Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)

Reviews of Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)

1.) Olympus VN-6200PC/VN-5200PC are nifty little packages
Reviewed by: R.S.J. CA USA
Rating:
Olympus has just introduced its new Olympus VN-6200PC Digital Voice Recorder. The VN-6200PC is identical to the nearly 1 year old Olympus VN-5200PC Digital Voice Recorder in function and features, but now has twice the memory, 1 GB, for the same suggested list price as the VN-5200PC. The Olympus VN-6200PC, VN-5200PC and VN-3200PC Digital Voice Recorders all operate exactly the same and are boxed with the same "Instructions" sheet for all 3. The VN-5200PC I own is great. The VN-6200PC is even better!

If you need a quality, low-cost, monaural digital voice recorder that easily records and transfers Windows Media Audio (WMA) files fast via a USB 2.0 connection to your PC without any extra software, the Olympus VN-6200PC is a great choice. It outperforms the popular Olympus VN-4100PC Digital Voice Recorder in nearly every way...more storage, longer recording time, longer battery life, more folders and files, greater frequency response, greater output level. Over 444 hours in LP record mode, and you still get almost 71 hours in HQ mode...that's 200-13,000 Hz range, good enough to hum or strum your spur of the moment musical inspirations if you are into songwriting. It also has variable voice activation and a dynamic display of audio recording level. About the only feature the VN-4100PC has which the VN-6200PC doesn't is timer recording and playback if you really need it.

It does take a couple of readings of the instructions and a little practice to familiarize yourself with operating the VN-6200PC, but once you get the hang of it, it's really easy and intuitive to use. There are 5 folders, each able to hold up to 200 files. Every time you start and stop a recording, a new file is automatically created. The files and folders are easily transferred to your PC via the USB connection. Just plug in to your PC, and your VN-6200PC automatically looks just like any disc drive or storage device on your PC with a Windows directory displaying the files and folders. Just "select all" and move or copy the files to a disc drive to save the files in one operation. Playing the files just involves clicking on the audio file icons, and Windows Media Player pops up and goes to work. You can easily play all of the files in a folder in sequence with just one click on a Windows playing option that automatically creates a playlist of all the files. The files can easily be renamed both on the disc drive and on the VN-6200PC. They can be any name you choose. They don't have to have any specific format. Any file of any type with any name (text files, PDF files, etc.) can also be copied to and stored on the VN-6200PC. However, for an audio file to play on the VN-6200PC, it must be a WMA file and it must be copied or moved into one of the five specific audio folders on the VN-6200PC.

The Olympus VN-6200PC has no editing features. You can easily place and remove index markers to quickly return to specific file locations in playback mode, but any file editing must be done on the computer. While Windows Media Player allows you to select and sequence the files via a playlist, you will need to purchase separate software if you wish to edit or combine the files or convert them to other audio file formats such as MP3 or WAV.

One annoying feature of the VN-6200PC is that the earphone jack is monaural and, without an adapter, not compatible with the stereo headphones everybody has for their iPods or their old Walkman players. That's just plain stupid on the part of Olympus. Even my old mono GE microcassette recorder has a stereo earphone jack. A 1/8" stereo jack to 1/8" mono plug adapter can be bought at Radio Shack for $2.99 to solve the problem, a cost and inconvenience that should not be necessary. Another gripe is that the USB cable provided by Olympus with the VN-6200PC is only 6 inches long. This is okay for a laptop computer, but a USB extension cable may be necessary for your desktop computer. Target sells the 6 ft. Belkin USB Extension Cable (A-A) for $7.99. A type-A plug to 5-pin mini-plug USB cable can also be used.

In short, the Olympus VN-6200PC is for notes, meetings, lectures, dictation, emailing audio messages, and even songwriting. Its features are basic, price is modest, and the value is good. If you are into live music and MP3, news interviews, need stereo and fancy features, then go for the higher-priced Olympus digital recorders.

