Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder
The Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder provides you with a number of features and options designed for high-quality recording. To start off, the recorder features 4GB of internal flash memory which results in over 1,000 hours of recording time. Should you need more space, optional microSD cards up to 16GB can be used in the expansion slot. You'll also benefit from an extra long battery life of up to 51 hours, with convenient USB charging when it is time to power up again.
The DM-520 has record and playback for the popular MP3, WMA, and PCM formats. It also features included Olympus Sonority editing software that is both PC and Mac compatible. For even better audio an optional external microphone can be attached. And functions such as automatic podcast downloads, voice activation, and the voice guidance system all work to make your job easier too.
- Recording Media
- 4GB of internal memory allows you more than a thousand worry-free hours of recording time, with microSD card (optional) compatibility that extends it to 512MB-16GB
- PC & Mac Compatible Software
- Edit your files with Olympus Sonority software, which is compatible with PCs and MACs
- Multiple Recording Formats
- Record and play back in MP3, WMA and PCM formats with a quality that's as good as its operation is easy
- Long Battery Life
- There's up to 51 hours of recording capability with the DM-520's super-long-life battery. And the battery can be charged when you hook the recorder up to your computer via the USB port
- Scene Selection Playback
- Increase your playback ease with a scene selection playback function
- Podcasts
- Download podcasts automatically
- PC Downloads
- PC downloads via USB are conducted with 2.0 high speed capability
- Transfer & Copy Files
- Move and copy files between internal memory and the micro-SD card with ease
- Optional External Microphone
- Be a pro with the optional tie-clip microphone. A telephone recording device (optional) is another handy option
- Voice Guidance System
- A voice guidance system ensures seamless, user-friendly operation of all functions in the menu
- Built-In VCVA
- Built-in VCVA (Variable Control Voice Actuator) is another hands-free function that adds ease and practicality
| Recording | |
|---|---|
| Microphone Type |
Built-in stereo zoom mic Optional external mic input |
| Mode | Stereo |
| Clip Splitting |
Built-in 4GB flash memory MicroSD card slot |
| Format | MP3, WMA, PCM (WAV) |
| Time To First Fix |
PCM 48kHz 16 bit: 5 hours, 45 minutes 44.1kHz 16 bit: 6 hours, 15 minutes
MP3
WMA |
| Voice Activation | Yes |
| Convenience | |
|---|---|
| Speaker | 23mm round dynamic speaker |
| LCD | Yes - backlit screen |
| Connectors | |
|---|---|
| Input |
3.5mm mic jack Remote (control) jack (remote control set optional) |
| Output | 3.5mm earphone jack |
| Other | USB 2.0 |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 2 x 'AAA' Ni-MH rechargeable batteries |
| Battery Life (approx.) | Ni-MH recording approximately 51 hours |
| External Power Supply | AC power supply (not included) |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Frequency Response |
PCM 48kHz 16 bit: 40Hz-23kHz 44.1kHz 16 bit: 40Hz-21kHz
MP3
WMA |
| System Requirements (Minimum) |
Windows XP, Vista 32 bits (x86) of 1GHz and above or 64 bits (x64) processor
Mac OS X 10.4.11-10.5 |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 1.53 x 4.33 x 0.63" (38.9 x 110 x 16mm) |
| Weight | 2.96 oz (84g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 18 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Compact (11)
- Long battery life (10)
- Adequate storage (6)
- Good audio (6)
- Easy to use (5)
Cons
Best Uses
- Conversation piece (5)
- Lectures (4)
- Business use (3)
- Daily use (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Tech savvy (9), Gearhead (3), Practical (3)
- Primary use:
- Personal (6)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (6)
Reviewed by 18 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-18
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
I had many voice recorders, I consider the Olympus DM-520 the best one, I've ever had. It is very well made, easy to operate, and the sound quality is great, with a very long battery life. The design is excellent: light and small, but with a well built solid and durable feel, a very important quality for me, something which becomes very rare today when everything seems paper made. The recorder works beautifully, the quality of the playback is impressive. Even in noisy environment, the voice is very distinguishable. It is very easy to use. You can drag and drop files directly from a PC, it is recognized as a hard drive, you don't need to use any special software. I am really happy with this purchase. All in all, a great buy.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Adequate Storage
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Business Use
- Syncing With Computer
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
Great quality for the price. Invest in a decent mic to go with it.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Adequate Storage
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Fast
- Good Compatibility
- Great Software Bundle
- Long Battery Life
