Topic: **NEW** Olympus LS-11

[Əkoostikal]

Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere here yet, but I just saw this on the Olympus website. Looks pretty much the same as the LS-10 but with 8gigs of internal memory and support of up to 32gig SD cards.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1471

-Estimated Retail Price $399.99

-24 bit/96 kHz Linear PCM Recording. Sound that’s even better than what you hear on a compact disc. Every nuance of every note and syllable is captured and played back with a rich and resonant quality.
   
 -Multiple recording formats: Select from one of three standard recording formats: WAV, MP3 or WMA. The availability of three compatible formats increases the versatility of decisive, on-the-spot audio recording.
   
 -Responsive Pickup, Precision Design. Two precision condenser microphones capture all the sounds with both heightened sensitivity and reduced noise. Their 90-degree outward placement achieves a wider spectrum of sound capture. And the recorder’s rigid aluminum case minimizes vibration for even extra clarity.

-8 GB of internal memory, coupled with as much as 23 hours of battery life, provides many hours of uninterrupted recording. An AC adapter is also available.

-An extra 32 GB of memory is available with an SD or SDHC card. Move files easily between internal and external memory.

-At just over five ounces, with an easy-to-operate interface and aesthetically pleasing design, it is a true ‘anywhere-anytime’ portable digital recorder.

-Two built-in 16mm round dynamic stereo speakers give the small wonder a wonderfully full and vibrant playback. Earphones can also be used.

-A voice synchronization function enables automatic recording when sounds are detected at a pre-set level. There’s auto stop, too.

-Recording preferences can be fine-tuned with a Level function that’s clearly displayed, along with a PEAK indicator, on the recorder’s bright LCD.

-Create Index marks during recording or playback in PCM mode to instantly locate specific portions of the recording that you want to hear.

-With a new File Edit function, you can partially cut or divide your files.

[rjp]

It would be interesting to see if they eliminated the bass rolloff in the mic preamp. Somehow, I doubt it.

That being said, if you run omnis into the LS-10 mic in, the bass rolloff is good thing.

[guysonic]

No telling for sure what's up with new models until bench tested like done with LS-10 for tech review at www.sonicstudios.com/ls10revw.htm.

If using the mic input for natural acoustic sounds/acoustic type music purposes, the 100-cycle reduction mostly makes for thin sounding masters needing post restoration work to fully satisfy. 

For me, I appreciate the exceptionally clean-of-digital-noise mic input design, and using the line input on the older LS-10 model is without the 100 cycle low frequency bandwidth limitation. 

My only wish is for also having 88.2K sample rate like featured Edirol R-09HR and NOW it seems firmware 1.10 corrects for this limitation for the LS-10!

But what about 88.2K for the LS-11?

If one of our USA TS members is kind enough to offer a few weeks return shipping paid loan, and me having the time, I’ll bench test LS-11 for posting technical findings result here.

[aaronji]

That being said, if you run omnis into the LS-10 mic in, the bass rolloff is good thing.

Maybe sometimes, but not always (like guysonic said).  I record a lot of music that benefits from the low-end response I get with omnis.  In any event, I prefer to choose whether or not to use a rolloff, and at what frequency/steepness it kicks in.  YMMV.

I am really curious if they fix this on the new model!

[John Willett]

I knew this was coming - but it looks like they have miised off the two most important things missing from the LS-10.
1 = having the mic.in bass roll-off switchable.
2 = having an optical digital in (ie: dual socket on the line in).

Let's hope for an LS-12.................

[dogmusic]

The manual for the LS-11 is available:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_manuals.asp?id=1471

It now also records at 88.2 kHz stereo, and at 44.1 kHz MONO.

Built-in mic freq. response is 60 Hz to 20 kHz. (LS-10 was 70 Hz to 20 kHz.)

[flintstone]

Add a more powerful headphone amp (6.7 mW vs 3.0 mW per channel in the LS-10) to the list of improvements in the LS-11.

The manual says two AA alkaline cells will power a 24/96 recording for 13 hours, up from 8 hours in the LS-10.  I think the 8 hour figure was too conservative, and 13 hours is a bit optimistic for typical recording.

The LS-11 can add index marks while recording a WAV file.  After recording, the LS-11 can split a file or partially erase it.  The LS-10 lacked these features.

The body of the LS-11 seems to be exactly the same as the LS-10, with a few cosmetic differences.  The two recorders weigh the same, too.

Flintstone

[penguin]

Any idea when this will be on the shelves? I don't see it on Musician's Friend or Guitar Center yet.

[colargol]

Any idea when this will be on the shelves? I don't see it on Musician's Friend or Guitar Center yet.

http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=11813
check the video, they say it'll be out late August, beginning of September...

-c

[labello]

Voice-Soundfiles on audiotranskription.de

LS-10 vs LS-11

http://www.audiotranskription.de/Olympus-LS-11-PCM-Rekorder

[rjp]

¡Ojalá que yo hable alemán!

Google Translate to the rescue, even if machine translation tends to suck...

Some interesting highlights:

• It can be used as a USB stereo microphone connected to your PC.
• Better bass response (no frequency response plots, though).
• Mono recording mode.
• Autosplit (the LS-10 can do that with current firmware).

[flintstone]

from the German, translated by Babblefish

"One of the few points of criticism referred to the weaker depth representation.
The Olympus LS-11 improved here. The sound is now also in the deeper bass
regions more fülliger and altogether more balanced."

All right, then!

[su6oxone]

I like the 8gb of internal memory... don't even need a card with that much onboard storage.  It looks worse in silver though, the LS-10 was pretty sharp in black.  Overall though, I can't see this challenging the R-09HR or forthcoming Sony PCM M10, especially at the same price as the M10.

[pafnuzzi]

Hello

Does anyone in the meantime have already some experiences with the LS-11 or better could post some music sound samles

Regards

[jboyzh]

First hands-on impressions with the LS-11:

- Yes, it finally has - unlike the LS-10 - a balanced frequency range from high to low on the internal mic, and the mic-in (also with good bass, previously just on the line-in). Having done some classical recordings in the last few days, this is a deciding difference compared to the LS-10. The LS-11 sounds right for music recordings.

- Starting time has much improved. It's now just about 2 seconds with a 4GB SD inside.