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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: Əkoostikal on July 17, 2009, 09:59:44 PM

Title: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: Əkoostikal on July 17, 2009, 09:59:44 PM
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.

(http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/img/support_images/sup_1471.jpg)

Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: rjp on July 17, 2009, 10:33:30 PM
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.
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: guysonic on July 18, 2009, 05:58:55 AM
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 (http://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.
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: aaronji on July 19, 2009, 08:55:30 AM
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!
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: John Willett on July 20, 2009, 09:20:02 AM
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.................
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: dogmusic on July 25, 2009, 02:24:55 PM
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.)
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: flintstone on July 26, 2009, 11:41:20 PM
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
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: penguin on July 29, 2009, 02:57:10 PM
Any idea when this will be on the shelves? I don't see it on Musician's Friend or Guitar Center yet.
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: colargol on July 30, 2009, 06:27:20 AM
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 (http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=11813)
check the video, they say it'll be out late August, beginning of September...

-c
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: labello on August 29, 2009, 01:40:01 PM
Voice-Soundfiles on audiotranskription.de

LS-10 vs LS-11

http://www.audiotranskription.de/Olympus-LS-11-PCM-Rekorder
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: rjp on August 29, 2009, 09:56:38 PM
¡Ojalá que yo hable alemán! ;)

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

Some interesting highlights:
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: flintstone on August 30, 2009, 12:27:01 AM
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!
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: su6oxone on August 30, 2009, 01:24:50 AM
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.
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: pafnuzzi on September 11, 2009, 07:06:00 AM
Hello

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

Regards
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jboyzh on September 20, 2009, 07:02:52 AM
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.




Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: pafnuzzi on September 20, 2009, 10:02:54 AM
Hello

There are music soundsamples avaliable following the link below:

http://www.audiotranskription.de/vergleichstest-digitaler-rekorder.htm

Indeed the internal mics sound pretty good.

Could you post or send by email also a sample of your recordings maybe as a flac file?

Regards pafnuzzi
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: pafnuzzi on October 29, 2009, 11:10:32 AM
Hi

Any news on the LS-11 or sound samples?
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jsfrank on June 16, 2010, 01:49:33 PM
Okay, who has one of these and using a V3 with it? How do you go from the V3 into it?
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jsfrank on June 16, 2010, 02:52:09 PM
Can't find anything useful in their FAQ:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_faqs.asp?id=1471#15

How are we considering this a useful device when it only has an analog line in?!?!?!?!?!? UGH!!!!!!
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jsfrank on June 16, 2010, 03:21:04 PM
I just got through to their tech support. It does not accept a digital feed. It is useless as a replacement for Microcrappers as a bit bucket. Now I need to send it back.
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jsfrank on June 16, 2010, 03:27:25 PM
Actually I may hold onto it as a stealth device. I'll probably need it for Tift Merritt in July since she only allows hand held recording and handholding the 480's 2 years ago was not fun.

Am I safe in assuming that the A>D in the line in is nowhere near as good as the one in the V3?
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: rjp on June 18, 2010, 08:05:30 AM
The general wisdom I've seen here is that no handheld has as good a preamp as what you can get from an external unit, nor are the A/D sections as good as those in a V3 or a big all-in-one like a DR-680 or 722. That being said, I haven't been displeased by the LS-10 line-in, and the LS-11 should be similar.

The LS-11 also gets rid of the mic-in bass rolloff that affects the LS-10. Nevertheless, my ears > SP-TFB-2 > LS-10 configuration has given me very nice results without resorting to EQ.

It's worth keeping for low-profile and quickie grab-and-go situations. At some point I want to get a Littlebox, though; using my E-MU 0404 USB as an "analog" preamp adds an extra A->D->A conversion to the chain, not to mention that it needs an external power source and the 0404 is definitely not stealthable.
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jbell on June 19, 2010, 04:35:08 PM
If you have an optimod V3 get a Sony PCM D50!  It has 4 gigs of internal memory, which you seem to be important to you and you can use memory sticks.  The D50 is a much better device than the MT/MT II recorder.  Just my 2 cents

Actually I may hold onto it as a stealth device. I'll probably need it for Tift Merritt in July since she only allows hand held recording and handholding the 480's 2 years ago was not fun.

Am I safe in assuming that the A>D in the line in is nowhere near as good as the one in the V3?
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jsfrank on June 21, 2010, 10:28:23 PM
Mine has a damaged word clock or whatever that connection is that gets modded. I did test the LS-11 at Lucero this past Saturday and it did make a very listenable recording. I am glad I got it just to have stealth capability. I'll have to figure out a good hat to hide it in. I am just going back to the MT2496. I have been testing it  out with the latest firmware and it is working much better.

If you have an optimod V3 get a Sony PCM D50!  It has 4 gigs of internal memory, which you seem to be important to you and you can use memory sticks.  The D50 is a much better device than the MT/MT II recorder.  Just my 2 cents

Actually I may hold onto it as a stealth device. I'll probably need it for Tift Merritt in July since she only allows hand held recording and handholding the 480's 2 years ago was not fun.

Am I safe in assuming that the A>D in the line in is nowhere near as good as the one in the V3?
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: trainspotter on July 19, 2010, 11:14:32 AM
Hi,

I have a couple of questions for you LS-11 owners out there:

- When in USB recording mode (connected as an audio class device), does it record only from the built-in mics or also from the line-in/mic inputs?
- When connected to a PC, is it powered by USB? Or does it need batteries/ AC adapter?
- How about Linux support?
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: flintstone on July 19, 2010, 11:29:30 AM
"no handheld has as good a preamp as what you can get from an external unit,
nor are the A/D sections as good as those in a V3 or a big all-in-one like a DR-680 or 722."

The devices mentioned cost 3 to 5 times more than a handheld like the LS-11
so they darn well better have a superior preamp!  Even a MixPre costs twice as
much.  Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Flintstone
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jsfrank on July 31, 2010, 11:42:50 PM
Used the LS-11 last night for Tift Merritt and Lincoln Hall and The Ragbirds at Martyrs'. I am very happy with the results. Will post the link to the Ragbirds when I get it on the LMA. Now I need to get an adaptor so I can screw it on top of a stand.
Title: Re: **NEW** Olympus LS-11
Post by: jsfrank on August 07, 2010, 11:56:15 AM
Here it is:

http://www.archive.org/details/ragbirds2010-07-30.OlympusLS-11

Used the LS-11 last night for Tift Merritt and Lincoln Hall and The Ragbirds at Martyrs'. I am very happy with the results. Will post the link to the Ragbirds when I get it on the LMA. Now I need to get an adaptor so I can screw it on top of a stand.