GUIDE TO DIGITAL VOICE RECORDERS

Olympus WS-300M 256 MB Digital Voice Recorder and Music Player

Manufacturer : Olympus
In Stock : 7

List Price:	$135.02
Price:	$120.00
You Save:	$15.02 (11%)

Features

Compact, high-quality digital voice recorder with 256 MB internal flash memory
Records up to 68 hours of WMA audio; built-in music player stores up to 66 WMA or MP3 files
USB Direct design plugs directly into PC USB port; 4 recording modes (HQ, LP, SP, and HQ Stereo)
5 separate file folders with 199 files each; voice activation mode enables hands-free recording
Runs for roughly 15 hours on 1 AAA battery; 1.5 x 3.73 x 0.43 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

Product Description

Take it here, there and anywhere. The compact brushed silver WS-300M is equipped with 256MB of internal memory for up to 68 hours of recording time and stores up to 120 music tracks. Users can enjoy a great sense of freedom, not being bound by cables, docking station or special software, simply plug directly into any PC and you are ready to upload and download your files as you choose.

Amazon.com Product Description

Slim, attractive, and highly functional, the Olympus WS-300M digital voice recorder packs 256 MB of internal flash memory into its lightweight housing, letting you record up to 68 hours of high-quality audio in WMA format. It's ideal for recording notes or long lectures, interviewing sources for an upcoming story, or capturing spur-of-the-moment song ideas before they disappear into the air. As an added bonus, the WS-300M can store up to 66 WMA or MP3 songs for high-quality stereo playback, letting you listen to your favorite tunes between (or during) classes or while waiting in line at the DMV. All this in a tiny body that measures 1.5 inches wide by 3.73 inches tall--roughly the size of a pack of gum.

The WS-300M features five separate file folders capable of holding 199 files each, so you can organize nearly 1,000 files by subject, theme, or other categories. Users also have the choice of four recording modes: HQ, which minimizes background noise and is great for recording people with low speaking voices; LP and SP modes that offer extended recording times; and the unique Stereo HQ mode, which makes two-channel recordings. And thanks to the voice activation option, users don't need to press a single button to start recording. The WS-300M will instead record as soon as the built-in microphone picks up sound.

Perhaps the most convenient feature, however, is the built-in USB connector. To attach the WS-300M to a PC, all you need to do is remove one end of the recorder's body, which reveals a male USB plug. This USB Direct design eliminates the need for a USB cable (the male plug connects directly to your computer), making the device even more portable. Once connected, you can download music files, images, or documents, in effect turning the recorder into a small hard drive, or you can transfer voice recordings to your computer for storage or multimedia use.

The unit also offers built-in WOW sound enhancement to produce rich, three-dimensional audio with a nice bass component. Additional audio improvements include a user-selectable equalizer that lets you tailor the sound to your taste or environment, along with Olympus's innovative noise-canceling technology, which makes the audio even clearer by removing unwanted hiss and background noise. You can even adjust the built-in stereo microphone's recording level to meet your needs.

Every bit as important are the playback functions, which include fast (50 percent) and slow (25 percent) playback, random play, and repeat play. And should you need to identify and quickly retrieve important sound bites, all you need to do is insert an index mark and refer to it later. Additional features include a locking function, which keeps important data from being erased; an easy-to-read, backlit, full-dot LCD; and a pair of stereo headphones.

What's in the Box
WS-300M digital voice recorder, stereo earphone, one AAA battery, USB cable, user's manual.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating of 4.00 out of 195 reviews

Rating :
Doesn't work at a distance - durangok, May 01, 2008

I had high expectations for the Olympus WS-300m but I find it does not record well beyond a distance of a couple of feet. It's great for dictation and the tiny size is much appreciated, however, when voice activation is turn on and set to the highest level of sensitivity it shuts down and misses nearly everything when placed a few feet from the source. As a test, in case my voice is too soft, I turned on the radio and adjusted the volume so I could hear it easily at a distance of 15-20 feet. The Olympus WS-300m goes into Standby mode when it is only 2 feet away from the radio. I put in a new battery and the result was identical. I also made sure I had the microphone set to "conf" and not to "dict" for dictation. I studied the manual carefully. I compliment them on the clarity and comprehensive nature of the manuel. But nothing worked to enable me to record with voice activation at a distance. Either I have a lemon or I have failed to comprehend the instuctions or this is the most overrated digital recorder sold on Amazon.

Rating :
Exceeded my expectations - SageB, Apr 25, 2008

I purchased this a little over a year ago for about $90 total. I was surprised with the small size of the recorder when I first opened the package and thought, "Oh well, might as well get used to the digital age." I have just concluded my 15th interview with the recorder for newspaper articles. The clarity of the voice recording is excellent. I was truly surprised to see how well this works. After an interview, I immediately transfer the recording to my PC (have recently switched to an iMac and haven't figured out if it will work the same or not--so far doesn't look like it). I then transcribe notes either from the PC or using earphones with the recorder. I am not an expert on things digital and still don't know all the intricacies of this machine, but I highly recommend it for sit down interviews. One interview I did walk around with it in my shirt pocket and it worked just fine.

Rating :
5 Star with a mic - Hypnotist, Apr 02, 2008

I'm a hypnotherapist and make recordings for my clients. They have to be very good sound quality. I always used cassette's, but who has those anymore, so I needed a digital recorder. I looked at recorders $300.00 and up but too costly and too complicated, unless you're a audio tech.

I have an older model that was OK but NOT so good for making CD's. Sound was not good. When I read the reviews on this model, I wanted to know why the difference and what made this so much better. I called the Olympus help line and asked. They were very helpful and said the sound is better because this model records in Windows format. They also told me that by doing about 6 steps I could make my older model sound better, changing formats and on and on with the computer. Too much trouble for me.

I payed about $80.00 for the model WS-300 and it's GREAT, but you do need a plug in mic with a mono to stereo adapter, or stereo mic. No cords, it plugs right into the usb on my computer and the sound quality is fantastic. I highly recommend it. Great little recorder

Rating :
What happened to the price on the ws300? - Michael Steinberg, Mar 31, 2008

I love this product and have been using it for a year now but what happened to the price. I bought mine last year for around $80 and now the price listed is $199?? That is quite a shocking increase?

Rating :
Not a reliable recorder - A. Jalbert, Mar 19, 2008

Having purchased several of the Olympus WS-100 voice recorders with no problems, I was extremely disappointed with the problems I had with the WS300M. I purchased this newer model because it had more storage capacity, but unfortunately have had problems with some of them failing to operate after a month or so of use. Out of 8 purchased for law enforcement officers to carry in the field to record interviews, we had to throw away 2 (with crucial evidence nearly being lost in the process). Just not good enough!!! I'm going back to the WS-100 and if I have any more problems will look to another manufacturer entirely.

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