Brand NameOlympus
Model number145055
Number of Items1
Manufacturer Part Number145055
Product Specifications
Technical Details
- Noise canceling microphone for Olympus digital voice recorders
- Ideal for use in high-noise environments
- Includes 3.3-foot extension cord to make ideal placement easy
- Includes a windscreen cover and a convenient tie-clip
Product Details
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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The Olympus ME-52 Noise Cancellation Microphone is an ideal accessory to have around when background noise may be a problem. The ME-52W plugs directly into your digital recorder's 3.5mm microphone jack for unidirectional recording in high-noise environments. It will cut down on much of the background noise and result in a more accurate transcription. It also comes with windscreen cover, a tie-clip, and 3.3-foot extension cord. Please note: When using with a recorder with a 2.5mm mic jack, purchase the PA-1 plug adapter.
Product Description
Noise cancelling microphone for use with Olympus digital voice recorders. Comes with 3.5mm monaural plug, tiepin clip, and extension cord.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
148 of 149 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
My first reaction to this microphone was astonishment at is its small size. It's larger than most lapel microphones, but that's because of the physical requirements for noise-cancellation. Still, it's very small, especially for a true "cardioid" (noise-cancelling) microphone.
The performance is superb! As Jim wrote, it is very sensitive. I tested it in a quiet room at distances up to 10 feet away. At about 3 feet, my voice was strong and clear. At 10 feet, it was obviously remote, but the sound was good and very clear, with no echo. Off-axis, the sensitivity drops rapidly. At about 70 degrees, the sound weakens noticeably, and beyond 90 degrees, it is almost inaudible.
M. L. Strickland is correct in warning that the microphone requires external power. The instructions on the box specify 1.5 - 10 volts. Writers who reported that the microphone was very weak were almost certainly using a recorder that does not provide the necessary excitation voltage. This energizer voltage draws negligible power from the recorder's batteries.
However, he is wrong when he writes, '... the noise "cancelation" is only provided by a directional shield. True cancellation is obtained by using a stereo mike with the two pickups wired to cancel noise that arrives at both equally.'
Noise-cancelling microphones have existed almost from the start, long before stereo ever existed. The close-up photo on this page clearly shows a slot ("port") in the side of the microphone's body. There is another on the other side. These ports channel sound to the back of the transducer (the sound-sensitive element) so that it is 180 degrees out of phase with the sound striking the front. These opposing signals cancel each other acoustically, but there is always some sound "leakage" through the case and because of imperfect cancellation, resulting in a weak output.
This microphone is intended for recording sounds at a distance, which is the purpose of all cardioid (unidirectional) microphones. Its output level is higher than on most microphones, so there is a possibility of distortion, especially if the sound source (such as the speaker) is too close. For a normal voice, I suggest it be held 8 to 12 inches from the speaker's mouth.
This microphone was bought to be used on an Olympus DS-330, a six-year-old monophonic digital voice recorder. The internal microphone is sensitive and effective, but because it is omni-directional, recordings in a noisy environment, or at a distance from the speaker, are unclear. The ME-52W mic worked equally well in the "Dictation" (low-sensitivity) and "Conference" (high-sensitivy) modes, but the "Dictation" mode is preferable. It's almost identical in sensitivity to the "Conference" mode, and omits residual background noise, such as radios and air conditioners.
With a rated frequency range of 100 - 15,000 Hz, and depending on your equipment, the ME-52W makes excellent voice recordings, and respectable, but not perfect, music recordings. It essentially eliminates echoes, and strongly reduces background sounds. If it's compatible with your equipment, it should be a winner.
The performance is superb! As Jim wrote, it is very sensitive. I tested it in a quiet room at distances up to 10 feet away. At about 3 feet, my voice was strong and clear. At 10 feet, it was obviously remote, but the sound was good and very clear, with no echo. Off-axis, the sensitivity drops rapidly. At about 70 degrees, the sound weakens noticeably, and beyond 90 degrees, it is almost inaudible.
M. L. Strickland is correct in warning that the microphone requires external power. The instructions on the box specify 1.5 - 10 volts. Writers who reported that the microphone was very weak were almost certainly using a recorder that does not provide the necessary excitation voltage. This energizer voltage draws negligible power from the recorder's batteries.
However, he is wrong when he writes, '... the noise "cancelation" is only provided by a directional shield. True cancellation is obtained by using a stereo mike with the two pickups wired to cancel noise that arrives at both equally.'
