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Olympus DS-40 Digital Voice Recorder
Olympus DS-40 Digital Voice RecorderOlympus DS-40 Digital Voice Recorder
Olympus Product Details - Ratings and reviews for olympus ds-40 digital voice recorder.
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$164.95
$119.99
Sales Rank: 1576
Olympus
Released: 2007-02-01
Avg. Customer Review: 
Media: Electronics
Platforms: Windows
Color: SILVER
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Product Features
Olympus DS-40 Digital Voice Recorder
- Professional-grade digital voice recorder with high-sensitivity microphone
- Up to 136 hours of recording time; 30-hour battery life
- Connect to PC to transfer files or download podcasts
- Store and listen to favorite music anytime, anywhere
- Timer recording, alarm playback, slow/fast
Product Review
Product Description
In addition to capturing over 136 hours of meetings, interviews and other critical information expected of digital recorders, you can download and create podcasts with the DS-40. The super-high-quality sound is also great for listening to audio books and music - it's the ideal all-in-one audio device.
Amazon.com Product Description
In addition to capturing stereo sound from meetings, interviews, and important lectures, the Olympus DS-40 allows you to download and create Podcasts for later listening. The DS-40 offers users up to 136 hours of recording time with its 512 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 (8 hour 40 minute capture time), ST HQ mode (17 hour 20 minute capture time), HQ mode (34 hour 45 minute capture time), SP mode (68 hour 30 minute capture time), and LP mode (136 hour 15 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-40 digital voice recorder, stereo microphone, USB cables, stereo earphones, DSS Player v.7 software, instruction manual, strap, and two AAA batteries.
Product Details
Olympus DS-40 Digital Voice Recorder
- Electronics: 0 pages (2007-02-01)
- Platforms: Windows
- Publisher: Olympus
- Label: Olympus
- Format: CD
- Studio: Olympus
- Batteries: 2 AA batteries required
- Average Customer Review: based on 132 reviews
- Sales Rank in Electronics: #1576
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Customer Reviews
Avg. Customer Review:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: gift 2010-02-10
Comment: this was an amazon gift list item so I do not know anything about it...the person that received me thanked me
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great buy 2009-12-24
Comment: Simpply put, buy this item. It's relativley easy to figure out how to operate. it records well.
The price is a little high, but its worth it.
The price is a little high, but its worth it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Newly indispensible tool 2009-11-27
Comment: I've owned the DS-30 for a couple of years now, and I use it all the time, for taking dictation, recording my talks and interviews, and most recently, to record pieces for podcast. I bought the Olympus digital transcriber at the same time, and my admin asst. raves about how much easier it is to transcribe my notes.
Previously I used microcassette recorders and transcriber and the DS-30 is so much better I just no longer use them.
Sound quality is great for voice. The mikes are very sensitive. I bought the external mike, but the twin (stereo) internal mikes are so good, I rarely use the external. When recording my lectures, I can easily capture the question from the soft-voiced woman in the rear of the room.
There are a few drawbacks:
-- It's very tricky to "rewind" a few seconds and re-record a piece. You're much more likely to jump it back to the beginning of your recording.
-- "Erase" is very unforgiving. There's no "Undo." I learned this the hard way, and now make sure I immediately transfer all recordings to the computer before doing anything else to them.
-- Even though I carefully erase all files (and delete and empty the trash) after I transfer them to my computer, the memory still fills up over time, and there's seemingly no way to clear it except to reset the entire device, which wipes out all settings.
-- Olympus tech support is virtually impossible to reach. It's apparent they don't want to talk to customers. But the one time I did fight my way through their maze, I received very good help.
Olympus tells you it doesn't mesh with a Mac, but it does with no trouble. I downloaded "Flip4Mac" which is either free or very cheap, and it opens your recordings as .wmv files.
Far as I can tell, the only difference between DS-30 and 40 is memory capacity, so this review works for DS-40 as well.
Despite these drawbacks, I still rate it 5 stars, because the good features are SO good.
Previously I used microcassette recorders and transcriber and the DS-30 is so much better I just no longer use them.
Sound quality is great for voice. The mikes are very sensitive. I bought the external mike, but the twin (stereo) internal mikes are so good, I rarely use the external. When recording my lectures, I can easily capture the question from the soft-voiced woman in the rear of the room.
There are a few drawbacks:
-- It's very tricky to "rewind" a few seconds and re-record a piece. You're much more likely to jump it back to the beginning of your recording.
-- "Erase" is very unforgiving. There's no "Undo." I learned this the hard way, and now make sure I immediately transfer all recordings to the computer before doing anything else to them.
-- Even though I carefully erase all files (and delete and empty the trash) after I transfer them to my computer, the memory still fills up over time, and there's seemingly no way to clear it except to reset the entire device, which wipes out all settings.
-- Olympus tech support is virtually impossible to reach. It's apparent they don't want to talk to customers. But the one time I did fight my way through their maze, I received very good help.
Olympus tells you it doesn't mesh with a Mac, but it does with no trouble. I downloaded "Flip4Mac" which is either free or very cheap, and it opens your recordings as .wmv files.
Far as I can tell, the only difference between DS-30 and 40 is memory capacity, so this review works for DS-40 as well.
Despite these drawbacks, I still rate it 5 stars, because the good features are SO good.
Customer Rating:
Summary: This Recorder Is The Best 2009-10-21
Comment: I own three of these recorders for use at home and at work; I bought my first one over three years ago. They are dependable, high-quality, handy to carry and they can record in a variety of less-than-ideal situations (e.g., inside my shirt pocket, hidden between books and other items).
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good value for price 2009-10-15
Comment: I am a physician and use this for dictation of patient visits. This is a great unit except for one small issue. There is no way to review your dictation in any particular file while you are dictating, and then resume dictating. Once you either push the stop button, or the play button, the file is ended and the next time you push the REC button, it starts a new file. You have to buy the more expensive models (~ $100 more) for this option. Otherwise the voice activation control works great and the sound quality is good. Great price at Amazon, $103. $159 at Best Buy.
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Olympus DS-40 Digital Voice Recorder
