Olympus WAS-331M Digital Voice Recorder and WMA Music Player

The WAS-331M has the ability to play recordings in fast and slow playback modes, up to 50-percent faster or 50-percent slower than real time. The unit records files in the WMA (Windows Media Audio) format, and its 2 GB of flash memory is able to capture audio recordings in the following modes: stereo XQ mode (35 hours 30 minutes), stereo HQ mode (71 hours), stereo SP mode (142 hours 5 minutes), HQ mode (142 hours 5 minutes), SP mode (279 hours 35 minutes), and LP mode (555 hours 45 minutes). Other great features include voice activated recording, and a built-in 18 mm round dynamic speaker. The device runs on one AAA battery and offers up to 21 hours of continuous battery life. Compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000 and later operating systems (including Vista), the WAS-331M measures 3.73 x 1.52 x 0.43 inches and weighs just 1.66 ounces.

What's in the Box
WS-331M digital voice recorder, USB cable, stereo earphones, one AAA alkaline battery, and instruction manual.

Olympus WAS-331M Digital Voice Recorder and WMA Music Player Features:

• Robust and versatile digital voice recorder/MP3 player with USB PC link
• 555 hours available recording time; 2 GB internal memory
• Store and listen to up to 500 songs for entertainment on the go
• Speedy USB 2.0 connectivity
• 21-hour battery life

Customer Reviews:

• Amazing recorder: I love the quality. I used to have the WS-311M until it was stolen. I used to like that one, but this one actually has a better sound quality. I use it to record music classes, so I always look for the best quality of recording and sound for the cheapest price. The buttons are bigger, the rewind and forward feature actually works with ease, the battery opener is much better (my old one fell out and I lost it). It has a lot more storage, which I needed, and I would recommend it to anyone. It's worth it.
• Best Recording Device for the $$$: This recorder is amazing! It is easy to use and has great recording capacity and transferability of files. It plays WMA and MP3 format files, which is highly compatible for sharing files with others. I spent about a week researching different digital voice recorders, and based on the ease of use, and the amount of memory I chose this device.
  
  I initially purchased this recorder to record therapy sessions for a techniques of counseling class and quickly realized how useful this will be for my future training as a therapist. The folders are easy to navigate and it makes organizing different sessions a cinch. I have not once had to open the manual, which is very thick, in order to figure out how to work the device-- it is that simple to use. What I love most is the built in USB connector. I simply download files on the computer and move on with the next task.
  
  I am clumsy, and wish it came with some sort of holder. I have dropped mine twice on concrete and it has gotten pretty banged up, and is not quite 2 months old. I am ordering the case for this so that my little treasure will continue to work for me in the years to come.
• Got the new Olympus WS-331M today - Wow!: From a long time Olympus customer - I thought my last WS-320M Digital Recorder was great - and now this - some really great enhancements to what was already a great tool for school, work and play.
  
  Nice little device - improvements include:
  - larger screen and larger, easier to read fonts
  - improved battery case - bottom entry - my WS320 lost the cover in two weeks use
  - twice the storage - 2Gig ! > 555 hours of recording
  - cleaner nav. Buttons - always seemed to fat-finger the 320
  - all buttons now have a solid tactile feedback with a subtle click action
  - play/stop/record buttons are not as recessed - making them easier to press
  - added playback filter - eliminates most compression artifacts - impressive clean signal on LP
  - adds cut-off record filter to drop room noises - esp. A/C motor noises
  - six slow and fast play speed options - 320 only had two choices
  - USB 2.0 is faster - 320 had USB 2.0 too, but for some reason slower than other USB 2.0 devices
  - stiffer slide switches - for hold and voice/music modes
  - new Super high quality mode - XQ 50hz to 19Khz with 44Kbps sampling
  - added base boost in addition to WOW and EQ modes - music is best ever - way better than wife's iPod
  
  The removed features...
  - no sampling on fast forward - but clean FF/RW and easy to stop anywhere in recording
  - contacts on battery module - replaced with internal switch
  
