Olympus WS-500M Digital Voice Recorder (Blue)
The WS-500M Digital Voice Recorder (Blue) from Olympus is more than just a way to record meetings and personal notes; the WS-500M is also a 500 song capacity MP3/WMA music player and USB storage device for transferring even large documents to your PC. The recorder features a built-in USB drive for direct connection with your computer, freeing you up from having to find a cable every time you need to transfer files. The 2GB of internal flash memory can store up to 545 hours of audio, while the 5 organizing folders allow for storage of up to 200 files each.
The WS-500M features a built-in stereo microphone that captures quality audio in stereo or mono. However, the microphone jack, allows for enhanced audio recording via an external mic. Other important features include voice activation, 21 hours of battery life, and a multi-language LCD. The recorder also features MP3 recording, in addition to WMA, thanks to a free firmware update on the Olympus website.
- Internal Memory
- Record up to 545 hours of audio to the 2GB internal flash memory
- Recording Formats
- Record in both WMA and MP3 formats. MP3 recording is made possible via a firmware update on the Olympus site
- Music Player Capabilities
- Doubles as a music player that holds up to 500 songs and supports MP3 and WMA music files
- 5 Folders for Organized Storage
- Each of the 5 storage folders allows you to organize up to 200 files
- Battery Life
- One AAA battery provides up to 21 hours of continuous recording time
- Voice Activation
- Voice Activation automatically starts recording when sounds are audible, conserving battery power
- Built-In Stereo Mic
- Capture quality audio with the built-in stereo mic or add an external mic for enhanced sound recording
- USB Direct Design
- Connect the WS-500M directly to your computer's USB port for transfer of audio, music, photos and documents
| Recording | |
|---|---|
| Microphone Type | Built-in stereo |
| Mode | Stereo/mono |
| Clip Splitting | 2GB internal flash memory |
| Format |
WMA MP3 - (recording requires firmware update on Olympus website) |
| Time To First Fix |
Stereo XQ mode: 34 hours, 50 minutes LP mode: 544 hours, 55 minutes |
| Voice Activation | Yes |
| Convenience | |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Built-in 16mm round dynamic speaker |
| LCD | Yes - 1.23" |
| Connectors | |
|---|---|
| Input | Microphone jack |
| Output | Headphone jack |
| Other | USB 2.0 |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 1 x AAA (Ni-MH chargeable via USB) |
| Battery Life (approx.) | 21 hours (Alkaline, LP mode) |
| External Power Supply | N/A |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Frequency Response |
Stereo XQ mode: 50Hz-19KHz LP mode: 100Hz-3KHz |
| System Requirements (Minimum) |
Windows 2000, XP, Vista Mac OS X 10.2.8 - 10.5 1 x free USB port |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 1.5 x 3.7 x 0.4" (38 x 94.8 x 11mm) |
| Weight | 1.6 oz (46g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 3 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 3 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-3
Pros
- Compact Design
- High Quality Sound
- Long Battery Life
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Conversations
- Lectures
Comments about Olympus WS-500M Digital Voice Recorder (Blue):
I like it because it is multifunctional & it is compact & has a good punch.
Pros
- Good sound pickup
- Light Weight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Olympus WS-500M Digital Voice Recorder (Blue):
I bought the Olympus WS-500M three days before attending a three-day conference of scientists & diplomats. In a large hall it flawlessly recording individuals turning their heads to look at Powerpoints while at a podium, panels of speakers and close-up one-on-one interviews.
It also worked without problems on my Mac Powerbook, a definite improvement over the older Olympus it replaced.
Its feather-weight eliminates the discomfort of a metal lump in a coat pocket and the dark blue color is cool.
The only reason I didn't give it five-stars is because I haven't had it long enough to see how well it stands up to wear, but after two weeks I recommend it.
Pros
- 8 or more hours on 1 AAA
- Built in USB plug no wire
- Good sound qualitypitch
- Holds 26 hours of HQ reco
- One touch recording
- Seems very reliable
- Stereo mics
- Very small
Cons
- For what it is None
Best Uses
- Live music recording
Comments about Olympus WS-500M Digital Voice Recorder (Blue):
After reading a lot of reviews this sounded like a good choice to record less than studio quality music for the musician on the go, needing a small (tiny) stereo recording device at low cost. I bought it on a sunday for a week long workshop and field tested it for a week recording 5 hours of classes and 2 hours of concerts in a large hall each day in high quality mode. I downloaded 300 to 500 megs of WMA files to my Mac each day and they played well through the Windows Media Player(free download) into a good stereo connected to my computer. Seems reliable. The sound is very good...probably not wav file good, but very listenable for reference and good, maybe very good (depending on your level of discrimination) for pleasure listening. I haven't tried EQ-ing any files yet but am guessing it would only get better. For the price and size, I'd say it is a remarkable tool. It comes with a battery that recharges via usb (seems pretty cool) but I haven't tried it yet. For safety sake I bought regular duracells and got about 8 hours of recording out of 1 AAA battery. I says it records 26 hours at high quality onto the 2 gig internal card. That's a lot of hours to have available without having to buy an additional larger card like you have to get for an H2 or H4. An additional feature musicians would like is that you can play back at a slower speed and it keeps the same pitch. Now that I own one it all seems like a no brainer and the pros far outweigh the cons. I actually haven't figured out anything bad about this unit yet. Seriously...it's one of the best/coolest musician tools I own.
Displaying reviews 1-3
Cases & Straps
- Price: $6.95
Batteries & Power
- Price: $2.49
Microphones
- Price: $13.30
- Price: $64.95
Phone Recording
- Price: $14.99
Earphones
- Price: $6.99
Cables & Adapters
- Price: $15.24
Software
- Price: $12.95
What's in the Box
- WS-500M Digital Voice Recorder
- AAA Ni-HM Rechargeable Battery
- Earphone
- USB Cable
- Instruction Manual
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
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