Ok, re the DS-71 and the DM-520, , it is actually a tricky decision on one
hand, and a completely clear decision on the other.
This is a very detailed post.
I have both units - which I am happy about, because as a conference
speaker,
the DS-71 (like the DS-50) mic remote control and detachable mic option is
perfect for capturing my presentations. I can wire myself up, and just
flick
the switch on the remote to start and stop recording - almost total
reliability that record has activated.
If, you have a DS-50, you can use its remote control and Mic with the
DS-71.
You can not, however, use the DS-50 or DS-71 remote control on the DM-520!
The price I paid for the DS-71 was nearly double that of the DM-520, and
in
many ways the DS-71 is an inferior product, using an older generation of
technology. I actually think someone stuffed up somewhere in releasing the
DS-71 when they did, it feels like a legacy product that was very delayed
to
market.
Still speaking about the DS-71, the recording quality is pretty good, and
you do notice the Wave recording improvement over the DS50 and the WMA on
the DS-71. However, it is not as good as the audio recording quality of
the
DM-520, and has more noise floor and Mic preamp noise (I think).
In addition, the external stereo Microphone for the DS-71, though an
improvement on the DS-50 mic is definitely inferior to the in-built stereo
Mics of the DM-520, especially if you want to use any of the zoom
recording
modes that The DS-71 offers. I don't actually believe that they fully
tuned
the DS-71 mics for the Zoom technology. I would never use any of the zoom
options on the DS-71, but I do use them for some situations (especially
Narrow, and sometimes wide) on the DM-520.
The narrow setting is good for keeping sounds localised, and the wide
option
is good for spreading the left right mike pickup to catch several speakers
from a single location.
If you want to hear how the DM-520 Narrow zoom mic setting works in open
air
situations, you can go to my CoffeeCast Conversations podcast at
http://coffeecast.posterous.com
Other advantages of the DS-71 are that it buffers key presses far better.
For flipping back and forth between recordings in a folder, results are
better. Also it doesn't exhibit the annoying audio click through the
speaker when you move to different recordings. Both these problems with
the
DM-520 are bugs, and I do hope a firmware release will address them, as
they
do frustrate me, when using the DM-520 as a voice recorder.
Also, it is necessary, occasionally, to reboot the DM-520 to fix an
occasional bug where recording is flawed and choppy. This means that
absolute trust of capturing a recording is somewhat compromised.
Monitoring
important recordings with earphones is therefore useful. I power the
machine off, and back on prior to doing interviews, where I can't afford
to
lose quality of a recording.
Finally, in complaint about the DM-520 is that I have stopped using the
supplied rechargeable batteries, as they were dying unexpectedly, even
when
supposedly fully charged. I haven't had the time to fully track this
problem
down, or do charge discharge cycling to see if the problem goes away. Not
a
big problem for me, as I am happy to swap in regular AAA batteries before
important recordings.
The other relatively minor advantage of the DS-71 is that its size is
smaller than the DM-520 if you remove the stereo mic. They are equivalent
sized, when the external mic is attached.
I still love the audio quality of memos recorded with the in-built mono
mic
of the DS-71. You have to change your mic technique considerably with the
DM-520, so it isn't optimised for close mouth memoing, but mostly this
doesn't matter.
I think the DS-71 gives you 200 files for each of the five folders. With
4gb, this may or may not work for you! I found this limitation a problem
once or twice.
On the DM-520 you get 999 files per folder, and if you add Micro SD card,
you then have ten folders to categorise stuff in to.
All that said, though, my DS-71 is sitting here on my desk, hardly used
since the new machine arrived, and my DM-520 is always in my pocket, ready
for any situation I need to make a note, or capture a meeting or
conversation.
In summary:
Unless you Really need the remote control, you will probably be best off
with the DM-520, it is a magic machine, accessibility is good and the
price
is good for size, quality and features . A few bugs, but only compared to
the elegant smooth operation of the DS-50 and DS-71 machines.
