iDictate – Digital Voice Blog

With the release of the new Olympus DS-7000 and DS-3500 digital dictaphones in Australia and around the world recently one of the most common questions we get from people and businesses upgrading is “will the new digital voice recorders work with older transcription kits”? mainly the Olympus AS-5000 kit but also the older AS-4000 digital transcription kit.

As always the answer is yes and no. There are some minor points to consider depending on which transcription kits you plan to use with your Olympus DS-7000 if you don’t have the latest Olympus transcription kit the AS-7000.

Using the Olympus DS-7000 with Olympus AS-5000 DSS Player Pro R5 Transcription Module

The AS-5000 transcription kit running DSS Player Pro R5 is fully compatible with all the audio files that the DS-7000 and DS-3500 produce, which are .ds2 (DSS Pro) by default, .dss (DSS) and .wma except if you encrypt your .ds2 audio files with 256bit encryption. The AS-5000 kit is unable to decrypt 256bit and can only decrypt 128bit encrypted .ds2 audio files.

If you currently do not encrypt your audio files then the DS-7000 will be fully compatible with the AS-5000 transcription kit. If you do encrypt, your options are to simply encrypt in 128bit mode or purchase the upgrade to the AS-5000 DSS Player Pro R5 software using the AS-7004 which will convert your DSS Player Pro R5 transcription module to ODMS (Olympus Dictation Management System) R6 Transcription module. The AS-7004 upgrade is AU$59 incl. GST in Australia, you will require one per install.

Using the Olympus DS-7000 with Olympus AS-4000 DSS Player Pro R4 Transcription Module

Using the Olympus DS-7000 or DS-3500 with the much older AS-4000 digital transcription kit running DSS Player Pro R4 software you will have very similar issues to those who purchased the Olympus DS-5000 digital dictaphones over the last couple of years. The AS-4000 kit is unable to play back .ds2 (DSS Pro) audio files so with the DS-7000/DS-3500 like the DS-5000/DS-3400 you will need to set your digital dictaphone to either run in classic mode (which sets the dictaphone to record by default in .dss instead of .ds2) or convert your audio from .ds2 to .dss prior to sending to your typist using your ODMS R6 dictation module software supplied with the DS-7000 and DS-3500.

Just announced this week by Olympus is a slight change to how Multi User Licences (MUL) for latest version of the dictation module and transcription module software is handled on a Windows server Workgroup environment. This has changed since the DSS Player Pro R5 release where the licence admin software was included for free on every dictation module CD.

With ODMS (Olympus Dictation Management System) R6 the licence admin software has been removed and bundled into a separate software package called the Olympus AS-56 which retails for $399 incl. GST in Australia and will be available mid June 2012. Olympus state that the new software for multi licence control is much easier to use than the last version and can handle both R5 and R6 MULs.

Need an Olympus Multi User Licence for your company? In Australia contact us and we can help you with this, outside of Australia contact your nearest Olympus Pro reseller.

Olympus have released an update to their DSS Player software for Mac to version 7.3.0 – don’t get too excited, it is mainly just a compatibility update. Included in this update are:

• DSS Pro files that were encrypted in High Encryption mode (using 256-bit encryption keys) can now be decrypted and played back. (They cannot be encrypted.)
• Downloading and playback of WAV files is supported. Index marks and comments can now be acquired and edited.
• MP3 index marks are supported. MP3 index marks can now be acquired and edited.
• The new foot switch RS-31 and also DR-1200/2100/2200/2300 are supported.

With this version your Mac will now be fully compatible with the new(ish) DirectRec II hand held USB microphones which were released early last year, I know a few people have been hanging on this. The Olympus DirectRec II are USB connected microphones (DR-2100,DR-2200,DR-2300) that allow dictation directly to your Mac.

Also included in this update is compatibility with the very latest range of professional digital dictaphones released just a couple of weeks ago in Australia along with the new Olympus RS-31 four pedal USB foot control. The RS-31 is most commonly used with the Olympus transcription module but can also be used with the Olympus DS-7000 via the dock for hands free digital dictation, quite often commonly used in the medical sector.

Click here to download Mac DSS Player update to v7.3.0 or from the Olympus Australia website

That is it, our stock of the DS-5000 has gone and a quick phone call to Olympus in Sydney confirmed that they too have none left, the Olympus DS-5000 is now officially discontinued in Australia.

So what are we to make of its replacement the new Olympus DS-7000. Well to be honest a close look at the specs doesn’t show anything too hugely different. This is a good thing, anyone who deals with professionals who dictate will know that big change is not always welcome – experienced dictators don’t have time to learn new devices and those already used to the older Olympus digital dictaphones (DS-5000/DS-4000) will feel right at home with the DS-7000. For those new to digital dictation, people moving from the analog micro and mini cassettes should also feel comfortable moving to the new generation of Olympus professional digital dictaaphones, especially the DS-7000 thanks to that slide switch control.

The stand outs for me with the Olympus DS-7000 are:

• New larger colour screen
• New rechargeable battery that charges quicker and lasts longer than the DS-5000 battery
• Improved microphone
• Better integration with Dragon NaturallySpeaking for Windows directly via the ODMS (Olympus Dictation Management System)
• Improved Dragon accuracy score assigned by Nuance themselves – scoring five our of six Dragons

Full details of the complete comparison between the Olympus DS-5000 vs DS-7000 can be found by clicking here. This shows the changes between the two models.

In a first of its kind Olympus Imaging in Australia held a product launch at swanky Woolwich eatery Deckhouse today in Sydney. Spoiled only by the torrential rain, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge seen in the murky distance stood several Olympus branded pedestals covered in magician black velvet hiding what was about to be announced.

Olympus Audio Pro dealers from around the country had gathered to listen to Olympus Imaging Managing Director Marc Radatt present his spiel starting with the history of Olympus, building thru to the imaging range and culminating with the announcement we audio people had gathered for … the new Olympus DS-7000 digital dictaphone.

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Olympus Australia this week announced a refresh of the popular WS series digital voice recorders and the low end budget VN series digital notetakers. In a surprise move, in my opinion, Olympus are sticking with three recorders in the WS series (I think only two recorders are really necessary).

Olympus WS Series Digital Voice Recorders

• WS-650S replaced by the new Olympus WS-811
• WS-750M replaced by the new Olympus WS-812
• WS-760M replaced by the new Olympus WS-813

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Is there a trial version of the Olympus DSS Player R5 Dictation Module and Transcription Module software? YES THERE IS !! …. read on

Olympus DSS Player Pro r5 software comes in two forms, the dictation module and the transcription module. The Dictation Module software comes as part of the package when you buy the Olympus Professional dictaphones (DS-5000 and DS-3400). The transcription module accompanies the AS-5000 professional transcription kit. More

This post is only applicable in Australia. Here is a freebie from Olympus, take it while you can as these things are rare. From 1st march 2012 until 31st May 2012 if you buy an Olympus DS-5000/AS-5000 bundle then you are eligible for a free gift. The bundle is available from us for $999 incl. GST delivered.

Why bundle? Well many people looking to upgrade from analogue tape to digital will generally purchase both a transcription kit and a voice recorder in one go. If you have been thinking of moving to digital dictation now would be a great time especially as you can pick up a free digital camera or free WS series voice recorder as a part of your bundle. More