Olympus also used Thursday to introduce their new DS-2200 digital voice recorder, which can record 4 hours and 20 minutes of audio — or nearly 45 hours in long play mode — on the included 128MB xD-Picture Card. It comes with a USB docking station for downloading files to your Mac, and it can record in either Microsoft’s Windows Media Audio (WMA) or Olympus’ own DSS format.
The DS-2200 records in stereo, which is ideal for picking up both sides of a conversation, and it comes with a stereo microphone that helps make sure speakers’ words are picked up. It also features a pair of stereo earphones as well as a remote control that can be used to operate the recorder while it’s tucked in a pocket. The remote control doubles as a clip-on microphone.
You can organize your recordings in 5 folders that hold up to 199 files in each. Important moments can be flagged during or after recording for quick retrieval later, and crucial files can be locked to avoid accidental deletion. You can also record reminders for yourself and assign times for the alarms to play.
When the time comes for playback, the DS-2200 can play audio at a 25% slower speed, which helps limit rewinding to catch what was said, and at 50% faster speed, which helps you skip ahead to the audio you want to hear. The repeat playback function loops a selected chunk of audio while the Variable Control Voice Actuator ensures that the DS-2200 only records when it hears sound.
After you download audio files to your Mac, you can use the included DSS Player Pro software to listen to, edit, and archive recordings. In addition to the software and accessories, the DS-2200 also includes a handstrap, a carrying case, and two AAA batteries that provide up to 16 hours of continuous use.
The DS-2200 will be available in May at an estimated street price of US$289.99. System requirements call for a G3 or faster processor, a standard USB port, Mac OS 9.0 through 9.2 or Mac OS X v.10.1 through v.10.3 “Panther,” 64MB RAM, and 50MB hard drive space.