I ran across this new recorder from Olympus/OM System today, starts shipping later this month: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0If2df_Hbko&list=PLi32uScKi2wy1pkUnAX7Z9-Q1oiAVrG9K (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0If2df_Hbko&list=PLi32uScKi2wy1pkUnAX7Z9-Q1oiAVrG9K)
Seems to combine a lot of different features. One concern is according to the specs the internal mics seem noisy (60db signal to noise for the center mic, and 57db for the stereo mics.)
Anyone have any information on this recorder? Or the quality of Olympus recorders in general?
Not having owned one, but ran around Jazzfest in NOLA two times with a guy who owns an LS-10. (used it with the internals only- recordings are very decent) My opinion on Olympus' build quality is very high. I might say they are built even better than the Sony M-10 or A-10. Of course the newer an item is design-wise, the more screwed up they can make it, IMO. >:D
It's really packed with some nice features and is lacking some others.
The self noise is a bit poor, micro usb and 24/96 could be better.
But it's only 78g with batteries!
Primary questions for tapers will be:
1) Does it feature an external mic-in/line-in jack?
2) If so, what are the specs through that input in both modes.
The specified noise figures are most likely (and hopefully) dominated by the self-noise of the internal mic caps.
Quote from: justme on September 06, 2022, 05:07:04 PM
24/96
Quote from: Gutbucket on September 06, 2022, 05:49:48 PM1) Does it feature an external mic-in/line-in jack?
2) If so, what are the specs through that input in both modes.
I got the Dutch page when I googled this recorder (switching to English resulted in a much more limited page), so take this with a grain of salt. It definitely does 24/96. I
think it has a single, switchable mic/line input. I didn't see specs for that input, in either mode, though.
If it is anything like the previous Olympus recorders, the build quality will be nice.
There's a whole playlist of tutorial videos about this device on YouTube. Internal mic design seems odd - I would have thought an M/S configuration would have been the normal way of using the equivalent of 3 mics to achieve variable width. About the only feature which seems obviously superior to the A10 is that app provides audio monitoring rather than just remote level setting by meters. (As memory serves me the A10 app doesn't do that).
This video provides less drama and more facts - https://youtu.be/BT0_ddPxIAo
See also the comments on the video where Olympus are answering questions - I have to say the launch is being handled impressively well!
Here's some specs.
https://www.olympus-europa.com/site/en/a/audio_systems/audio_recording/sound_music_recorders/ls_p5/index.pdf
I know the LS-5 is highly coveted in the nature/field recording world for those that can't afford the Sony PCM-D100 recorder.
It is quite strange to have three mics without M/S.
I guess Olympus didn't want to try USB-C on this new recorder for 2022 and wanted to stick with microUSB.
Nice that the recorder can be used as a USB audio interface.
It should be possible to connect it to the USB audio input of my DJI Action 2 camera... well, that's what I'm telling myself as my finger hovers over the "buy" button! It's listed in a number of outlets here in Australia but not yet in stock.
Cool features. I like that it has an app that allows for Bluetooth control over a lot of the functions, iOS and Android compatible AND monitoring from the app. I wouldn't utilize that a lot but many people would like to be able to have their phone out and not the recorder.
One reviewer said that you only get remote monitoring when recording in 16 bit mode - needs confirmation maybe.
I am very interested in this recorder but the way it is being stocked is odd. B&H has it in stock now, Adorama is accepting preorders and Amazon will take an order and ship for a November 2nd delivery date. Does anyone know if they are actually available? And if they are, are they available anywhere in the US besides B&H?
The manual is now available.
https://download.aws.olympus.eu/consumer/manuals/audio/LS-P5_MANUAL_EN.pdf
Microphone/Line jack
3.5 mm diameter;
Microphone: Impedance: 2.2 kΩ
Line: Impedance: 10 kΩ
Microphones with plug-in power supplies can be used.
Thanks. I ordered one today from B&H and it should arrive on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to learning more about its capabilities first hand.
Quote from: drgary on October 02, 2022, 07:23:01 AM
I am very interested in this recorder but the way it is being stocked is odd. B&H has it in stock now, Adorama is accepting preorders and Amazon will take an order and ship for a November 2nd delivery date. Does anyone know if they are actually available? And if they are, are they available anywhere in the US besides B&H?
if BH says its in stock its in stock. a lot of times the big distributors get first dibs on shipments and they queue based on order date until stock catches up
Here's a link to the iOS app:
https://apps.apple.com/en/app/dvr-remote/id1611091737
Interface looks clean. All the features that I need are there on the first screen.
