OLYMPUS

The Olympus LS-11 is a small hand held lightweight stereo linear PCM (digital) high quality sound recorder sold as a studio in your pocket.

OLMPUS SAY

The Olympus LS-10 and LS-11 although a little larger than products like the Olympus DS-30 voice recorder, are far superior products. Whilst they can be used as a mere Dictaphone, the high quality audio recorded by this device is suitable for the professional user such as the broadcast journalist, podcaster or musician. The specification of these pieces of kit puts them leagues above many other handheld audio recording devices.

Both units have a built-in stereo microphone array, but can also accept other microphones via a 3.5mm microphone socket. They also support direct input via a 3.5mm line-in socket.

Playback can be easily monitored via two speakers located on the back side of the recorder or with headphones via the 3.5mm stereo headphone output.

They can be connected to the PC via USB for file transfer, but also have an SD card slot for additional memory and ease of file transfer without the need to use a USB cable. They are powered by 2 x standard AA batteries.

These two devices from Olympus are high-quality audio recorders. They are perfect for live recording, as each has a built in stereo microphone, and uses linear PCM recording for compression-free recording.

Ideal for bands, artists, musicians, broadcasters and podcasters (like us), this is a top quality audio recorder with a lot of killer features. The recorders are also supplied with CUBASE Le4 software for 48 track audio editing and multi-tracking.

The Olympus LS-10 and LS-11 are easy to use, have long battery operation, a large onboard memory and a clear backlit 1.8" display. It also has some convenient recording functions options like a low frequency cut switch and a microphone sensitivity switch as well as the obvious automatic/manual record level and controls.

Olympus LS-10 and LS-11 Reviewed

These little devices are really all about quality audio, and boy do they perform. They are ideal for busy journalists who require recordings of broadcast quality that can be quite literally taken from device to airwaves with the use of one of the relevant options: USB, line or SD card transfer. Of course that also makes them ideal for the podcaster on location for a high quality on-the-spot recording, but more importantly, the quality that these are capable of capturing makes them a musician's dream especially when the muse makes that unexpected visit. With these products from Olympus, you can capture to the highest quality, in stereo, in seconds.

The process of recording with this device is so straightforward, it requires little to no previous product research. Having said that for your convenience, as well as the 84 page instructional manual, you also get a folded Quick Start guide approximately credit card size, which would give the busy professional the opportunity to familiarize themselves with some of the handier functions while on the move.

Having bought one of these products straight out of the box you're quite literally ready to record. Put the batteries (supplied) in, turn on, wait a moment. Now, although on the screen folder information is displayed by pressing the record button this will automatically create a file and the screen display changes to the appropriate information and shows record time, record levels, remaining time, battery life, sample frequency, bit rate, format, folder and file information. This is now in 'record-pause' mode. One more press and you're away. How cool is that?

If you are using them to interview someone, this is lightweight with a comfortable handheld size. What we liked is that by placing your thumb lightly over the record and stop buttons you can apply pressure to the relevant button in order to start/stop the recording process with ease whilst still being able to visually monitor the screen.

The stereo microphones on the top mean both interviewer and interviewee have their own independent microphone so this saves the need to move the devices from a fixed position whilst conducting a one to one interview. Also the microphone sensitivity saves you from having to thrust it around in people's faces possibly inhabiting their responses.

Microphones: With the built-in stereo microphone array, the stereo technique appears to resemble one similar to the X,Y technique utilizing two cardioid microphones placed at a 90 degree angle to one another and by pointing the centre of the devices towards the sound this puts the microphone pick-ups at 45 degrees to the sound source. The microphone sensitivity switch gives the user the opportunity to get greater depth of field and broaden stereo images for larger sound sources (a whole band) for a more distant recording technique to capture a better balance of a variety of instruments as opposed to a less sensitivity for a close microphone technique on a solo instrument.