Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder

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Voice Recorders » Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder
Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder
Marketplace (7 New & Used)
  1. Office Product
  2. Platforms: Windows
  3. Publisher: Olympus
  4. Format: CD
  5. Sales Rank in Electronics: #20754

Product Review

DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER WITH 68 HOUR RECORDING ON 256MB INTERNAL MEMORY. RECORDS IN STEREO THROUGH THE REMOVABLE STEREO MICROPHONE. USE ALSO FOR PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYER, AND WORKS WITH AUDIBLE.COM BOOK DOWNLOAD FEATURES. CREATE AND PLAY PODCASTS.

Amazon.com Product Review

In addition to capturing stereo sound from meetings, interviews, and important lectures, the Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder allows you to download and create Podcasts for later listening. The DS-30 offers users up to 68 hours of recording time with its 256 MB worth of internal flash memory. For easy organization and storing of files, the player allows users to set up five voice folders, and each folder can save up to 200 messages. Internal files can be easily navigated on the player's high-contrast backlit monochrome LCD panel. Other great features include a built-in variable control voice actuator (VCVA) function, and a timed recording and alarm feature so you can set up automatic recording and playing. Running on two AAA batteries, the player offers up to 30 hours of continuous playback in the following modes: ST XQ mode (4 hour 10 minute capture time), ST HQ mode (8 hour 30 minute capture time), HQ mode (17 hour capture time), SP mode (33 hour 30 minute capture time), and LP mode (66 hour 40 minute capture time). For added user convenience, an optional AC adapter can be used with the recorder. Compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional operating systems and later, the player measures a pocket-friendly 4.37 x 1.48 x 0.63 inches and weighs in at a scant 2.80 ounces.

What's in the Box
DS-30 digital voice recorder, stereo microphone, USB cables, stereo earphones, DSS Player v.7 software, instruction manual, strap, and two AAA batteries.

Product Features

Accessories

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (108 customer reviews)

150 of 153 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Big Quality in a Small Package, June 30, 2007
Cameron Scholtz (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)
I got my DS-30 last week and I love it! This is the first digital stereo voice recorder I have owned. I am very impressed with the quality of manufacturing and the quality of the recordings. I uploaded some photos above to show the size of the unit and the contents of the package.

The DS-30 can record with or without the attachable stereo microphone. This mic is so small though that even attached it still fits in my pocket.

The "Hold" feature is nice. Press the Hold button will lock the DS-30 buttons until taken off hold. This is handy if you are moving around a lot or want to save the current recording or playback settings without fear of accidentally touching any of the buttons.

It has a lot great features for recording both dictation (voice in quiet, close quarters) and conferences (voice in large, noisy rooms). These features include a Variable Control Voice Actuator which will automatically turn on/off the recorder based upon the volume level...Read more


93 of 94 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars High quality, slightly hard to use for podcasting, March 30, 2007
M. Oliver (Phoenix, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)
After doing quite a bit of research I purchased this to "podcast" some events (seminars). Our first event was today and this device allowed me to get the podcast up right after the event, though with some effort, which is why it gets 4 and not 5. See below.

The device is very small, very lightweight, well thought out ergonomically, has an excellent built in (and removable) stereo MIC, and connects via regular USB. The software interface on it is very good (for recording), the screen is easy to read. The batteries will last quite a while, or you can use AC (optional), or Lithium Ion batteries (optional).

You do not need any add on MICs to record most events - the MIC can be set to pick up nearly everything; to cut low end noise, etc. In short, this is a very high quality, easy to use (but powerful if you need it) dedicated audio recorder.

The issues are that it only records in WMA format (Windows proprietary) and the software is not very good for...Read more


82 of 85 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Quality of the actual equipment is stellar but using it makes you want to pull your hair out., February 11, 2008
mjwalrus (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)
I'm am oral historian using the recorder to record oral histories from elderly interviewees. I actually bought this recorder to upgrade from my old "Sony ICDP320 - 64MB Digital Voice Recorder w/ PC connectivity" I purchased from AMAZON a few years ago for around $60.00. I needed to upgrade my sound quality, I figured at an original price of 200.00- and all the great reviews, the Olympus was the way to go.

First of all, the sound quality is amazing. I use it with an external microphone, "Sony ECMMS907 Digital Recording Microphone" also purchased on AMAZON for around 75.00. It's great as it cuts down on the external noise that the recorder tends to produce. Less paper shuffling background noise, or when you have to pick up the recorder-- it doesn't distort the sound. This recorder plus the sony microphone produce wonderful quality audio. I'm not a professional, but I am very happy with the results.

When I got home tonight to upload my audio on my computer...Read more

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