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Classic for single interviews.
Test report for Olympus WS-311M, WS-321M, WS-331M
A review of the new digital voice recorder WS-3xx series by Dr. Thorsten Dresing and Thorsten Pehl (Sept. 10, 2007).
For more than two years now, the digital voice recorders of the WS3xx series have been our editor's choice for the class of affordable interview recorders. Olympus has presented their successors and new prices on IFA 2007 now. We discuss them in detail.
1. Look and Feel.
But the WS-331 doesn't differ in a bigger memory only. Little improvements can be detected mainly in feel and usability. The display is about 20% larger, what enables a better readability. And all buttons have been revised in addition. Similar to the DS-30/40/50 series, the recording, playback, and stop buttons are clearly more handy, and due to different profiles, you can find them more intuitively. The predecessor's series selection wheel has been substituted for a 4-way switch now. Functionality stays the same, but so you better find any function you wish also without a closer look. The hold switch on the side and the switcher between music and voice modi are clearly more handy, and appear more robust compared with the predecessor. As a last detail, the battery cover has been shifted and is now firmly connected to the recorder with a hinge. All in all, Olympus has count on approved technology, and has clearly improved the usability with many small details.
2. Memory and recording quality.
Olympus digital voice recorders come with a lot of memory. WS311M comes with 512MB, WS321M comes with 1GB, and WS331M comes with 2 GB. That's the double of memory compared with the predecessor's, and also MSRPs are lower throughout. Having a generous memory of up to two gigabyte, Olympus' WS-series aims mainly to all of those users, who would like to use the recorder not only for recordings, but also for playbacks of podcasts, audio books, and music recordings. While here the models with less memory will reach their limits quite soon, these models offer much scope. All models' recording quality is a littler louder, but apart from this it is identical to predecessors WS-300M and 310M and provides the same proven quality. So you should thoughtfully consider, what model matches the respective application purpose.
3. Conclusion
As to usability, memory and design, Olympus has wisely improved their new voice recorders. The clearly lower price and the higher memory capacity make the WS-3xx series our price/performance favorite for simple interview situations, from one-on-one interviews to interviews with four persons.
Alternatives
The DS-30 offers a much better recording quality, but "only" has 256 MB of memory, still lasting for about 4-8 hours interview recording.
Olympus WS311M (MSRP 129,99 Euros) and WS321M (MSRP 149,99 Euros)
06.06.2009 - Anonymous wrote:
To teach singing lessons, I need a voice recorder. What do you suggest, between the Olympus WS 331 M and the DS 40 or the DS 30?
thank you for a quick response,
Karl Sinz
08.06.2009 - Thorsten Dresing wrote:
I suggest the Zoom H2 or Tascam DR-07 or Olympus DS-55. None of the ones you listed!
12.06.2009 - Anonymous wrote:
I need a digital recorder for lectures at uni. I was wondering if the Olympus WS-331M would do??
Thanks
15.06.2009 - Thorsten Dresing wrote:
I think the DS-55/65/75 would do a much better job in this case!
best regards
Dr. Thorsten Dresing
20.06.2009 - Tom Brody wrote:
Can the Olympus WS recorders be used for recording for a few minutes, then stopped, and then resumed with recording on the same file?
I read that the Olympus DS-40 can NOT be used in this way.
Also, can the new Olympus WS-510 be used for recording for a while, then stopped, and then resumed on the same file?
Can these recorders be used for transferring the files, in real time, to a cassette recorder? I would like to archive my recordings on a cassette tape. I have two high quality cassette recorders, Nakamichi 581 and Tandberg TCD 320. Please let me know!
22.06.2009 - Thorsten Pehl wrote:
Hello Tom Brody,
the WS recorder an also the DS-40 (and -55/-65/-75) can resume recording if you use the pause-button. After pressing the stop-button there is no chance to resume the recording.
To transfer you recordings to an other recorder you can use the headphone plug as line-out and plug it to your cassette tape.
06.09.2009 - Anonymous wrote:
Dear Dr. Dresing,
I'm interested in purchasing a digital voice recorder with the most accurate transcription programme (english).
I bought an Olympus WS 110 but the software got very few words correct in the transcription.
Please can you suggest the best products. I will mainly be using it to record lectures, conference talks.
Something compact would be excellent.
Many thanks
07.09.2009 - Thorsten Dresing wrote:
Hello, i am afraid, even if you use a very good digital recorder like the new Olympus LS-11 or DM-550 which has an enormous sound quality much better then the WS series, you are not able to use speech recognition software to transcribe your lectures and talks. Recognition software needs some more years or decades to transcribe more then one voice in a effective way. We also have done some reserach studies on that topic, but only in german language (visit our german website to read further details).
best regards
Thorsten Dresing
13.09.2009 - Kevin Clark wrote:
Hello Dr. Dresing:
I am compiling notes for a book. The majority of these notes will be spoken during long drives to and from my workplace. I am unsure how well these recorders will be able to pick up my voice in an automobile and whether they can be plugged into the auxiliary electrical outlets of the auto. Finally, I am unsure of the ease with which the digital files can be transferred to my laptop computer. Can you recommend the models that are best for this sort of task (form least expensive to more expensive)?
14.09.2009 - Thorsten Pehl wrote:
Hello Mr. Clark,
the Olympus WS-450 will be good for you purpose. We have testet it in the setting you described. To get a good recording it is usefull to use a external tie mic like the Olympus ME-15.
The transfer to your labtop is easy, you can use the recorder like an USB-Stick and drag&drop the files to your computer.
It is powered by batteries with a recording time over 12 hours, there is no way to use it with your auxiliary electrical outlets.
03.10.2009 - Anonymous wrote:
I need a digital voice recorder to capture minutes of a planning meeting where there will be between 5 and 15 people in attendance at different times. These minutes will then be transferred to written form. Which model would be the most appopriate and not too expensive?
03.10.2009 - Thorsten Dresing wrote:
In October 2009 there are some new models on the market like the Olympus WS-450 or the Olympus DM-450- Only the DM series has the quality and right microphones to record a 5 to 15 persons meeting. It is the cheapest solution (est. 140 euro) with that high recording quality and a lot better then the old ws series. Just take an ear on our demo recordings (most of them are in german language):
http://www.audiotranskription.de/OlympusDM-550
or
http://www.audiotranskription.de/vergleichstest-digitaler-rekorder.htm
best regards
Thorsten