the annoying sound of hands shuffling on the unit every time you press the record and stop buttons. It also came with a protective carrying case, which, when using, you can access all buttons, except for the on/off power switch. I recommend simultaneously ordering the A-328 AC Adapter (I also got this from ANTonline) along with the unit for those times when you don't have two AAA batteries handy.

This digital recorder is accessible for visually impaired users, however, there's still a lot to memorize. 275 hours of recording time is misleading because it reflects recording time for the lowest sound quality; recording time drops SIGNIFICANTLY if you want higher quality sound. We haven't tried to transfer files to the computer yet, to transcribe them into word files, though. One caveat - we emailed Olympus with a question and even though their web site said someone would reply within 48 hours, Olympus never did get back to us. Eventually, we found someone else (another visually impaired person) to answer the question. Having said that, this digital recorder is still a helpful tool for visually impaired users. But bear in mind, our experience is that *Olympus Online Customer Service is Unresponsive.*

I never give 5 stars unless I'm blown away.
After using a cheap digital recorder to record Choir practice and Sermon review. I decided to splurge and get a good recorder. This is one of the best recorder I have heard. Battery life is good, 16 hours on headset, (I fell asleep while listening). Takes awhile to get use to the buttons, but you quickly realize the thought process behind placement. The remote mic is a wonderful addition. The included case is also great with belt clip loop.
I wish it had an SD card slot so it could be used as a music player. It's hard to justify the cost unless you are a professional but that is a personal preference. I have dropped if few times, no issue.
This is a definite BUY product if you got the cash, just don't tell the wife you spent so much for a recorder.
4 stars because of the cost and cost and lack of a mini SD card slot.

I love this recorder. It is complicated to work, but I don't disapprove. Anybody who is not technologically savvy would have difficulty using this recorder to its full potential. I really like the numerous options it has for recording. My only issue is that I cannot seem to find the right setting out of all the options for each of my classes since they are all varied in size and location. There is a chart though in the manual that attempts to make things easier for the consumer. The recorder has a lot of functions, so I recommend this product for anyone who has to use it for varying situations. If you just need a basic recorder for one type of recording, there are other types out there that are far less complicated and still worthwhile.

The purpose to buy this was for my son's violin lesson. He is 11 year old and tends to forget teacher's important points. A little bit pricey but it worth your money. I have been used it for about two months now and I love it. The record sound quality is pretty good. I can easy to hear what the teacher said in 10 feet distance while my son's violin playing is crispy clear at about 5 feet away. It can't be used for serious musician though.

The recorder is easy to use. The menu is easy to understand and follow. The only thing that I can complain is it seems not easy for forwarding and rewinding. The forwarding and rewinding keys are basically for jumping between index. It has a 2x play speed but It'll be nice if it can like DVD player that can 4x,8x,16x forward or backward. It'll make it a better product if it can embed a SD slot.

The recorder is very easy to operate. Stores all your recordings and organized it. It has lots of space for numerous documents. Its great for my job and has saved me from unwarranted complaints.

First of all, I should note this is a great product especially for those with a visual impairment. My spouse has used this daily for several years.

Pro's - Five file folders for quick access to the most frequently used data sources.

Easy navigation with both tactile and lcd screen - plus...and this is a biggie, all functions have speech mode making it perfect for low vision or blind users.

Great sound quality for clear recording.

Long battery life especially with battery saving mode which will turn off by itself.

Easy to upload into computer or vice versa. Software was a bit redudant so don't use much but comes complete with supporting software, strap, headphones and more.

Stereo mic works like a charm on playback.

All in all - fantastic product! Still going strong after years of daily use and one of the best available products for those with a visual impairment. Great for taking notes, school, work or even the grocery list. Can't brag enough about this product. Well worth every penny!

This little guy is SMALL, especially if you remove the detachable stereo mic on the top (has a perfectly fine mono one built in). I used it to record lectures at school and meetings at work and it has worked just fine for both. The sound quality FAR exceeds anything you need for simple voice recording, but I would not recommend it for the serious recording of music or other dynamic sounds (bought an olympus LS-11 for that). The features, like the lowpass filter and special recording options (like only recording when the dBs reaches a settable volume) were also quite appreciated (and it is probably a better voice recorder than my LS-11 on those grounds).

It also seems quite well built. I dropped it a few dozens of times and you would probably swear it was new.

This was a great recorded when I had a PC, but now I only use Apple computers and Olympus software does not support the Mac OS for this recorder.