Noise-cancelling microphones have existed almost from the start, long before stereo ever existed. The close-up photo on this page clearly shows a slot ("port") in the side of the microphone's body. There is another on the other side. These ports channel sound to the back of the transducer (the sound-sensitive element) so that it is 180 degrees out of phase with the sound striking the front. These opposing signals cancel each other acoustically, but there is always some sound "leakage" through the case and because of imperfect cancellation, resulting in a weak output.
This microphone is intended for recording sounds at a distance, which is the purpose of all cardioid (unidirectional) microphones. Its output level is higher than on most microphones, so there is a possibility of distortion, especially if the sound source (such as the speaker) is too close. For a normal voice, I suggest it be held 8 to 12 inches from the speaker's mouth.
This microphone was bought to be used on an Olympus DS-330, a six-year-old monophonic digital voice recorder. The internal microphone is sensitive and effective, but because it is omni-directional, recordings in a noisy environment, or at a distance from the speaker, are unclear. The ME-52W mic worked equally well in the "Dictation" (low-sensitivity) and "Conference" (high-sensitivy) modes, but the "Dictation" mode is preferable. It's almost identical in sensitivity to the "Conference" mode, and omits residual background noise, such as radios and air conditioners.
With a rated frequency range of 100 - 15,000 Hz, and depending on your equipment, the ME-52W makes excellent voice recordings, and respectable, but not perfect, music recordings. It essentially eliminates echoes, and strongly reduces background sounds. If it's compatible with your equipment, it should be a winner.
103 of 104 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
For a cheapo microphone, I was pleasantly surpised with how well this worked at picking up speakers who were a distance away. You may have to adjust the sensitivity of the recorder, because the sensitivity of this mic is significantly higher than the built-in stereo mic, and recording to 'hot' will result in garbled, distorted sound.
The Olympus recorders seem to select sensitivity with labels like 'dictate' and 'conference', where 'conference' would normally be used in a distant recording situation but if the record bar hits the right side of the screen you want to set it to the lower sensitivity mode 'dictate'. In any case, with this (mono) mic you should change your recording mode to Mono so you can get double the record time.
The Olympus recorders seem to select sensitivity with labels like 'dictate' and 'conference', where 'conference' would normally be used in a distant recording situation but if the record bar hits the right side of the screen you want to set it to the lower sensitivity mode 'dictate'. In any case, with this (mono) mic you should change your recording mode to Mono so you can get double the record time.
69 of 70 people found the following review helpful
I did an interview in a noisy restaurant and put the recorder on the table with the mic pointed straight up. The mic picked up both voices very well and cut down the background noise by at least 70%. The interview would have been impossible otherwise.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Undercover mic.....
The purpose for my purchase of this mic was simply to record a conversation without detection. Although the meeting dont take place for a couple of more days, I have tested this my... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Toddsshare
not sure where the noise canceling was
I am not sure I get the noise canceling effect after I use this mic.
I am using this exclusively on the new iPad which I have to say has a great built-in mic. Read more
I am using this exclusively on the new iPad which I have to say has a great built-in mic. Read more
Published 18 days ago by K. Lin
It Works well
I use the extension that comes with the mic and the sound is really good. Unfortunately I have no other experience with different products to give a well rounded opinion. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Bone
Olymput ME-52W Noise Canceling Microphone
It does exactly what it promises! It allows me to work, hands free, and all the while it is filtering out excess noise!
Published 1 month ago by Ronald W. Clark
Awesome Microphone
This little thing works great! I like the fact that it swivels and is small enough to not get in your way. Works great.
Published 2 months ago by TN28
Olympus Mic for iPad/iPhone
Search for mic to be used with iPhone 4S and iPad shows this as solution, but it simply didn't work. Read more
Published 2 months ago by PBB
Excellent microphone
I shopped quite a while before deciding on this little mic for my iPhone. I am interviewing a stroke victim who sometimes has difficulty speaking and speaks very softly. Read more
Published 2 months ago by KellysHero718
Works well with older tape recorder
I purchased this microphone to use with my Olympus Pearlcorder S713 microcassette tape recorder and it exceeds my expectations. Read more
Published 2 months ago by RLB
No improvement for my Kenwood Stereo
I can't really give this mic a bad review since I didn't use it for one of the listed compatible units, but I wanted to alert any other Kenwood DDX-_18 series owners looking for a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Apaullo
Good Value! Compare on Camcorder and Voice Recorder
Customer Video Review
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Published 3 months ago by Andre Alforque
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