NOTE: Free, full-feature (not a "demo" copy), open-source software downloads to edit and convert audio files are available. SUPER© from erightsoft works on Windows platforms and will convert just about any audio file format to any other audio format. Audacity from Sourceforge is a full-featured audio file editor that works on Windows and Mac. Audacity is not licensed to directly import and convert WMA files, so it makes use of 3rd party software for WMA conversion. With Audacity 1.2, SUPER© or iTunes can be used to first convert WMA files to a format Audacity can accept, such as WAV. Audacity 1.3, a beta-test version, makes use of a free, separately downloaded ffmpeg import/export library to seamlessly import, export, and convert WMA files. (Currently, for use on the Mac, the ffmpeg library source code must first be converted to binary code... a job for "Mac-techies" only!)

For those who complain there is no software to organize the audio files, you are wrong. Windows and the VN-6200PC already provide you with firmware and software tools to do so. Managing and organizing your audio files is easy. First, if you toggle the VN-6200PC Disp/Menu button, you can choose to display the file recording date, the time it was recorded, and/or the duration time of the recording as you page through the audio files. Since you've got the recording dates and times, you can identify your recordings. Second, when you use your computer and the USB interface to view the audio file folders with Windows, you can display a detailed column listing of all the audio files showing the date and time the audio files were recorded by clicking on "View" in the Toolbar and then selecting "Details". (Also click on "Choose Details" and add "Date Created" and any other preferences to the list of file details displayed.) You can even choose to arrange the audio files in the detail list in order of the "Date Created". Besides being able to rename the audio files, if you "right-click" on any audio file and select "Properties" followed by "Summary", you can fill in text for "Title" and "Comments" fields to provide more info about the audio file.

2.) Perfect for Group Sessions
Reviewed by: M. J. Staley Tombstone, Arizona
Rating:
I got this recorder to record tutoring sessions which I do with local high school students. After installing the batteries and setting the date and time, I did a quick test recording. I set the recorder on a table in Record mode. My position at the board was about 12' away, with an angle to the mike of about 45d. The distance to the student area was 5-7', with the mike angle from 45d to a full 90d. Tests from all of these areas provided a clear Playback.

I then plugged the USB cable into the recorder and the computer (Windows XP Home, USB 1.1). After automatically installing standard drivers, Explorer showed the device as just another drive - like a flash drive. Using Explorer, I copied the test WMA file onto my hard drive, then opened Windows Media Player and played it back - perfect, with excellent volume and clarity. To finish, I just right-clicked the recorder drive in Explorer and clicked on "Eject", unplugged the recorder from the USB port, and that was that.

All this using only the factory-default settings. I'll play with those later.

The only problems:

1. The batteries were plastic-encased. Until you realize this and remove the plastic, they won't work well.
2. I agree with others that labelling what is essentially the on-off button as "Hold" is idiotic.
3. I also agree the USB cable is really short - too short. This isn't a problem for me but may be for you.
4. The recorder controls are difficult to read and in a low-lit room, you'd better have them memorized.
5. As others have noted, the format is WMA, which is fine if you have Windows Media Player. If you need WAV format, I "beethink" you can find a good free converter program for Windows.

Added note - WMA files are small and fast - I can attest to that. If you need to convert to WAV, you may find the conversion time very slow, and the new file very big. Consider downloading a WMA-compatible player. The last I checked (Sep '09) Windows Media Player V11 is free (25MB download), and if still so, download and install it. I think the first time you go through a WMA->WAV conversion, the long Windows Media Player download will look a lot more attractive.

All the above aside, this little thing works perfectly for what I intended it to do. For my use, great product.


