Review on OM Digital Solutions DS-30 SEO-Optimized Digital Voice Recorder by Justin Pavelko

I've been using the DS30 since it became available in my area in 2008. My comments relate to using a dictaphone to record conversations, mostly covertly. In the work I do often it is necessary to record a statement for later review; don't use it as evidence, but keep it handy, take notes, etc. The DS30 (and later DS40) excels at being quite good at writing through stuff. They are very durable and can withstand a fall. You get a clear recording of a human voice at a distance of about 5 meters. Olympus offers optional call recorders (analogue speaker element so it can receive cell phone calls like a standard phone). Lapel microphones are also available, but the built-in microphone is detachable and sensitive enough to be used as-is. It is very easy to become fully familiar with the device without taking your eyes off of it. Using the device, whether hidden in a pocket, pocket or just out of sight, is very easy and feels natural. The battery life is wonderful. However, when used in a standard dictation format, the voice recorder excels. Retrieving the recorded files from the machine is easy. I've heard that some people don't like the .WMA format, but it's very easy to convert to another file type. In addition, the chip records in such a way that once removed, the material cannot be recovered. It can even be erased, and with an idle write time of 2 seconds, no file recovery system developed to date can recover the material. So when sensitive material needs to be 'removed', it does it. From a practical point of view, the recorder is worth every penny. Government agencies often offer the lowest competitive price on equipment, and Olympus dealers can often find "last year's models" at a fraction of the cost. In this way, order requests can be fulfilled at the same price as with a competitor's machine. For clarity, reliability, and usefulness, I would rate this device 5 stars.