In addition to in-built stereo microphones, the other nicer feature of the DM-550 over the DS-71 is that wav recordings can be split or truncated. This would allow a narrator to record a book, and cut out recording stumbles etc, and then resume narration in the next file. That is, it doesn't support true over-write recording, but unlike the DS series unwanted audio can be deleted on the machine itself.
Unlike the DS range, The DM-550 also supports 999 instead of 99 files in each of the five sound recording folders. I believe it would be an absolutely fantastic and incredibly portable recorder for on-site interviews and podcast recordings. Size wise I estimate it is less than a 5th of the overall size of the pocket. I have minimally used a Plextalk Pocket, and with external mics it is pretty good quality, but I don't know the quality of the pocket's internal microphone, but suspect it is relatively crappy. Certainly it was awful in the Plextalk PTR 2! I can't find any disadvantages at all of the DM-550 over the DS-71, which is great! And, as previously mentioned, I suspect its recording quality is a significant step above that of the DS-71. In short, I want one :-) Tim Noonan ----- From: pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Ray Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 11:09 AM To: PC Audio Discussion List Subject: RE: Olympus DM520 Useful information and thoughts on the Olympus recorders there Tim, so thanks. My interest in these recorders is as a relatively affordable portable recorder for blind people doing audio journalism-type recordings for talking newspapers and audio magazines. There is sufficient voice guidance now to make this a far more reliable and practical job than with much less accessible recorders. the Plextor may come into it's own where a bit more dynamic range is needed and some music of limited dynamic range could be recorded too with it. That leaves us with recorders of the calibre of the Sony PMCD50 - hope I've got it's model number right - for live music and high quality sound gathering. While it's not really "accessible" we're told by Neal Ewers it is usable. that would seem to me to be the main choices open to us just now. Others could add in the Edirol R09h and the new Zoom recorder and there are podcasts kicking about covering these too. Let's hope someone reviews the Olympus DM series soon. Ray Tim Noonan wrote: Going from the functionality in the Olympus DS71, which has adjustable recording levels, there are either 10, but probably 15 recording volume settings, accessed by pressing the left and right arrows while in record pause or record. In addition, there are still the three microphone sensitivity settings on the side of the machine. The volume limiter (anti clipping facility is disabled when recording is set to manual volume levels. I haven't tested extensively, but while I think the voice capture of the DS-71 is extraordinarily good, for full spectrum recording, there is a lot more background hiss during silent passages and it seems somewhat limited frequency response, than one would expect for a wave recorder. I deduce from the promotional material, that the DM-550 will be a reasonable step up in actual recording quality, above and beyond the quality of the DS-71. That all said, for recording meetings and small conferences, the clarity of voice recordings and memos is second to none on the DS71, and its fantastic form-factor, in-built speaker and battery life. I'm not convinced the DM-550's recording quality will equal the Plextalk Pocket, and am certain it will be nowhere near the Zoom and Edirol units. Disclaimer, this email is in part based on my direct experience and a few educated guesses. Tim -----Original Message----- From: pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Ray Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:11 AM To: PC Audio Discussion List Subject: Re: Olympus DM520 Rick, It seems the DM550, a bit more exspensive than the 520, has adjustable recording level. Quite what this means I'm not sure, i.e. it could be in three or four sensitivity settings, or a continuous control, but not seen the recorder so don't know. Worth re-reiterating the Plextor Pocket has meters so you can actually monitor record level; doubt the Olypus DM550 can do that, but then no doubt you'd get acustomed to using it. Ray Rick Alfaro wrote: This seems really impressive for the price and actually capable of making some high end recordings. I wonder however if there is a way of turning off AGC and setting recording levels manually? There is no mention of this. On 10/11/2009 4:39 PM, Ray wrote: > A lot of info here about the Olympus DM 520: > http://www.videodirect.com/olympus/voicerecorders/olympus-dm-520.html > > Seems to have .mp3 recording, a micro SD card slot and voice guidance. > > > Ray > > Dave McElroy WA6BEF wrote: > Anybody have any information on this one? Any specs? Is recording quality > better than its predicessors? Can't seem to find any good data. > > > > Thanks. > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: > pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org > > > > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: > pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org > -- --Regards, Rick Alfaro rick.alf...@gmail.com To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org
