Portable Digital Recorders

 

Olympus DS-2400 Review

            As far as a digital recorder goes, the Olympus DS-2400 seems to possess most, if not all, of the key ingredients that make for the perfect digital recorder.  By packaging all of it within a sleek and comfortable sized package that fits well within the hand of a person, and can stand or lie on surfaces, there really are no complaints to be had as to its dimensions. Topping its outer appearance off is the large screen that displays font large and clear enough that it is not necessary to squint.

Improved Quality, Improved Memory

            Certainly, Olympus did not skimp when considering the audio recording capabilities of the DS-2400. No matter the occasion, this new digital recorder delivers high quality sound recordings thanks to the improvements that Olympus packed into it.

            Chief among these is the new Digital Speech Standard Pro, or DSS, format of recordings which allows for both higher quality as well as higher compression. Roughly translated into layman terms, this means that recordings take up much less storage space, while at the same time exceeding the quality of other formats. Coupled with the extra-high quality QP mode, it is perfect for any purposes.

            Just to top it all off, the DS-2400 has SD/SDHC capability. Essentially, by being able to except either type of memory cards, the DS-2400 that ships with 1GB can in actuality have up to 16GB of memory. In a nutshell, this memory capacity, coupled with the high compression DSS file format, allows the digital recorder to record for hours upon hours on end without needing to have recordings transferred off it onto a computer.

Hordes of Features

            Although memory and audio quality are the two central aspects of any digital recorder, it helps when there are other features that allow for increased functionality. In this, the DS-2400 excels by providing intuitive controls that are easy to grasp along with their user friendly software that makes accessing files easy.

            For all transcription needs there is no need to fear as the DS-2400 is completely compatible with Olympus’ AS-2400 transcription kit and the high quality of the recordings make it even more effective. Unfortunately, the transcription kit is not bundled in with the digital recorder itself.

            Of course, the capability to transfer files to computers is a must, and in terms of connectivity there is little need to worry with USB 2.0 compatibility. Lastly, but certainly not least, the battery is said to last up to 32 hours, with AC power supply also an option just in case.

             All in all, Olympus seem to have come up with a winner in their new DS-2400 series, and have specifically suited it to the needs of professionals to combine high quality digital audio recording ability with ease of use. No matter the situation, the DS-2400 can easily fulfill its role, making it a definite asset to have around. By focusing on improving the areas that count most, the DS-2400 is definitely a solid and well rounded digital recorder.