And, of course, you can still plug in an external tie clip Mic, you just
can't remote control it as conveniently.
Olympus do have a remote control for the DM-520, but this is expensive and
is wireless.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Tim
-----Original Message-----
From: pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org]
On Behalf Of tim
Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 8:33 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List
Subject: Re: Digital recorders again - Plextalk Pocket and Olympus DS-71
hi all! am seriously debating between a ds71 and a dm520, only thing
stopping me from the dm520 is the not included stereo mike like that comes
with the ds71, also, is there any other recorders with 4 gig or grater
copasity, built in speech and a mike or 2 included with the product?
thanks
for help!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lauren" <lotusris...@att.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 6:48
Subject: Re: Digital recorders again - Plextalk Pocket and Olympus DS-71
Hi,
Can someone please talk about the cost f these items? I am looking for a
digital recorder that you can take anywhere, that has a good sound
quality, but that is also affordable. I am on a budget.
Sincerely,
Lauren
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Noonan" <t...@timnoonan.com.au>
To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 7:35 PM
Subject: RE: Digital recorders again - Plextalk Pocket and Olympus DS-71
I would guess, in the absence of no hard comparative data, that the
audio
recording quality of the Pocket is quite a bit better than is the
Olympus
DS-71, which I do have.
I find the Olympus, across a range of external mics does have a degree
of
background hiss (preamp noise or circuit noise). This is the case when
set
to wave recording and manual mic input levels.
Also, The Olympus doesn't actually have a line in, only a mic in port,
so
I
am curious about line in recording quality, and whether you are using an
attenuation cable to reduce the line in signal to mic levels?
That all said, I absolutely love my Olympus DS-71 in so many ways, and
for
so many reasons: its extraordinarily flexible and effective voice
recording
capabilities, battery life and replaceable batteries, and especially its
super compact size makes it a take everywhere audio device.
Speaker monitoring of line in recordings, and audible recording level
feedback are features unique to the Plextalk recorders.
Regards
Tim
-----Original Message-----t
From: pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org
[mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org]
On Behalf Of G-Dog
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 10:20 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List
Subject: Re: Digital recorders again.
Agreed!
accessability is a very important factor but it doesn't equate to
performance.
I use the olympus DS-71 which does an excellent job for both mike and
line
in recordings.
Yes, you can monitor through headphones.
I also like the fact that it uses AAA batteries that makes it easy to
swap
them out if needed.
I hear the Edital R9 is also a nifty unit
G-Doggy-dog!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Toews" <br...@ogts.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: Digital recorders again.
That statement should probably be qualified: It may well be the most
excellent recording device in its class on the market, I couldn't say
but have no reason to believe otherwise, but there are better recording
devices on the market. Sweeping statements are dangerous.
Bruce
On Wed, 7 Oct 2009 12:56:11 -0500, "Sunshine" <sunsh...@abe.midco.net>
said:
I totally agree with you Dean, the plextalk pocket is the most exclent
recording device on the market these days.
----- Original Message -----
From: "dean martineau" <dea...@earthlink.net>
To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:36 PM
Subject: RE: Digital recorders again.
What I know is that the PlexTalk Pocket is totally accessible, nicely
packaged, has both manual and automatic level control, and does a very
nice
job of recording from the line injack. I doubt any other digital
recorder
provides as much feedback, as this one is made for the blind. Of
course,
it
may (or may not, I don't know) cost more than others of similar
quality,
but
there's no guesswork involved. It's nice to be able to monitor through
the
speaker when making a line-in recording.
Dean
-----Original Message-----
From: pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org
[mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org]
On Behalf Of Tim Crawford
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 9:27 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List
Subject: Digital recorders again.
Hi all,
Just wondering, which one of the flash memory based recorders recently
discussed here, would be most suitable for making high quality
recordings
from an external source via line-in? e.g. a satellite receiver.
I don't intend recording via microphone, so that particular aspect of
performance is of limited interest.
Any views much appreciated.
Cheers,
Tim.
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