Topic: OLYMPUS LS-10 Tecnical Review Just Posted

[guysonic]

Much appreciation and thanks to fellow TS member for LS-10 review loaner deck making possible for all of us to finally know what's up with this well designed little flash deck.

The LS-10 technical review was done with most recent v1.04 firmware installed making possible use of up to 16 GIGs of external SDHC flash memory!  The technical details can be found on my site at: www.sonicstudios.com/ls10revw.htm

Below are two graphics included in the review with more detailed discussion of these tests and a complete input signal acceptance table on the posted page.

[flintstone]

Excellent report, as always! 

Interesting to think about the LS-10's bass roll-off as a feature,
coming out of  Olympus' experience designing dictation equipment. 

This makes me think that, with feedback from people who
record music, Olympus could design an improved model
(the LS-100?) that included no bass roll-off, 8GB of internal
memory, and seamless recording of files beyond 2GB.

Olympus, are you listening?!

[melbourne83]

... and seamless recording of files beyond 2GB.

I hope firmware can fix this problem, if it's possible at all...

[Kevin T]

This roll off seems to be analog section prior to the A-D because I think I read that internal mic/ external mic AND line-in suffer from this 100Hz roll off.
GuySonic can you comment.

[dave570]

I agree about the no bass roll-off and seemless recording.  8GB internal is nice but not required. I can't just seem to get myself to buy something that can't automatically create the next file or to not record bass at decent levels.

[colargol]

A great review as always...

I tried to compare to GuySonic's review of R-09, where the line input noise was measured with two different settings for the preamp (#1 and #3). Could you comment which setting you used for measuring the ls-10?

Also, GuySonic, you mentioned in another thread that you would not recommend the LS-10 because of thinmgs you had heard from others. Has this changed now that you have tested it yourself?

[guysonic]

Also, GuySonic, you mentioned in another thread that you would not recommend the LS-10 because of thinmgs you had heard from others. Has this changed now that you have tested it yourself?

I only mentioned I'm NOT motivated buy one for myself and later gave my personal reasons; not meant as a recommendation for others to pass on buying. 

Definitely have more respect for the LS-10 after testing as it's astonishingly well made, and refined in many unexpected ways. and this is the very first attempt for Olympus at offering a pro quality .wav recorder.

However, my knowledge is still a bit limited for not actually owning, as using it for awhile would be better, and the following is some stuff that needs correcting and mentioning as quoted from a kind TS person via PM sent today:

"That's a pretty good review. I found one thing to be not entirely true:

"Also, USB LS-10 CONNECTION will only recognize the external flash card if inside the deck. To access LS-10 internal memory, the external card needs be removed, and the LS-10 needs reestablish fresh USB computer connection for accessing internal deck memory."

when I connect the LS-10 to my computer Windows opens up the SDHC card + the internal memory. I once freaked out as I accidentally opened the internal memory window and couldnt find what I've just recorded, but luckly figured it out pretty quickly.

I found the file transfer of the LS-10 to the PC via USB 2.0 is pretty lame, especially when it comes to transferring huge files (takes me about 8 minutes to transfer a file about the site of 1.4 gb) therefore I bought another cheap 4gb SDHC card on ebay that comes with an adaptor for SD/SDHC to USB.

ALSO, you should mention in your review, that after the maximum file size (2gb for wav's) exceeded the recorder will stop. I tried to record at 96kHZ/24bit and after the file limit is reached it simply stops recording instead of starting a new file(although I recorded on a 8GB card). That's a pretty bad fact if you ask me, 'coz if a band plays longer than 2h I will not even have the option ot record at 48k/24bit unless I stop somehwere to save the file and then continue recording a new file... "

Also please realize the bass rolloff is NOT there if using the LINE input with external preamplifier. So whatever the problem, it's with the MIC input only.

All LS-10 input level # settings used during testing are shown in the full review

[melbourne83]

ALSO, you should mention in your review, that after the maximum file size (2gb for wav's) exceeded the recorder will stop. I tried to record at 96kHZ/24bit and after the file limit is reached it simply stops recording instead of starting a new file(although I recorded on a 8GB card). That's a pretty bad fact if you ask me, 'coz if a band plays longer than 2h I will not even have the option ot record at 48k/24bit unless I stop somehwere to save the file and then continue recording a new file...

well, quoting me now... and maybe I didnt say it the right way. by "it stops" I mean it of course saves the file, but wont start a new one, so that was not meant to sound like "it stops and your recorded data is lost" or something. that's a big fuck up for live taping 'coz when you reach the file size limit of 2GB in the middle of the song, it will stop, save the file (which takes a few secs) and then you manually have to start record a new file.

If I know a band is going to play longer than 2h then I will probably set the PCM format to 48k/16bit. another option would probably be to save when the band takes a break between songs or at the encore break.of course it used to be similar with MDs back in the day when you had to switch the discs after 80mins, or even with tape recorders but seriously, we're in 2008 and Olympus should have at least thought about that when developing this little sucker. I'm really hoping for firmware to fix this... Other than that I like the LS-10 very much

[John Willett]

Well,I have just ordered one of these little beasties.

When I handled one at a recent trade show it felt extremely well made - so I decided to get one.

OK - for the serious stuff I plan on using a Nagra VI or Nagra LB, but the LS-10 seems the perfect recorder for carrying around all the time.

[Mr.Scully]

A question to the owners of Olympus LS-10. Does it allow you to set whether the WAV will be saved to the internal memory or the SD card? I want to avoid a situation that there will be for example 500 MB free in the internal memory so it will automatically start recording to the internal memory and after 10 minutes it will stop because of lack of space.

[guysonic]

YES, this option is in the menue, and can be selected to work with the "Fn" button for instant access to int./ext. memory recording.

[melbourne83]

I want to avoid a situation that there will be for example 500 MB free in the internal memory so it will automatically start recording to the internal memory and after 10 minutes it will stop because of lack of space.

nothing goes automatically(except for setting the recording level, which I don't recommend). you chose where you want to record to (SD or internal memory) and in what format - the LS-10 shows you how much time is left to record, depending on your free memory and the format you've choosen, even before you start the recording. and as guysonic said, there is a FN button which you can porgramme e.g to swith from external/internal memory...

I personally dont need the FN button but it is handy though. when I go out to tape I come with a freshly formated SD card and usually know for how long the artist is going to perform just to avoid any troubles.

[Dede2002]

Excellent report, as always! 

 

[person]

Would I be correct in guessing from the pictures that the mics' pickup pattern is XY pointing "up", so you can't really record with this thing sitting in your shirt pocket?

[John Willett]

More like AB pointing up (the mics face outwards).

I used mine at the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival last weekend and was most impressed.

I recorded to an 8MB SD card in the slot, rather than the internal memory.

When I realised how much memory 24/96 took, I changed it to 24/44.1 - seeing it was no advantage to use 96kHz sampling using the internal mics.

I recorded hand-holding or on a table - I also have a mini extendible camera tripod for it.

If you want to keep it in your pocket, use and external mic. into the mic. socket.

I did pass back to Olympus the comment that it would be nice to include a digital-in (maybe an optical input incorporated in the line-in jack socket) for a future model.