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
I use this to record dictation. It is light and small, but solid. The voice that tells about the status of the recorder and the menu choices is great. The quality of the playback is impressive.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Adequate Storage
- Compact Design
- Good Compatibility
Cons
Best Uses
- Business Use
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
Mainly used for administrative hearings which sometimes require transcripts to be made from recording.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Adequate Storage
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Fast
- Long Battery Life
Cons
Best Uses
- Business Use
- Multimedia
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
I use it primarily for listening to audiobook. For that purpose I have not encountered better device yet. The sound is excellent, the feature I like most is the ability to set-up the interval at which the skip forward and backward function jumps - anywhere between 1 second to 1 minute - great for audiobooks or lectures listeners. The player can even adjust the play speed, if they are talking too fast... and it still sounds good.
The recorder seems to be very well designed. Even in extremely noisy environment, the voice is very distinguishable. If the ambient noise is low, then the quality of the recorded speech is just great.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Adequate Storage
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Fast
- Good Compatibility
- Great Software Bundle
- Long Battery Life
- Very well made
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
I have had many recorders and some were okay, but none were great. In the case of the DM-520, I can now say I have a great one. It is very well made, easy to operate, and the sound quality is great. It is smaller than others I have used, which I love, and it is very well thought out. The design is excellent, and the accessories that come with it are helpful and well made. The stereo earbuds are really great, much better than I expected. Overall, I think this is a great tool for anyone who wants quality at a very fair price. A great buy.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Adequate Storage
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Good Compatibility
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
I use my voice recorder for school and personal affairs. I plan on using it to write a play, record my teachers during class to review what they said, and to play my instruments into so that I can critique myself by hearing it again. It picks up noises really well. As long as their is not too much background noise, it can pick up voices from across the room as clear as if the person were standing next to you. It is an awesome device that I can't wait to put to full use.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
This is a great recorder. The mic has good reception sound, the size is small and fits in your pocket. It comes with a great carry case and strap. Love everything about the recorder except, the specs stated that it had voicing tutorial making it good for people who are blind. The voicing commands are sporadic and have a delay. They also do not voice the file names. Overall, it is a great recorder for the average user, but lacks some fundamental requirements to make it 100% accessible to a blind person.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Compact Design
- High Quality Sound
- Long Battery Life
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Conversations
- Lectures
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
I bought this for my daughter who is a journalist and requires this to conduct interviews, record conversations, etc. She says that it works really well.
I had a good look at it before giving it to her and am extremely impressed with the device, I may buy another even though I don't really need it.
But it's just so cool, I can't resist.
Pros
- Compact Design
- High Quality Sound
- Long Battery Life
- Reliable
Cons
- Picks Up Background Noise
Best Uses
- Conversations
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
It's a very compact and highly voice sensitive staff. I start using it to record music and download
back to the computer. When i compare the recorded and the original there is some background noise.
Pros
- Compact Design
- High Quality Sound
- Long Battery Life
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Conversations
- Lectures
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
The performance and quality of the DM-520 exceeded my expectations. I would have given it 5 stars but if you are not somewhat familiar with digital recorders the instructions are a little vague. Nothing to keep you from buying one, it's great.
Pros
- Compact Design
- High Quality Sound
- Long Battery Life
- Reliable
Cons
- AC adaptor optional
Best Uses
- Conversations
- Lectures
- Personal note taking
- Sermons
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
As pastor of a small church I have to be careful about our budget. I wanted a recorder that would allow me to post MP3 files of my sermons on the church website. The DM-520 performs flawlessly and does everything I expected of it.
