Olympus DS-50 Digital Voice Recorder (275 Hours)

 (10 customer reviews)

The manual does not specify the most important quality difference between recording in STXQ mode versus STHQ.

STXQ results in 128kbps WMA recording.
STHQ results in 64kbps WMA recording.
Both modes are 44.1KHz 16 bit.

The conclusion is that if you are recording music or otherwise want the highest quality, you must record in STXQ mode.
To achieve the best possible recording using an Olympus mic intended for this DS-50 recorder, consider ordering the ME51S mic, which is superior to the included ME53SA.

This is a fantastic recorder. But it is not the ultimate recorder for musicians. For example, see the Zoom H4 or the Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder.

If you have a Mac or otherwise want to convert the WMA files to the more universally playable MP3 format, consider downloading the EasyWMA program (or one of many other similar free or inexpensive programs). This recorder is compatible with Mac computers if you are willing to...Read more

I bought the Olympus DS-50 Digital Voice Recorder so I could record my music rehearsals. It works great. You can listen to your recorder through the built-in speaker. You can connect the unit directly to your computer and record songs off the computer in real time. You can upload files from the recorder onto your computer. You can transfer the files from your computer to your ipod. I don't know whether ANTonline (through Amazon) still offers it, but I got the "package" deal where my unit included a remote control recording switch, which is nice because the recordings don't include the annoying sound of hands shuffling on the unit every time you press the record and stop buttons. It also came with a protective carrying case, which, when using, you can access all buttons, except for the on/off power switch. I recommend simultaneously ordering the A-328 AC Adapter (I also got this from ANTonline) along with the unit for those times when you don't have two AAA batteries handy.

This digital recorder is accessible for visually impaired users, however, there's still a lot to memorize. 275 hours of recording time is misleading because it reflects recording time for the lowest sound quality; recording time drops SIGNIFICANTLY if you want higher quality sound. We haven't tried to transfer files to the computer yet, to transcribe them into word files, though. One caveat - we emailed Olympus with a question and even though their web site said someone would reply within 48 hours, Olympus never did get back to us. Eventually, we found someone else (another visually impaired person) to answer the question. Having said that, this digital recorder is still a helpful tool for visually impaired users. But bear in mind, our experience is that *Olympus Online Customer Service is Unresponsive.*