  The things that remain the same ...
  - same amazing CONF conference room mic sensitivity - I can pick up every word in a restaurant conversation
  - same clear DICT dictation recording - I can dictate in the car - return to my PC's Dragon Naturally Speaking and convert voice-to-text
  - number of folders A,B,C, D,E - can not name them as on past models - but not really important
  - size - though it looks larger due to larger display - it is not any larger in any dimension
  - same battery life - quite reasonable
  - same VOICE vs. MUSIC mode - not sure why we need two modes
  - does not remember where you were in a song when you switch over to voice record and come back to MP3
  - does not remember where you are in listening to a voice recording when your switch to music and come back
  - no memory card slot - SD or otherwise - I guess a 340? will be in the cards some day...
  - still no `split' and `merge' option for recorded files in the unit
  - can now re-order songs in MUSIC mode within a folder
  - same ear buds - not very good - plan to buy a better set
  - same WOW dynamic processing - sounds great
  - same backspace on playback of voice recording
  - same speaker on front panel - do that with an iPod Nano
  - same great direct USB - no cables, yeah! And no additional software, yeah!
  
  BTW: This thing has enough memory and long enough battery life to simply record your entire waking day - if you really wanted to. The audio recording is the best I have experienced on all these DVRs - I tried the Sony - was not happy. I guess Olympus has been doing voice recording technology for so long, they must really know their stuff.
  
  The Olympus marketing team seems to have missed the mark in the literature about this little marvel of technology. I use this for work every day to record business meetings and technology design sessions ... but I also use it every day to listen to a variety of technical, business and news podcasts. The Olympus marketing materials fails to mention that this is an excellent podcast listening device for the busy business person or student. In fact, I only have two dozen songs loaded for those times when I'm really needing a break at work - the rest of my 1.5 gig is used for podcasts.
  
  A tip for podcast listeners - for social reasons and safety reasons, I took a cheap set of ear buds and cut, with scissors, one of the buds off at the split - I listen to the podcasts in one ear - allows me to hear what's going on around me. Most people just think I'm on a phone call and don't bother me - as opposed to the rude stares I get sometimes when wearing both ear buds. I have had people come up to me and ask, "what phones that - it's so small." LOL
  
  I also call this my learning machine - since I also use it to create self-tests on subjects I'm studying ... record a question, wait one second, record the answer and repeat. When I play back the recording - I press the pause after I hear the question - try to answer it in my head and then play the answer to check myself. I passed the written exam for my private pilots license this way.
  
  I added a non-powered Olympus lapel clip microphone (ME-15) that seems to work quite well in the 331M, same mic. The mic does not seem to work well on laptop microphone jack. I also purchased the microphone ear bud for recording phone calls (Olympus TP-7 Telephone Recording Device) - this works excellent - especially when driving and talking to someone - you can take notes hands free.
  
  Dictation loaded to Dragon Soft works quite well - including in the car, which really surprised me. In fact, most of this review was dictated into the DVR and converted to text by my moderately trained Dragon Naturally Speaking v.9.
• Recorder Review: Awesome turn-around time. Arrived in perfect condition. Would buy from them again.
  
  Pro - I use it to record college lectures etc and it records perfectly.
  I haven't figured out all of the features but the ones I have are awesome.
  Connects easily to computers/USB ports.
  Cons- The battery life doesn't last as long as the recording time. They should say that somewhere. You only need 1 AAA battery, but it lasts less than 10 hours.
  It's not compatible with Macs (at least I haven't been able to figure out how to get it to).
  
  Other than that it's awesome! Highly recommended!
  
  Thanks!!
• Excelente DVR: Es la primera vez que poseo DVR y puedo decir que la calidad del producto es muy impresionante, compacto, muy ligero, buena ubicacion de los botones, pantalla con nitida visualizacion. Con respecto a las funciones trae Sensibilidad de Microfono, Filtro para ruidos de fondos como aire acondicionados, ventiladores, etc. La distribucion de las carpetas es muy ventajosa, el menu es muy didactico. Solo puedo decir que hay que tener mucho cuidado con la tapa de la bateria que a mi parecer es el punto debil de este equipo por lo fragil que parece ser, pero tratandola con delicadeza no creo que haya problemas. El sonido es muy claro, limpio y dependiendo de la configuracion que uses podras tener una conversacion, dictado, conferencia, etc de gran calidad.