3.) The Complete Package
Reviewed by: WilliWu Boston, MA USA
Rating:
It does everything I want it to do without additional accesories. I get a very clear recording of any conversation by simply putting the recorder in my shirt pocket -- no external microphone needed. You can also get a clear recording of both sides of a telephone conversation by sitting it next to your speaker phone. You might want to give this a try before spending money on the accesories.
Overall, I would rate this a high quality recorder with a very intuitive user interface.Note that the included batteries are individually wrapped in thin clear plastic which must be removed before they will work. I almost threw mine away before I noticed this.

4.) Great Digital Voice Recorder for a Great Price
Reviewed by: DEREK MCCARTHY Acton, MA
Rating:
I use the VN-6200PC to record college classes. With the sensitivity set on HI, it catches most of both the lecturer speaking and my classmates' questions. The loudnesses vary, of course; but the quality is high enough to easily understand everything. (The classes are small, though -- not big lecture halls.)

The recording time, something like seventy hours in highest quality, is a whole lot. I've also dictated some things, with sensitivity on LO, and those sound great, too. There are enough different folders to put recordings in -- five -- and navigating with the controls is easy enough. The batteries last a good long time, too; and the battery-strength bars more than adequately indicate how much juice you've got left.

My only real complaints are that the files are stored in .WMA format, which I can't put directly on my iPod; so that I end up plugging my headphones into the unit, which ouputs in monaural, and without an adapter comes out only on the left side.

But the mini-USB port is key; having a stand-alone recorder that can't share files with a computer is silly.

For $45.80, this was a great deal. (It would have been a lot more expensive at Staples.)

5.) Promises functionality, quality and performance and delivers on all fronts!
Reviewed by: M. Swift Florida, USA
Rating:
My Wife is a freelance writer and conducts interviews on a regular basis. I wanted to get her a recorder to simplify her note taking habits but didn't want to invest hundreds of dollars in something that she wouldn't really use. This recorder sounds excellent and has easy to use features that does exactly what I'd hoped - makes her job easier!

I am very pleased with the quality of the look/feel and function of this device. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good, basic recorder.

6.) This recorder works very well but you have to read the instructions
Reviewed by: Scott FS Sacramento, CA United States
Rating:
The Olympus digital was well reviewed, so I ordered it. I have an odd use for it. The neighbor who is constantly complaining about one thing or another complained to the city that my dog was barking 'non-stop' when I wasn't there. She hardly barks at all when I'm there, but how could I prove she wasn't barking when I wasn't there?

The answer, a digital recorder. The advantage of the digital recorder is that it will just record and record as long as the batteries are powered up. This means I can get 24 hours of recording, or more. Just what I need.

(I coupled this with a 'talking' clock that announces the hours so I can tell when my dog is barking (which it turns out is hardly ever)).

The recorder is very, very sensitive, and picked up not only my dog running around the backyard, but also the radio I play for her in the garage to keep her company when I am not there. This is hard to believe, since I had set the recorder up inside the house, near a slightly opened window.

The only downside to the recorder is that the operation is not intuitive. I was listening to the recording (50% faster mode which means 24 hours is done is something like 18 hours, still a very long time. The recorder does have a 'fast-forward' speed that would allow a person to speed through the 24 hours in 10 minutes or so. But you have to read the instructions! I copied the manual (one sheet, front and back) and tacked it to the wall so I'd have easy access to it.

Still, it does the job well, and solved my problem. I proved to the city animal control officer that my dog was not 'barking constantly'. Now the neighbor will have to come up with something else to complain about.

Update: For some reason, the recorder is not recording for 24 hours straight. Instead, it just shuts itself off after seven hours or so. That's probably good enough for most applications, but a serious flaw for my needs. I've called support, and they have identified the same problem. They say there is no reason the machine shuts off, as long as there is enough battery power and storage space. But they have duplicated the problem and are working on it.

Further update: I've solved the problem. In order to get a very long recording, one must erase all other files on the recorder (easy to do, but you MUST follow the instructions, it's not intuitive at all). Put a fresh set of batteries (2 AA batteries). I did that and got 37 hours of my dog not barking. However, it records jet aircraft 8,000 feet high, the train a mile away, loud motorcycles on the main road 3/4 of a mile away, etc.

