Olympus Voice Recorder WS-853 with 8GB, Voice Balancer, True Stereo Mic
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I wouldn't describe the volume of the small speaker as "loud." My voice was recorded and listened to at the same volume. In a quiet room by myself, the default value of 30 (highest) sounded fine. Although it sounds fine when turned down to 20, in a noisy environment, you should use headphones to carefully review the audio (or hold the speaker up to your ear instead of holding it at arms length). Expect the audio to "fill a room," but don't expect it to. br>NOTE: THIS PAGE HAS BEEN UPDATED. I just noticed that the recording scene mode for "Diction" is noticeably quieter! When I played the "Diction" recording back on my computer, it was noticeably quieter than the other "Scenes" recordings. I recommend using the "Meeting" or "Off" modes instead of the "Meeting" mode (which is the default). You'll probably need to speak very close to the microphone or use an external microphone if you want to use dictation mode.
NOTE: "Record Level" should also be set to "High."
That's exactly what's going on right now. It will come to a halt, but you will be able to replace them. It will have no effect on previous recordings.
There is no Bluetooth capability on this fantastic little recorder.
Selected User Reviews For Olympus Voice Recorder WS-853 with 8GB, Voice Balancer, True Stereo Mic
It's compatible with Dragon Premium, which is why I bought it in the first place. The fact that the screen is too dark is a problem for me. I'm not sure if I got a faulty item, but even in bright light, it doesn't look as bright as the pictures in the description. br>br>At the time of writing, a soft carrying case is listed in the "Frequently Bought Together" section. BUY A HARD CARRYING CASE, NOT A SOFT CARRYING CASE! THE EXACT SAME CASE IS INCLUDED IN THE DVR! br>br>An external microphone must also have its own power source if it is to be used. The BOYA BY- has been delivered to me. M1 3. The clarity of the 5mm Electret Condenser Microphone astounded me. The playback is much clearer for me, and having a lavalier clip-on helps a lot. Using a microphone instead of holding the DVR is much more convenient. .
I'm a writer who interviews people almost every day (mostly over the phone), and for years I've relied on Olympus Pearlcorder microcassette recorders, which have always performed admirably, but I despised having to use tapes (scrolling back and forth through a tape to find a specific part of a conversation is a nightmare-- especially if the interview lasts more than an hour). With digital, I can simply upload the interview to iTunes and then search quickly by fast forwarding through the file or guessing and jumping to that point. It's a trillion-fold more effective. Also, because the counter on Olympus digital recorders is extremely accurate, you can scribble notes while recording to help you find specific passages. br>br>I switched to digital voice recording a few years ago, and this is my second Olympus digital voice recorder (the other is an older VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN-VN- 702PC) and they're both great, but there are two things in particular about this one that I really like (a lot). For starters, the USB connector is built-in, which means I don't have to dig through my office's jungle of cords to download recordings. The USB adapter is revealed by sliding a small button on the back, which retracts once you're finished. br>br>Another feature of this particular unit that I really like is the simplified display mode. My main gripe with the 702 was that the screen was filled with so much technical jargon that I couldn't understand half of it. It's a huge pain. When you select the simple display mode, you'll see the word "record" and a large counter (which I can read without my glasses-- A level meter (which is nothing short of a miracle) Other items in the periphery (folder and battery indicators, for example) are off to the top and bottom and do not obstruct the primary information. This simple mode is far more user-friendly, and I'm sure it was developed in response to user complaints about older models. br>br>Another enhancement is a much simpler and easier to see power switch on the side, which replaces the previous one, which was nearly invisible and difficult to see and use. This model also includes rechargeable batteries (which can be charged via the USB port, allowing you to charge them right in the device). br>br>Olympus recorders have consistently high audio quality, and this one is no exception. In addition, the internal memory of this device is enormous--it has 8GB of space. I can't imagine ever filling it up, but if you do, you can just delete the folders you don't need. br>br>My only criticism of this recorder (as well as the previous one) is that the manual, while clear, is physically small. This makes it difficult for my old eyes to read the demo screens. I was able to solve this problem by scanning a few pages, enlarging them, and then printing them. However, it would be preferable if the manual were physically larger, as well as the illustrations. br>br>Overall, a fantastic recorder that improves on previous Olympus digital recorders significantly.
To work properly, you'll need a USB cable extension. This recorder was purchased to be used with Dragon Naturally Speaking on a PC. I used it to record about 45 minutes and then transferred the files to Dragon. There was no need to make any changes to the transcription because it was perfect. The recorder is one of my favorites. I would have given it four stars if the USB male connector that extends from the recorder's end did not have to be hung from my laptop's USB port, which I believe is a poor design. To prop it up even to the port on the laptop, I had to use a ballpoint pen under the end of the recorder. I believe it will damage the internal soldering on the laptop motherboard over time. For a long-distance connection, I'll need to purchase a USB extension cable. Because the lithium ion batteries must be charged in the same way that files are transferred to your computer, this is a short-term solution. br>br>Another problem - It is packaged in a protective case. Don't be fooled by Amazon's suggestion that you purchase other "accessories" with it at the bottom of the description.
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