Adding to the mountain of new Olympus digital voice recorders about to launch in Australia this month (September 2010) is the stunning new DM-5. Joining the DM-450 and DM-550 in the DM series the Olympus DM-5 heralds a new look voice recorder for the Olympus brand.

As always with Olympus recorders, they are packed full of features, huge amounts of memory and probably the best audio recording quality you can get from a digital voice recorder. If you are recording an interview, meeting, focus group or the speaker at a conference or lecture you won’t go wrong with an Olympus digital note taker. Here are some of the features included with the new DM-5:

• Massive 8Gb of in-built memory
• Record in .mp3, .wma or PCM .wav
• Mac & Windows compatible, plug-and-play no software required
• 3 Programmable buttons to easily access your favourite feature
• Voice activated recording
• Rechargeable batteries: charge from USB or mains power
• 29 Hours of battery life
• Expandable memory via microSD slot
• Mic record level controls
• Huge 2.2 inch backlit colour display

So as you can see not just an awesome, high quality voice recorder but choc-a-block with features and memory. I have mentioned in previous blog posts how the trend for note takers is moving away from just being recorders. Again we see mountains of memory, more than you would ever need for voice recording alone (522 hours on the highest quality record mode) so the humble digital voice recorder now becomes your  backup drive, your mass storage device for documents/photos/videos and your media player for music, podcasts or audio books (audible.com compatible).

Something new for Olympus recorders is the large, 2.2 inch, colour screen. At a glance the status of your recording can be viewed without the need to cycle around menus, its all there in full colour. Flicking through the menus is also easier and clearer thanks to the vast amounts, compared to other voice recorders, of screen real estate. We hope to get one of the first DM-5′s into our office in the next day or two, as soon as we do we will post a blog review with audio samples and some close up pics.

RRP for the DM-5 in Australia is $599 incl. GST and they are expected to be available in Australia from 8th September 2010 onwards.

Lets start with the new range of WS series recorders; perfect for interviews, meetings, focus groups, lectures and conferences.

Here are their features at a glance …

Olympus WS-650S (RRP $169 incl. GST)

• 2Gb In built memory
• .mp3 or .wma recording
• Mac & Windows compatible

Olympus WS-750M (RRP $229 incl. GST)

• 4Gb In built memory
• Linear PCM recording (.wav)
• .mp3 or .wma recording
• Micro SD slot for expanded memory
• USB chargeable battery
• Mac & Windows compatible

Olympus WS-760M (RRP $269 incl. GST)

• Massive 8Gb in built memory
• Linear PCM recording (.wav)
• .mp3 or .wma recording
• Micro SD slot for expanded memory
• USB chargeable battery
• FM Radio Receiver
• FM Radio Recording
• Virtual Zoom Mic – Focus precisely on a single, distant audio source
• Auto Recording – Essential for long recording sessions, save battery power and cuts down superfluous recording.
• Mac & Windows compatible

As you can see a very slight design change from the last set of WS series recorders, the mics have been placed on the top of the unit now. One of the reasons for this is to allow the recorder to sit in a shirt or jacket top pocket and record. Also, there is a choice of colours for the units, well overseas anyway, we are yet to see if colour options come to Australia. What continues to amaze me is the amount and the cheapness of the storage, 8Gb is a huge amount of storage for a voice recorder which obviously now transforms it from just an excellent digital voice recorder into being also a music/podcast player and media mass storage device.

Details on the new Olympus DM-5 to follow …. the DM-5 will have an RRP in Australia of $599 incl. GST

Of course all these recorders will be available to buy from Dictate Australia – Olympus Gold Partner – with super fast delivery Australia wide.

Any questions or for further information grab us in one of many ways. Not sure of anything please ask, we are quite friendly you know:

• Phone: 1300 787 092 (option 2)
• Email: sales@dictate.com.au
• Twitter: @dictates
• Facebook: facebook.com/dictate.australia

Click here to read the Olympus Europe press release for the new WS series recorder.

Some surprising news out of Olympus Australia yesterday, the Olympus DS-50 digital voice recorder which was perfect for large meetings and focus groups has been discontinued in Australia and replaced with a new model the Olympus DS-65.

With the demise of the DS-50 I would assume that the days are numbered also for the popular DS-30 and DS-40 recorders, likely they will both be replaced when the DS-55 comes down under in the near future.

From the outside the blue DS-65 looks the same as the DS-50, same size, same fantastic stereo mic tagged on the top. The difference between the models lies in the internals. Some of the key differences with the Olympus DS-65 are:

• 2Gb of internal memory (double that of the DS-50 which had 1Gb)
• Max. recording time of 33hours 50mins on the highest quality recording mode STXQ
• Support for Audible .aa audio format for audio books

The Olympus DS-65 comes in at the same RRP as the DS-50 which is currently $795 incl. GST and is available now from Dictate Australia and other official Olympus Australia distributors.

Here are the full specifications for the Olympus DS-65…

Storage Media
Internal memory    2 GB

USB functionality
USB storage class    Hi speed

Display
Display Backlit    Yes

Recording Mode
Recording format    WMA (recording), WMA / MP3
LP    530 h 50 min
SP    266 h 50 min
HQ    135 h 30 min
STSP    135 h 30 min
XHQ    67 h 40 min
STHQ    33 h 50 min

Sampling frequency
STXQ    44.1 kHz / 128 kbps
STEREO HQ    44.1 kHz / 64 kbps
STEREO SP    22 kHz 32 kbps
HQ    44.1 kHz / 32 kbps
SP    22 kHz / 16 kbps
LP    8 kHz / 8 kbps

Overall frequency response
STXQ    50 – 19.000 Hz
STHQ    50 – 16.000 Hz
STSP    50 – 9.000 Hz
HQ    50 – 13.000 Hz
SP    100 – 8.000 Hz
LP    100 – 3.000 Hz

Data organisation
Folder voice:    5 + Music (variable)
Files per folder:    200 / Variable (Music)
Folder Audible:    1
Temp mark:    Yes

Record & Playback function
Rec Monitor:    Yes
File move:    Yes
VCVA recording:    Yes VCVA (voice activation) for hands free recording
Voice filter:    Yes
Index:    Up to 16 in one file
Noise canceling function:    Yes
Cue/Review:    Yes
Fast forward and rewind:    Yes
Erase function:    all / single / lock file
Playback speed:    Adjustable (50 – 200%)
EUPHONY:    Yes
Zoom Mic. Setting (DVM):    Yes
Skip Playback:    Yes
Alarm playback:    Yes, of preset file
Repeat playback:    Yes
Continuous playback:    Yes
Noise canceling feature:    Reduces backround noise

Other Features
Low-cut recording    Yes
Audible support    Yes
Podcast support    Yes
Voice feedback / guidance    Yes
Remote Control for DS-30/40/50    Yes

Interfaces Input
Microphone sensitivity    Dictation / Conference / Lecture
Microphone jack    3.5 ø mm / Impedance, 1.4 kΩ
PC interface    USB Cable

Interfaces Output
Speaker    Built-in ø23 mm round dynamic speaker
Max. working output    250 mW or more (8 Ω speaker)
Earphone jack    3.5 ø mm jack, impedance 8Ω or more

Power Supply
Power Supply    2 AAA Batteries, Plug-in power system
Alkaline battery life    Recording: 32 h

Playback: Approx. 28 hours

Dimensions
Weight    80 g (incl. alkaline batteries)
WxHxD    111 x 37.5 x 16 mm (with microphone)