Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This recorder is fine if you need to record notes but don't care much about the sound quality. It's strictly for utilitarian note-taking. It has 4 quality levels and only the highest (XHQ) even approaches the quality of my old Sony tape recorder. However, you can understand yourself in all modes, though I wouldn't try recording a lecture or conference in anything but the highest quality mode- voices sound like aliens speaking through long plastic tubes in the other modes.
It records in 4-bit .wav format, which is low quality. Listening with stereo headphones (not included) you'll hear the sound only in one ear. Transfer to the PC is via the included program "Digital Wave Player." I found that I couldn't convert the .wavs (which take up a lot of space on the PC if you want to save them) to .mp3s using RightClickMp3 (a freeware conversion utility not included with the recorder) without first opening the files in Windows Sound Recorder and saving as CD Quality files. This is a bit annoying, considering some other players and recorders record directly to mp3. I think the technology of these things is lagging behind the rest of the electronics market- this is the level that mp3 players were at a few years ago. Who buys a 128 MB mp3 player now for this price?
The recorder is easy and intuitive to use. The LCD screen is big enough to see clearly, but does not have a backlight. It does have an LED light between the STOP and REC buttons, which flashes green when you perform various operations. It switches to steady red when recording, and flashing red when paused during recording. It also beeps in various ways to let you know what operations you are performing (for example two fast low beeps when you stop recording, two slow low beeps when you pause recording, one high beep when you start recording). You can turn the beeps off if you want to. I like having visual and aural confirmations like that because I record outside at night.
The HOLD button is the only control on the side of the recorder besides the USB jack. This is a good feature. It functions as an on/off button. No buttons will operate with it on, but if you press some of the buttons it will show the date followed by the time briefly- a handy feature. Take HOLD off and it shows the screen again at whatever file you last had it. When changing batteries, put HOLD on and it will save all your settings and files so you don't lose anything and have to reset it all each time.
It has voice activation, though I haven't used that, index marks, a timer record function, and an alarm which will beep and play a file that you select. The speaker is in the back in the recessed upper half, which leaves a nice step for your index finger when you hold it.
Overall it has nice features, an ergonomic feel in your hand, a comparatively long record time of about 5-1/2 hours in XHQ mode, and is easy to use. Improvements that would make this a five-star item would be better recording quality and direct-to-mp3 recording. If you need really good sound quality look elsewhere. I think that for the price, this should have much better sound quality. After all, that's the main feature in a recorder.
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Olympus VN3100PC Digital Voice RecorderProduct Description: Record over 71 hours of uninterrupted audio on the VN-3100PC then transfer files to your PC with speed and ease by way of the direct PC Link. With one simple cable connection files can be transferred to a computer and be organized, listened to, and even emailed to friends and family. The compact design makes it functional and portable.
Want to read more honest consumer review about Olympus VN3100PC Digital Voice Recorder now ?