I guess I'll order one to test and maybe keep as a backup/replacement for the Sony A10 (which is ridiculously hard to get here in Europe).
i really cant recall another recorder that recorded directly to FLAC. maybe some other olympus that i never heard of
Quote from: jlmorgan84 on September 06, 2022, 01:48:00 PM
One concern is according to the specs the internal mics seem noisy (60db signal to noise for the center mic, and 57db for the stereo mics.)
i wonder if thats rated at the industry standard 1 Pa/94 dB. most condensor mics are in the 65-80 range of S/N at that standard
obviously concert volumes (and max SPL of mics) can get a bit higher than that
Quote from: mountainhop on October 05, 2022, 09:06:20 AM
i really cant recall another recorder that recorded directly to FLAC. maybe some other olympus that i never heard of
Me neither. On the other hand, this is the feature I could most easily live without. Converting WAV files on the computer doesn't really take that long these days. Also, according to the manual, there is a hard 4 GB file size limit for FLAC files after which recording stops. WAV recordings just start a new files after 2 GB. The 4 GB limit is probably never reached in our recording scenarios, but it is still something to be aware of.
Anyways, I have placed my order. Should be here by Saturday or Monday.
The maximum file size for a WAV is 4 GB. Most recorders do split them at 2GB, though. Some exceptions include theMarantz PMD620 and 661 and the SD MixPres, which all record to the 4 GB limit.
Curious to hear your reviews!
Quote from: aaronji on October 05, 2022, 10:46:56 AM
The maximum file size for a WAV is 4 GB. Most recorders do split them at 2GB, though. Some exceptions include theMarantz PMD620 and 661 and the SD MixPres, which all record to the 4 GB limit.
Yes, that is a technical limitation in the file format. However, I don't see a reason why the recorder can't just start a new file after reaching this limit - like it does for WAV files. That seems like a somewhat arbitrary design choice.
Yes, it is very strange! Still pretty curious about this one, though. Olympus usually has good build quality.
Mine arrived today. My first impression is that t is small and light, much smaller than my my 14 year old LS-10. So far without reading the sparse instructions it was not as intuitive to operate as I expected. However, I'm confident that by tomorrow that opinion will change after I've spent more time working with it.
There are some tutorial videos online - YouTube - made by Olympus themselves, for people who find a picture is worth a thousand words!
Quote from: Sebastian on October 05, 2022, 10:38:39 AM
Quote from: mountainhop on October 05, 2022, 09:06:20 AM
i really cant recall another recorder that recorded directly to FLAC. maybe some other olympus that i never heard of
Me neither. On the other hand, this is the feature I could most easily live without. Converting WAV files on the computer doesn't really take that long these days. Also, according to the manual, there is a hard 4 GB file size limit for FLAC files after which recording stops. WAV recordings just start a new files after 2 GB. The 4 GB limit is probably never reached in our recording scenarios, but it is still something to be aware of.
Anyways, I have placed my order. Should be here by Saturday or Monday.
my only concern would be the extra processing power perhaps causing buffering/writer errors. jsut one more link in the chain to fail. a 4GB 2 channel flac at 24/96 is close to 4 hours so it would serve most needs. still i think the auto-start new file is superior (if its seamless!!!)
I have received mine yesterday. Here are my first impressions from a taper's perspective, with comparisons to the Sony PCM-A10.
Things I like:
- Build quality feels really good.
- The LS-P5 is as small as the Sony PCM-A10 (maybe even a little thinner) and it seems to be lighter.
- The removable batteries are a big plus over the A10's fixed battery.
- The iOS app seems to react to user input a little faster than the Sony A10 app.
- FLAC recording is an awesome feature. See below for the caveat.
- My non-scientific tests at home indicate similar sound quality to the A10.
Things I don't like:
- Pre-recording time is only 2 seconds. I've learned to love this feature with the A10 and that unit's 5 seconds of pre-rec time turned out to be just enough for me to react when the show starts. The LS-P5's 2 seconds are too little. Also, the pre-recording has to be started consciously using the F2 function button under the LCD (or via a seperate button in the app). Pressing the big red record button starts a normal recording without the pre-recording feature.
- Pre-recording does NOT work when recording to FLAC. This is a real bummer.
- The Bluetooth connection is lost when the iPhone is locked or switches to another app. It automatically re-connects when the app is opened again, but this can take anywhere from 1 to 5 seconds. This is a major disappointment and renders the Bluetooth functionality almost unusable for me!
- When the app is idling for a few seconds without user input, the iPhone turns off the screen and the Bluetooth connection is lost. The A10 app prevents this from happening. This would have been a nice workaround for the Bluetooth disconnections.
I'll take the unit out to a show next week (or maybe the week after that). The Bluetooth connectivity is a big disappointment, though. I'm thinking about returning the recorder because of that.
Thanks for those observations. i suspect they will get a similar reaction from others concerning bluetooth and will hopefully fix it in the app or firmware.
