Many people need to record various kinds of information for different purposes. Perhaps an individual is a journalist who needs audio information for an article, or maybe he's an executive who need to record the minutes of the meeting for a better-detailed analysis of the discussed data. For different purposes, an Olympus voice recorder is an essential item, and one of the specific choices which you can choose from is the Olympus WS-510M 4GB Digital Voice Recorder. To better discover the features that this model has to offer, here is an in-depth review of the device.
Design
Voice recorders need to be very handy and easy to use. The dimensions of this device are 3.7" x 1.5" x 0.4" and it weighs a mere 1.6 ounces, perfectly handy for anytime use. You can keep it in your bag, in a purse, in your pocket, or even hold it in your hand without any worries. The device is very simple and easy to use, with the buttons completely labeled and indicated for their exact purpose. It also has a nice, sleek, and slim look that's very stylish, complemented with a black body and silver buttons.
The easy-to-use buttons are very simple and even first time users would be easily able to work with the device. The device is designed to operate with one Triple-A battery. You can use an alkaline battery and get 21 hours of LP recordings or you can use a rechargeable battery which you can charge while the device is connected to your PC via a USB cable.
Display
The display is 1.23 inches, big enough for easy visibility and interpretation of displayed data. The LED makes it very easy to read the text on the screen and the display also shows all the vital information that you need to easier operate and navigate through the device.
Audio and Recording Features
If you've used an Olympus voice recorder before, you know that the products have great sound quality. This model isn't left behind when it comes to that aspect. The device has 4 GB built-in memory which maximizes your recording activity. It can read WMA and MP3 formats, although you need to download the compatibility software before you can access MP3 files on the model. There are six modes of the device which vary according to the quality of the recording produced. The Stereo XQ Mode can produce up to 69 hours and 30 minutes of recording time; the Stereo HQ Mode can store up to 139 hours and 35 minutes of audio recordings; the Stereo SP Mode can save up to 278 hours and 10 minutes of recordings, the HQ Mode can record up to 278 hours and 10 minutes of audio; the SP Mode can store up to 547 hours and 25 minutes of recordings; and the LP Mode can save up to 1,088 hours and 5 minutes of audio recordings. It's also very easy to organize your audio recordings on this device because it has five different folders which can each save up to 200 files. This makes it easier for you to segregate and sort out various audio files for better accessibility. The device has an earphone jack and a headphone jack so you can completely personalize your recording and listening activities, but it also has a built-in stereo microphone and speaker for easier use. The speaker is a 16mm round dynamic model and the maximum output produced is 70 mW.
Other Features
The device can support music files of MP3 and WMA format and you can even use it for entertainment when it's not in use. The device also sports USB connectivity which makes it easier for you to transfer files from the device to the PC. It's simple, straight, and hassle-free. The voice activation feature allows you to command the device using only your voice to start a recording and you don't even have to move a finger for that matter. This model really has a lot of good features that any user would find beneficial.
Conclusion
The Olympus WS-510M 4GB Digital Voice Recorder is a very good product that has excellent features for different purposes. If you're in search of an Olympus voice recorder, this is one model you might want to look at. Although it may have issues regarding the sensitivity of the microphone which is quite difficult to deal with at times, it's important to be patient and use the device properly and in the most suitable conditions to optimize your use. All in all, this is a highly recommendable model that's a great choice for anyone.
