Customer Reviews

Remanufactured Olympus WS-100 64 MB Digital Voice Recorder with USB Interface

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

 

 

I'm a professional Opera singer and music teacher and have been delaying buying a digital recorder for some time because of my hesitancy to shell out the major cash for most recorders. I settled on this one thinking it would be temporary because the price was right, but I'm in love! As mentioned in other reviews, the playback from the device itself is useless except to prove you've actually recorded (frankly, I don't know why anyone would want to listen to anything on speakers the size of a quarter and expect it to be good quality anyway). Fits in my pocket, holds TONS of stuff (months of rehearsals all saved in the same place without erasing!) and very impressive sound quality for the size (obviously not studio quality, but not any major voice distortion even with high notes- impressive). The mic seems to be pretty sensitive, too- leave it recording in the back of a rehearsal space unattended and it catches every word clearly (singing or speaking). Also, purchased over a month ago and used regularly (around 4-6 hours per week) without losing any battery power. LOVE how easy it is to transfer files to my computer (and trust me, I am NOT techy). Great product!

I like the size of this recorder but was not too happy with the directions that came with it. The sound on playback is terrible. I thought it was a total waste. However, once I transferred the files to my pc and used windows media player, the sound improved greatly. So, for the price, I think the refurbished digital recorder was definitely worth the money.

For a remanufactured product, I was amazed to get such an excellent product. It worked as a brand new recorder and it did not have any scratches at all. For the same price I could have got a recorder without USB port and less memory in a regular store. I am glad I found it in Amazon.

The main thing I want to address here is the sound quality.

The sound, if it comes right out of this tiny little recorder, sucks, mostly. But I'd hope you didn't think this thing would have great speakers.

GETTING THE GOOD SOUND AND PLAYBACK :

You *have* to use either headphones or dump the files onto your computer and go. Getting your stuff off this thing is so easy! You pull one side out of the other and plug the USB side in. No software required.

I'm a musician and I practice a lot. I like to record that stuff for me, and to capture the beginnings of new songs, but the sound quality wasn't bad even recording a set from the back of the room.

I have actually taken the files from this little dude and made CDs that I sell. I have fancy recording equipment - but you certainly don't need it.

I think it's a fantastic accessory for a musician. I can take it anywhere and still make stuff I'm proud of. I'm about to set off on a year-long tour and it's the only recorder going with me. You put that file into something like Cubase, or even Garage Band (mac**) or MixCraft (windows) and you can still get at the very least a high quality demo.

I lost mine recently - I'm so broken up about that. But that's why I'm here. I'm totally buying this again. Maybe I'll learn to dump it more often.

Best $50 I've ever spent.

** I'm a pc so I don't know for sure sure that it works. But a musician friend got the same one and she hasn't complained that it doesn't work. So it must. There's no software needed - just a USB port.

Worked right out of the box. Simple to use and very easy to handle. Fits easily in any pocket.

I immediately contacted the seller to express my displeasure. I was told to send back the item which I did, and have heard nothing. I'm not sure what my next step is to get my refund.

I used this for my graduate classes. It was an incredible help. My professor would talk a mile a minute and I could barely take down all the notes. He would throw in test questions from the notes from class that were often not able to be found in our text books. While at the gym, I'd pop in the headphone and re-listen to a lecture. Worked great. I also downloaded lectures onto my computer, in itunes, with the built in USB port. Then I could transfer it to my ipod, connect it to my port in my car, and listen to it on my 30 min drive to school or road trips. This little device is the reason why I made the Dean's list 2 years in a row. Seriously.

Records in .wma so if you are looking for .mp3 this item is not for you. However, hook this up to an external or mini-microphone and you get superb quality.

It is difficult to seperate the recorder from the battery pack to access the USB port.The voice quality is adequate and it isn't improved when played back on my Windows 7 media player.The instruction booklet is fine. It is worth the money.

Purchased as a reconditioned item. It's worked very well for what I'm using it for, and I've had no problems with it to date. Really like the small size, and relatively large capacity. Very happy with this purchase.