> The Bluetooth connection is lost when the iPhone is locked or switches to another app. It automatically re-connects when the app is opened again, but this can take anywhere from 1 to 5 seconds. This is a major disappointment and renders the Bluetooth functionality almost unusable for me!
I've had the same happen with the A10. I had to go back into the phone bluetooth menu and reestablish a connection. The app came back to life. But I've also had it appear as the recording wasn't happening (the timer was at zero), even though it showed levels. Checked the recorder and sure enough it was recording. After restarting the app -- or waiting a bit, I can't recall -- it did show the correct time.
Just a warning to those who rely on the app.
Quote from: vwmule on October 10, 2022, 11:13:58 PM
I've had the same happen with the A10. I had to go back into the phone bluetooth menu and reestablish a connection.
The LS-P5 does not even show in the phone's native Bluetooth menu, so there's no way to pair it from there. One has to do this via the app. That might also be the reason why the connection is dropped the second the app is closed.
One thing that is useful for future readers would be if these mini reviews were accompanied with information about firmware version and app version.
Functionality often evolves as updates are delivered and it is sometimes difficult to understand an issue if people are talking from the perspective of different firmware or app versions.
> One thing that is useful for future readers would be if these mini reviews were accompanied with information about firmware version and app version.
The value of these threads -- and this site, vs. more visually pleasing and spontaneous Facebook hobby groups -- is that's what you get, a rolling yet static assessment of a piece of gear, with early advance and field tests of firmware.
That is why across TS the reliance on an established thread is best. Always check before starting a new one, especially in the open/stealth realm, where duplication creates confusion and inaccuracy.
I took the LS-P5 out to its first show last night and had even more problems with the Bluetooth connectivity than I had had at home. Sometimes it took over 10 seconds for the app to become responsive. I ended up pulling the recorder out of my pocket to check and set levels. The recording sounds good, though.
Also, I have contacted OM technical support. They did not seem to understand the problem and assured me that recording still continues on the device even when the recorder displays "Disconnected". I never questioned that. I followed up with a more detailed bug report, including screenshots. Let's see what they're saying. If they can't fix this, I will return the recorder.
I just got another demoralizing e-mail from OM support in which they refuse to recognize a problem. That is really too bad because this recorder has a lot of potential. However, I cannot use it with their current Bluetooth implementation. And I have zero confidence in their customer support. So I'm going to return mine and order a Sony A10 as a backup from B&H in the U.S. instead, even if this means paying 100 EUR more and not having replaceable batteries.
Took the LS-P5 to its first gig on Saturday. Recording came out great, but the BT connectivity, horrendous. After connecting the first time so I could kick the recording off, it never connected again 'til after the show when I was in a cab home. This was the same on two different phones (Samsung S20 & S21). Fortunately, I'd set the level fairly low ( 8 ), just in case I had this issue as mentioned further up this thread.
Took the LS-P5 to its second gig last night. This time I used an iPhone 6S for the BT connection instead of my Samsung. As much as I hate iPhones, I have to say, it worked very well. 5-6 seconds to connect (not perfect, I know, but so much better than with the S20 & 21). So, my personal recommendation is to use an iPhone for this particular purpose if you can.
Could someone suggest if tripod thread is steel or plastic?
I needed a new stealth rig and found this thread. My Zoom H2 is falling apart and the Sony A10 is too expensive now, so I bought the Olympus LS P5. First test last night at Rod Stewart using my Church CAFS mics and the P5's internal power (no battery pack). These days every venue is being more restrictive with bags, and I needed something that would be unobtrusive with a clear bag. I found a carrying pouch that fits it just fine. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BF9KW1K4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BF9KW1K4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1)
I used a Sharpie to cover up the words Record & Erase on the P5. I stuck it in the pouch mics-first and then left the pouch unzipped so security could see the bottom half of the unit. It was not a problem. As mentioned previously, the Bluetooth connection doesn't hold for all that long, so I paired the unit to my Android phone shortly before showtime. When the music started, I made sure I had the recording levels dialed in. I lost the connection after about 15 minutes, but I knew it would keep recording. After the show, I just hit the Stop button. Internal power worked just fine for the external mics, so no need for the battery pack. Audio quality was just fine.
Before the show, I tested the Olympus by placing it a foot in front of my stereo with the volume cranked. The internal mics perform very well for high volume, though the audio quality is not quite as good as using externals. My old Zoom H2 really couldn't handle even medium-loud volume before distorting. Anyway, I think this will do the job for a stealth rig. I will say that the menu is confusing, and I still haven't got it figured out. Sometimes you have to hit up or down to select a setting, and other times you hit left or right. I'm hoping I don't hit the wrong setting at some point. The Bluetooth instability is annoying, but all I need is for it to hold long enough to get the recording levels dialed in, so I can live with it.