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Olympus WS-331M Digital Voice Recorder

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Olympus

August 21, 2007
I just took a job that requires me to record lectures, presentations and one-on-one interviews. My old Sony cassette recorder quickly proved inconvenient for the purpose - if only in trying to keep up with its endless demand for batteries and blank tapes. Reviews of this recorder inspired me to give it a chance.

I fully expected the sound quality to be better than the cassette recorder, which added hiss both during recording AND playback. But the sound quality is better than I had hoped for. Last night I recorded a lecture where the speaker did not use a microphone and I had no hope of getting near the front of the room. I set the recorder on my knee and hoped that would be enough. The result is a recording that, while not perfect, ... Read More:

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Sony Digital Dictation Long Rec Silver

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Sony

March 03, 2008
I'm presently conducting interviews as part of post graduate research and needed a dictaphone, so I got this. I must say that I'm very impressed. Unlike the previous reviewer, I can rewind. The track must be playing though - eg you can't stop playback, then rewind.

The sound quality is excellent through headphones, pretty good through the internal speaker. Batteries (which ARE included, unlike the Amazon description) last for ages, and the unit can record 30 hours of high quality audio. Recordings are also time stamped which is handy.

There is no USB connection for transporting files to mp3 on computer. However, I use Audacity (a free audio editor - google it) and plug the headphone socket into the mic socket on the front ... Read More:

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Sony Digital Dictation Long Rec Black

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Sony

March 03, 2008
I'm presently conducting interviews as part of post graduate research and needed a dictaphone, so I got this. I must say that I'm very impressed. Unlike the previous reviewer, I can rewind. The track must be playing though - eg you can't stop playback, then rewind.

The sound quality is excellent through headphones, pretty good through the internal speaker. Batteries (which ARE included, unlike the Amazon description) last for ages, and the unit can record 30 hours of high quality audio. Recordings are also time stamped which is handy.

There is no USB connection for transporting files to mp3 on computer. However, I use Audacity (a free audio editor - google it) and plug the headphone socket into the mic socket on the front ... Read More:

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Olympus VN-2100 Digital Voice Recorder

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Olympus Optical Co. (UK) Ltd

July 02, 2006
If you see USB interface in a product description you expect that you can at least plug it on to you PC and transfer files across. Maybe its going to come with some nice software that makes that easy so that you can synch the two together and keep it organised.
I was really wrong. This product only works with the software supplied, end of story.
If you're lucky you're going to be in the 75% range and it will be fine for you. Neither of my machines were, so unlucky for me. However in three or five years time when your current PC has died good luck getting the software to work with the next machine you buy.
I'm really annoyed about the lack of information before you buy about what it will and will not work with, so not even the glimmer ... Read More:

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Sony Microphone

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Sony

March 03, 2008
Having read many reviews before purchasing this microphone I have to say that the previous comments are totally accurate. I wanted a mike that I could use with my PC to dub over videos that I edit prior to burning to disc. Previous mikes have allowed the hum of the PC hard drive to be detected and this has been eradicated with the mike. Setting the control to 90deg allows me to have total control over the input with no outside nosie interference. I have also used this mike in a church wedding via my Camcorder where previously the dialog of a church service has been difficult due to high ceilings and lots of echo. Using a 10m extension cable with no loss of qaulity I am highly delighted with the results. I aslo think the price is excellent.

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Olympus WS-321M Digital Voice Recorder

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Olympus

August 21, 2007
Amazon had an excellent price on this (the 512mb model costs more in some places). I used it for a conference, recording 28 talks in 2 days. The battery gave up on talk 29 but as meatloaf never said 28/29 ain't bad. I was sitting three rows from the front and used the built in mic to record in stereo HQ. Overall the recordings were pretty good, the major determining factor for quality was the diction of the speakers. Some had loud clear voices that made for great recordings whereas others mumbled and background noise became intrusive. An external mike would increase the quality of the recordings. Overall, very satisfied but the instructions that came with the recorder were laughable. You can download a full manual in English from the US Olympus site, but ... Read More:

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Olympus VN-120 Digital Voice Recorder

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Olympus

October 19, 2005
Have used this for four years and cannot fault it. It is light and very easy to use. I initially thought I would be using it for work but have found it ideal for keeping a record of the birds I see on a daily basis. With three files I have had notes from meetings in one, a list of 50 birds in another and then reminders of what I have to do in the day in the third. Its smaller than a mobile phone and the batteries last a long time. With 2hrs recording time you dont need to spend more. I'd highly recommend it.

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Zoom H4 Compact SD Recorder with Free 4GB Card and Tripod

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Zoom


The only negative thing about this product is that using the menu with the finicky buttons needs a bit of practice. Saying that once you have the hand of this the sound recording quality is amazing for its size. It is incredibly sensitive and has the bonus of four track recording and being very portable it is so convenient. It takes two AA batteries which last quite a while and again is convenient. We use these in university and I don't own one yet being a student I keep waiting for them to go down in price - no such luck yet - wish list I think.

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Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder with MP3/WMA Playback 256MB

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Olympus

June 10, 2007
The only negative thing about this product is that using the menu with the finicky buttons needs a bit of practice. Saying that once you have the hand of this the sound recording quality is amazing for its size. It is incredibly sensitive and has the bonus of four track recording and being very portable it is so convenient. It takes two AA batteries which last quite a while and again is convenient. We use these in university and I don't own one yet being a student I keep waiting for them to go down in price - no such luck yet - wish list I think.

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Olympus ME-51S Stereo Microphone

Childrens Toy Shop > Electronics > Digital
from: Olympus

October 19, 2005
Bought to complement my WS-210S Olympus digital recorder. Seems that mixing different makes of mics and recorders can produce disappointing results!

This Olympus microphone and the Olympus WS-210S are a perfect match and work very well together.

The Olympus USA site has a better product description than any site I have seen.

It also comes with an extension lead and a tie clip so that the mic can be placed within 1m of the recorder.

This microphone requires plug-in-power, i.e. power supplied by the recorder.