I'm really happy with the recorder. I now give it five starts after figuring it out by trial and error. Buy it!

Subsequent update: I've been happily using this recorder for months now. Olympus has made a winner here! I can occasionally hit the wrong button (they are on the small size), but it's impossible to erase files by accident.

I bought rechargeable batteries and have been using them in the recorder (bought on Amazon, naturally). They work great! They even last longer than fresh alkalines.

7.) great little recorder
Reviewed by: L. Hammons Houston, TX USA
Rating:
I bought this recorder to tape choir rehearsals for practice at home. I was worried that the quality wouldn't be good enough, but it is just what I need. I can hear the other sections and the piano just from holding the recorder where I stand, with my section louder, of course, which makes practice easier. I can download tracks to my Mac and share with others. The controls are intuitive. Very pleased.

8.) Great recorder - very pleased!
Reviewed by: DFS NH, USA
Rating:
I was looking for a digital recorder to replace a cassette recorder. In my hypnosis practice I often record portions of a session so a client can listen to it later for reinforcement of positive suggestions. Tapes are now obsolete, and I needed something better. Recording directly to a lap-top and creating a CD before the client left would be great, but my laptop doesn't do a very good job of recording.

This Olympus recorder seemed to have just what I wanted - sensitivity, quality of sound, small size, USB port, and under $50. Now that I've used it for almost a month, I am very pleased with it. You can set it on a table in a room and hear everything that goes on, clearly and with audio quality. I use a plug-in lapel mike for some recordings, and it works very well. The built-in mike is great. There isn't any background hiss to speak of.

While it would be great to have the files in MP3 format, it isn't a problem with my computer - it plays the .WMA files with no effort, and my CD writer software converts the files automatically.

Size is great, and it comes with a protective pouch and USB cable. It is everything I wanted in a recorder and I'm very pleased with it. This is the first time for me writing a review, but I highly recommend this recorder.

9.) Great Recorder
Reviewed by: Earl E. Ellison Huntsville Al.
Rating:
I have had this VN6200PC for about 3 weeks. It records from 8 to 12 feet away with no problems. The playback is great. This was all done on the lowest settings with the built in mic. and speaker. You won`t go wrong if you buy this Olympus VN6200PC recorder.

10.) Great Recorder
Reviewed by: J. Donlan FL
Rating:
Great Recorder. This is our second purchase of this model VN6200PC. Unfortunately they seem to be phasing it out for the next generation. We use it to record board meetings. It easily picks up voices from 20-30 feet away. Recorded files are easily copied from the unit just like a flash drive. We now transcribe the recordings from any PC or laptop using a freeware playback software (Express Scribe) that makes FF RW and pause capability out of function keys on the keyboard.

11.) Helped me tremendously!
Reviewed by: Jeff and Amy
Rating:
I bought this digital voice recorder to help me with my college courses. The best thing that I ever purchased was this voice recorder. It works great for me and if it wasn't for this recorder I wouldn't have done as good in my anatomy class. The playback sound was great. I could whisper to my classmates and they could whisper to me and I picked it up perfectly on the recorder. There was no static when I would playback and the battery life is great. I only had to replace the batteries every 2 months or so and I used it everyday. This was overall a great product and I am glad that I made this purchase.

12.) Wonderful Sound Quality
Reviewed by: Jared Graham Spokane, WA USA
Rating:
Pros
This voice recorder had great quality (especially when paired with the Olympus ME-15 Microphone) for the price. The file transfer system is not complicated, just a folder to copy files from. I am very satisfied with the product and would recommend this product for anyone who ever wanted a voice recorder but did not want to shell out the big bucks.

Cons
The folders and indexing functions take a while to get use to but with a little practice they become second nature.

