The new Olympus LS-10 comes along as a recorder that may find a strong niche in business, conference recording and other applications. I doubt many people here on Tapers will embrace it. This is a compact solution with compromises that don't address the "highest quality" some desire.
But don't discount the BIG impact this LITTLE recorder may have on the industry. Olympus is no lightweight in understanding the heavyweight profits to be earned by better features, more features and improved quality. Use it and you will wish your high-priced, high quality recorder had some of its "ease of use."
Certainly, compared to its predecessors at Olympus, it brings improved performance. Olympus has made test models available to journalists, but some have already indicated it's not "better" than the R-09 and has some problems with external mic preamp noise. The internal mic performance, for voice, isn't bad...but it lacks a lot of the punch you hear on the Sony PCM-D50.
I haven't had a chance to fully check the LS-10 out, but already owning both the Sony PCM-D50 and the Zoom H2, I've come away with some comparisons you might find useful. It performs better than the H2 on some tests, such as with a dynamic microphone.
As for the audio...well, you check it out!
I've added soundsamples from all three recorders using the same settings at the same time with the same external microphones and, of course, the internals. This is purely a voice sampling. I missed Saturday's piano concert!
LS-10 Build QualityIt's reasonable but like the competitors listed above, if you were to "drop test" it, I would encourage you to give all of them "a quick kiss goodbye," first. It does have a metal "rim" that extends around the plastic casing that might help protect it. Not nearly as much metal as the Sony, and of course, better than the H2 which has none at all.
What does come with the LS-10 is a carrying case. It's nylon, padded and zippered with a small compartment to store a spare set of 2 AA batteries or perhaps a lavalier/tie clip microphone with a short cable. You cannot reasonably operate the recorder inside this case. You're going to be taking your LS-10 out of the case to do most recording, unless you're very confident of your settings and have locked all the buttons with the "Hold" slide switch. That might work with external mics and AGC turned ON. Don't laugh, it could be a "feature."
It also has a small speaker. Don't plan on judging any sound quality from it. You can monitor recordings with earphones (not supplied) but we suspect we're hearing MORE hiss in the earphones than is being placed on the actual recordings during our very limited tests.
Physically, it's 1/4th the size of the Sony and even thinner than the Zoom H2. It's got a pretty good, solid feel to it, but that's because you're gripping that "rim" of steel rather than the case. The "rim" also serves to house all of the inputs/outputs on this recorder. That's good...they're all metal. You've got no digital out, just earphone and USB connection.
Of course, you have Mic In and Line In.
As you would expect, the Olympus LS-10 also falls between the Sony and the H2 in the weight department. It has a MUCH better, more solid feel than some of the small voice recorders like the Olympus WS-300M I have. Users who have paid $200 for cheaper, lighter, much-less capable Olympus products may welcome this "executive" upgrade.
Good tactile "feel" on the buttons, but the record level and playback volume knobs are plastic and reading the level numbers inscribed on them in darkness will NOT be possible. They're hard to see in moderate light. Still, they're sturdy.
The LCD-screen falls between the higher priced Sony and the Zoom. It's reasonable, with resolution, contrast and clarity that rivals the Sony and, of course, runs rings around the H2. Still, it's barely half the size of the Sony PCM-D50. That said, it's plenty readable...bolder, brighter and blacker than the Sony, really.
ControlsAfter owning a few Olympus recorders, I was really worried about the Menu screens. They've done better than in the past and I'm relieved! The screens on this model mimic what I have on my Nikon camera. There is a left panel that features icons to represent the RECord Menu, the PLAYback Menu, the LCD Menu, the MEMory Menu, and OTHERS, that sort of takes you through a gamut of features (including a FORMAT command that's at the very end...but accessible by just pressing the wheel "up.") In other words, instead of navigating through layers of menus...you are essentially using a side-panel menu, as on an HTML page.
Anyone who has tried to delete a recording on the Sony will appreciate the 1-button approach of the Olympus that lets you select your current file to delete or hold down the button and delete them all. No diving into menus. Confirms, of course!
The thumbwheel is well-made, metal and appears sturdy. Some will prefer this to either the Sony or the H2's approach. I think it's pretty much a matter of getting used to any of them...but Olympus has obviously put a lot of its experience and a better effort into the design of this recorder.
Olympus has made great use of the thumb wheel. Sony and everyone else must take notice.
RecordingsHere's what you really want to know. All of the recordings were done at a moderate 16/48 setting.
I find the internal mics on the LS-10 on low sensitivity to be pretty pleasing. All of the recordings are with AGC (Automatic Gain Control) and Low-Cut turned off on all recorders. The Zoom had "Mode Mono" invoked so both tracks get the same signal.
The internal mics on the LS-10 can't be rotated but they don't seem hyper-sensitive to wind like the Sony.
But
handling noise is a real problem. This may be due, in part, to the smaller size. You don't grip it like you do the Sony and with some careful planning and handling strategy, it might work. Certainly, you wouldn't want to be using the internal mics for handheld recording without the sensitivity set to LOW.
The LS-10 also turned in a pretty good recording with the EV635A Dynamic microphone. Also tested, the Sennheiser ME66/K6 short shotgun.
I could go on with my impressions of brightness or depth and all the like, but I think you just have to listen a bit and make your comments! What some people would say is "bright," I would consider "tinny."
I've even added a file with the Zoom H2 and the external Sennheiser short shotgun. All recordings (including low levels) were left untouched. This is how it comes out of the recorders. The only edits were to eliminate button noise and handling noise at the beginning or end of recordings. I tried, in most cases, to leave a little silence in there to give an idea of how the preamps and mics work. It was all recorded in the front seat of my SUV.
Please download these files to your own computer by right-clicking on them rather than reloading them several times! It will take you less time and let you review them as much as you like without making my bandwidth usage soar. Thanks. Olympus LS-10 Internal Mics / Both Hi and Lo Sensitivity (WAV 9.8MB)
Olympus LS-10 with EV-635 External Mic (WAV 6.7MB)
Olympus LS-10 with Sennheiser ME66/K6 shotgun (WAV 5.6MB)
For Comparison:
Sony PCM-D50 Internal mics / Both 0 and -20db pad (WAV 8.6MB)
Sony PCM-D50 External Dynamic EV-635A mic / 0 db pad (WAV 6.6MB)
Sony PCM-D50 External Sennheiser ME66/K6 / 20 db pad (WAV 5.5MB)
Zoom H2 and the Sennheiser ME66/K6 / Med.-100 (WAV 6.8MB)
You can give them a listen, take a look in your favorite audio editor and add your comments to the post.
There probably wasn't much point in the end to doing both a Hi and Lo input setting, but obviously, for some mics, it makes a difference. The EV-635A certainly won't sound like much without all the pads removed...or sensitivity set to high.
Topic: Olympus LS-10 Early Review and Samples + Comparison (Read 2165 times)