The included software makes editing a breeze so I can turn on the unit and let it run through the whole service and then edit out everything except the sermon which I then can upload to our website.
In addition I have found that it is a great tool to keep on hand so I can record thoughts on future sermons as they come to mind. It works much better than trying to have a pen and paper at hand all the time.
The only complaints I have are:
1) When using the optional clip-on microphone you cannot close the clip on the belt holster.
2) An AC adaptor should have been included in the package instead of being an option.
Overall I think that this recorder meets and exceeds my expectations and is a great value too.
Pros
- Compact Design
- High Quality Sound
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Lectures
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
Great support, easy enough to configure, lightweight, sound is fantastic, holds plenty of files. Have not had long enough to comment on battery life.
Pros
- Compact Design
- High Quality Sound
- Long Battery Life
Cons
Best Uses
- Conversations
- Rehearsals
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
I purchased the DM-520 about three months ago and have used it primarily to record meetings. I also have used it a few times for music rehearsals, recording for practice purposes from my seat in the orchestra.
The recorder works beautifully. It is very easy to use. Sound quality is as good as one could hope from this category of device. Storage capacity seems endless. Size and weight are small and it fits easily and discreetly in a pocket, although with the included case it becomes too bulky for a pocket. Battery life is beyond outstanding.
For meetings, it picks up voices very clearly whether in a small office or large conference room. I tried using the little phone recorder accessory (~$15) and the combo works perfectly whether on cell phone or land line.
In rehearsals the Olympus is able to deal with very loud and very soft (Auto recording level) and with pickup such that I can hear myself well (woodwinds) but still in context with the rest of the orchestra.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy Controls
- Good Sound
- Lightweight
- Powerful
Cons
- Short Battery Life
Best Uses
- Daily Use
- Home Use
- Travel
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
Excellent digital voice recorder.
Easy to use, PC and MAC compatibility, lots of storage, three audio formats, high quality sound (record and playback), fine software, functional operating design, very lightweight, resistant, heavy duty use, small size.
- Recommended:
- No need. This device already has everything you need.
- Similar:
- Olympus DM-420 voice recorder, Olympus VN-4100 voice recorder
Pros
- Durable
- Easy Controls
- Good Sound
- Lightweight
- Long Battery Life
- Powerful
Cons
Best Uses
- Commuting
- Daily Use
- Home Use
- Running
- Travel
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
The great: excellent sound recording and playing back, lots of storage, very easy to use, wonderful size and weight, 100 % compatible with Mac and Windows, fine Web support by Olympus, accessories are not necessaries because this product contains all you need on a digital recorder.
Things that aren't so great about it: price a little high.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy Controls
- Good Sound
- Lightweight
- Long Battery Life
- Powerful
Cons
Best Uses
- Daily Use
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
I am involved in the making of a documentary film and the recorder is being used to create a sound track of conversations and an audio journal. The sound quality is excellent and battery life is very good. It comes with good software, and the feature of charging the battery via a USB connection is brilliant!
Comments about Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder:
nice clear recordings i like the built in S T mic instead of the removeable type its easy to use very happy with it........
Displaying reviews 1-18
Batteries & Power
- Price: $2.49
- GBP 1.59
Memory Cards
- Price: $4.99
- GBP 3.18
Microphones
- Price: $12.95
- GBP 8.25
Phone Recording
- Price: $14.99
- GBP 9.55
Earphones
- Price: $19.95
- GBP 12.71
Cables & Adapters
- Price: $3.19
- GBP 2.03
Software
- Price: $12.95
- GBP 8.25
What's in the Box
- Earphone
- USB Cable
- Carrying Case
- Strap
- Instruction Manual
- 2 x 'AAA' Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
- Olympus Sonority (Sound Editing Software)
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
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