13.) Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)
Reviewed by: Old Guy Farmersville, Ohio
Rating:
Great little micro voice recorder. Very compact - fits in your pocket out of sight. Good quality recording.

14.) it is good
Reviewed by: Ez-p Riverside, CA USA
Rating:
yeah. this is a good recorder quality, good voice capture, totally ease to use. believe me, i don't know these people i just bought this product but by using it you will love it.

15.) Olympus Digital Voice Recorder
Reviewed by: A. Klamik Riverside, IL USA
Rating:
The Olymppus VN-8200PC Digital Voice Recorder is a handy little unit. The manual is clear, and that's important to me when getting a new item. It took only a short time to learn to set the date and time and to learn how to use the buttons to record, playback, download, and delete selections. I liked the quality of the sound. This device was purchased so that I could record reading my little books to my granddaughter who is 3 and lives a long distance away. Being a Grandma, it sometimes takes a little longer to learn about new items, but I was not disappointed with this one. I think anyone looking for a portable recording device with good playback sound and wonderful organizational options plus a valuable User Manual should definitely consider this one.

16.) Great Voice Recorder
Reviewed by: DMTE Grove City,OH
Rating:
This Olympic voice recorder is a great device. It only took a few minutes to figure out the menu setup, and after that everything else was very easy. I highly recommend this digital voice recorder.

17.) Great Product
Reviewed by: Joshua R. Wing Eaton, Ohio United States
Rating:
This is a great recorder. This replaced my WSM100 and it's ten times better. I like that you don't have to split the unit in half to download it. This caused problems with my old one after years of doing it. The hold button as the on/off button is not an issue.

18.) very good, good quality sound,
Reviewed by: Aryeh David Pekker
Rating:
what the title says, the sound is good, the size is right, on high quality it has about 72 hours of recording, on low quality, though i haven't tested it, has about 440 hours of recording, overall i would recommend it highly, i use it to record college lectures.

19.) Reliable Voice Recorder
Reviewed by: Sassy Writer
Rating:
I found the Olympus Voice Recorder to be handy in class. You know those classes where the teacher talks really fast and you can't write everything down and absorb it at the same time? It's good for those tough classes. The recorder comes with folders so you can separate the recordings by different categories. It's also relatively easy to upload the files onto the computer so you can listen on your computer. Highly recommend for students.

20.) Excellent Quality and Compact
Reviewed by: IMApisces Seattle, WA, United States
Rating:
I purchased this for a friend who offers recorded guidance counseling and I was super impressed. This thing has incredible recording quality and super compact. There are two quirks worth noting, though.

The Good:

* Very easy to install (plug and play for Windows). Works similar to a file storage drive once plugged in.
* The compact size makes it ideal for travel.
* Auto stop and start feature is available to save battery life and file length.
* Recording quality is EXCELLENT, and they are saved as WMA, so file sizes are incredibly low (including the high quality "HQ" setting).

The Not-so-good:

* You have options to save files into folders such as A, B, C, etc. (in case you are visiting numerous lectures halls or events on a given day, etc.). When you want to transfer the file, the folders within the storage device are not labeled specifically as A, B, C, etc. Instead, the folders are listed as a code similar to "1234X" (with X being the folder destination of A, B, C, etc.). This was confusing to my friend who is not computer savvy.

* Also, the LCD screen is very small and not back lit. For those with poor vision, this may be annoying.

All in all, I thought the product was excellent, despite the price. You'd think this technology would be much less by now.

