Finding the best digital voice recorder is one task that you shouldn't take lightly, especially if you use the device for important and professional purposes. Keeping the minutes of the meeting, recording an interview, and getting a copy of a personality's speech are some of the duties that you might want to use your voice recorder for. One good model that you might want to take a second look at is the Olympus DS-40 Digital Voice Recorder because it has a lot of features to offer. To learn more about it, here is an in-depth review of the model.
Design
This model is a very compact and handy one. It has the dimensions of 4.4" x 1.5" x 0.6" and a weight of 2.8 ounces, and is absolutely easy to handle. You can keep it in your pocket, in a purse, in a bag, or just hold on to it and it wouldn't be a bother because it's really very light. It also has a simple but nice appearance and it closely resembles a remote control. Its body is sleek with a silver case and silver buttons. Although newer models have better buttons, this model also has a good set of controls which are easy enough to use even by a first-timer.
The model is designed to operate by either batteries or an AC power supply. The batteries needed for this device are two triple-A ones, which can be rechargeable or alkaline, depending on your preferences. Using alkaline batteries on this model can last you up to 32 hours of use which longer than most newer models, indicating that this is a better power saver than others.
Display
The LCD display has the dimensions of 26mm x 25mm, or approximately one cubic inch. Although it is small, the display has a very clear resolution and the text can be read easily through the dot matrix. The LED also changes color when you're using the recorder: it turns red when you're recording and it turns white when you're on playback. The LCD display pretty much shows all vital information that you need to be able to operate or navigate the device properly.
Audio and Recording Features
This model is as close to being the best digital voice recorder as it can ever be with its excellent features. Because it's an older model, it has only a small internal memory of 512 MB, but you can record a lot in that space. It has five different modes of recording which vary in quality, and the highest one has the shortest recording capacity and the lowest one vice versa. The ST XQ mode has the capacity to record up to 8 hours and 40 minutes of audio recordings; the ST HQ mode can save up to 17 hours and 20 minutes of recordings; the HQ mode can store up to 34 hours and 45 minutes of audio recordings; the SP mode can save up to 68 hours and 30 minutes of audio recordings; and the LP mode can record up to 136 hours and 15 minutes of audio. Although the LP mode is the lowest in recording quality, it does not mean that the mode has a bad audio sound. In fact, it still has that great professional recording quality which can compete with other recording modes, and upholds the quality and reputation of Olympus.
It has a 23mm diameter dynamic speaker with a maximum output of 250 mW, remarkable for such a small device. It also has a microphone and headphone jack for private listening and better audio input, but it has a built-in monoaural microphone and speaker so you can use it in moments of urgent need.
Other Features
The device only stores files in the WMA format but it is very easy to access in a PC using a USB cable. Also, most computers have Windows Media Player where you can play the files. You can also save and organize your recordings in the device in five separate folders, each able to carry 200 files. It also has a built in variable control voice actuator function which enables you to use voice command when you want to and shut it off when you don't want to. It also has the timer recording and alarm features which enable automatic recording and playing at a set time. The device also has an index mark and temp mark features that allow you to quickly find desired locations throughout the recording. You can even play the audio files in slow or fast paces which enable you to either listen very closely to the recording or scan through the recording quickly.
Conclusion
The Olympus DS-40 Digital Voice Recorder has many features and it's very simple but functional. It might well be the best digital voice recorder if you look at it closely. I, for one, highly recommend this product because it has many features that I find not only functional but also very remarkable and unique. So if you're looking for an excellent voice recorder, this model is a great one.
| Price : $74.00
