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| LS-10 Linear Stereo PCM Recorder - NEW |
Features Unique to Olympus LS-10
EXCERPT FROM THE MARCH ISSUE OF PROSOUND NEWSOlympus LS-10 Linear PCM RecorderOne of the most useful range of products in recent years to arrive on the audio scene is the hand-held field recorder. It has so many uses, from a quick recording of a band to a radio/podcast interview to getting a song idea down before you forget (among others), that it’s now become an almost essential device for just about anyone in any field of entertainment production.But the time has now come for the inevitable evolution of these machines as the features on first generation units become refined, and the new Olympus LS-10 represents a welcome leap into this next generation. OverviewThe Olympus LS-10 is a hand-held stereo field recorder capable of recording a variety of formats and sample rates onto internal or removable flash memory. The unit itself is a sleek 5” x 2” x 1” (approximately) aluminum case that fits nicely into the hand and weighs only 5.8 ounces with batteries. It sports a pair of microphones on the top of the unit configured in an ORTF configuration.The LS-10 can record in either linear PCM Wave, MP3 or WMA file formats at sample rates of anywhere from 44.1kHz/16 bit right up to 96/24 directly to 2 gigs of internal flash memory. A slot for an external SD card is also available for additional recording/playback time. The unit has a record level control, low cut filter, and mic sensitivity switch along with external mic and line input mini jacks on its right side. Recording can occur either in manual mode using only the level control for adjustment, or use a built-in limiter with an auto mode, and shows the input level on the display complete with a red peak LED on the front panel (just below the display) to indicate digital overs. For playback, the LS-10 has two small speakers on the bottom of the unit, an earphone jack and a separate volume control. The 1.8 inch backlit LCD display is easy to read and shows file information, recording time and menu items, as well as essential details like sample rate, time and date, record mode, and a host of other details. The device is outfitted with an ergonomic dial thumb pad allowing the user to play or stop a recording, adjust the volume level, fast-forward and rewind with the touch of one button. The Erase and Folder/Index buttons are positioned individually below the thumb dial for easy access. The unit also has an F button that can be programmed to perform a variety of functions, an A-B Repeat button allowing playback to cycle between two regions, a menu button for quick access to internal settings, and a list button for file access. The LS-10 can record up to 12 hours on two AA batteries but can also be powered via an external 5V DC supply that connects to the bottom of the unit. The unit ships with Steinberg CUBASE LE 4 DAW software, a carrying case, USB cable, mini-plug audio cable, wind screen, two AA batteries, a strap, and a pretty thorough instruction manual that’s plainly written. In UseI’m going to be unabashedly blatant about my feelings for the LS-10. I love this machine! It’s everything I personally was looking for in a field recorder, with none of the quirks that I’ve experienced with older models. It’s small and light enough that it fits in your pocket, yet it feels substantial in the hand, thanks to it’s all-aluminum build. It has a very fast start-up (about 3 seconds) and an easy operation and menu structure that you don’t need the manual for, for the most part. It has nicely thought out user features like 2 gigs of internal flash memory, protected level and output controls that are difficult to accidentally adjust, and even a machined mounting connector to fit the unit on a mic stand.But the best part is that it really sounds great. The built-in stereo mics are surprisingly linear, the mic pre’s are very clean and are difficult to overload, and even the limiter and autogain settings are fairly usable with a minimum of pumping. I’m shocked every time I play something back, it sounds that good. The playback over the built-in stereo speakers is loud enough to be useful in a pinch and doesn’t distort even when the gain is cranked up (unless you’ve recorded something that’s distorted). I even like the sound of the built-in reverb (which is only available on playback), although I can’t imagine an instance when I’d use it. Transferring files is a snap. As soon as you insert the USB cable, the LS-10 springs to life and immediately launches on your desktop with a disc icon labeled “LS10”. You merely drag and drop the files, although it seems just a little bit on the slow side even though the port uses USB 2.0 protocol. And perhaps the most useful feature for the user is that it takes almost no time to close a track and start a new one, or play one back for that matter. Everything is extremely fast and easy. Recording can happen with a single button - hit the REC button to arm the unit and monitor for a level check, and hit it again to record. All actions on the machine are virtually immediate, which is extremely important in most situations where the LS-10 will most likely be used.
I must say that I never expected a recorder with these features and quality to come from Olympus, who make fine consumer products but have never ventured into the professional audio arena. But they have a winner with the LS-10 and one can only hope that they continue to develop more products of this nature if this is an example of what they can do. The Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder retails for $399. A variety of accessories are also available. For more information, go to olympusamerica.com.
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Stock#: 42658 Maker: Olympus Code: LS-10 Platform: * Type: Digital Recorder Weight (lbs): 3.00 Dim: 2 (W) x 7 (H) x 1 (D) inchs Year: 2008 List: 499.00 Sale: $399.99
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Copyright © 1996, 2008 MIDI Classics®, Revised 03/26/2008