21.) preacher
Reviewed by: fisher
Rating:
works very good for what i was looking for to record my messages when at a conference

22.) Just what a college student needs!
Reviewed by: Konginator
Rating:
It is great!
At first I was hesitant to by it because some people's reviews weren't the nicest, but out of all the other ones I was looking at, this was the least harsh and for a very good price.
The quality was great, I'm not sure if people are picky, but for recording lectures, it was crystal clear in HQ(highest quality), the SP (their medium)is okay... sounds like an old recorder I had that actually used microcasettes, LP (their lowest quality)is horrible, so don't use it. I didn't even have to look at the instructions to figure out all the settings, it might just be a generation thing though. If you're in the technology savvy generation, you can mess around with it, and figure it out in a few minutes, but if you're not, I would suggest reading the instructions. The recorder felt sort of like cheap plastic, but as long as it recorded, I really couldn't care less. It has 5 folders that the recordings can be recorded into, the recorder came with a carrying case, and the cord to connect it to the computer. Downloading the lectures to my computer was very simple. People thought it was bad that it came in the windows player format, instead of mp3, but if you add it to itunes, it automatically converts it to a ACC file. I really don't know what that means, but it can go on my ipod fine.
Also, if it's not loud enough and you have itunes, out can right click the file, and click "Get info" and go to "options" and increase the volume and save it as a louder file.
Oh yeah, and other things that I read that helped me out,
- There's plastic wrapped around each individual battery. Take it off. It works way better with them off.
- The "off" button is just the "hold" button. (Random)
- While recording, you can hit record again to pause (like when your professor is on a tangent)and then just hit record to continue on.
- Finally, the only down side to the recorder is that once you say you are done recording the file, you can't record over it in parts or edit it. (but i didn't care)
If you're a poor college student, it will do the trick. :)


23.) Perfect for me
Reviewed by: Sean-ji Santa Cruz, CA United States
Rating:
Excellent quality sound wise. Easy to use, compact and I loved it right away. Uploads to my computer were seamless and almost does it by magic. After I played back using Window Media Player I was impressed by the clarity and tone quality. A great product.

24.) Strongly recommend
Reviewed by: G. Kim Albuquerque, NM
Rating:
I have used the digital voice recorder (Olympus VN 6200PC) for a month. It is very easy to use and clear to listen recorded voices. It is a great asset in my daily life. I strongly recommend it to anybody who is looking for a digital voice recorder. You will never be disappointed.

25.) Easy To Use
Reviewed by: Pooh Pa Houston, TX
Rating:
I enjoy using this recorder. With the 5 file folders, I am able to keep the topics separate and not go through all of them to find the one I want.

26.) Olympus VN6200PC
Reviewed by: Mss LaLa Daly City, California United States
Rating:
I already had a olympus recorder VN240 and it had alot of recording on it that i did not want to loose. So I purchased the VN6200 and played the old recorder to record the information on the new one VN6200. It worked great. But then I could not figure out how to transfer it to my PC. So I called the customer service number and tech support was great. They explained it to me and it was simple and I was able transfer the information to my PC and then I was able to make a CD out of it. This is gonna be great for school lecture or for any conversationI do not want to forget. I recommend this device to those who need to remember lectures or anything else and the price was great. The first one i purchased cost more than this one and my new one does more. Thank you

27.) A great recorder!
Reviewed by: Bill
Rating:
I had recently bought one for my daughter for classroom use. She was totally pleased with the ability to pick up conversations in the classroom. This one was purchased for recording my presentations and then making a cd for those who could not attend. The recording quality is excellent and is so easy to use.



28.) the way to go..!
Reviewed by: Way to go MA, USA
Rating:
This Voice recorder is very useful to me. I record lectures in college and then just play them back on my computer whenever I need to review the material or study for tests.
It's a great product! The sound quality is amazing!
You can record around 71 hrs of HQ ..and that is more than enough for me.
I loved it's interface and how it is set up.
Recording in the given 5 different folders is really helpful too.

And it is very easy to use. It will take you at most a day to get used to.

29.) Easy PC compatible DVR
Reviewed by: BE Denver, Co United States
Rating:
I needed a digital voice recorder to record telephone sessions with a mentor. I wanted to be able to download recordings and play on windows media player or to my mp3 player. I bought the Olympus TP-7 Telephone Recording Device along with the DVR and it works better than I had hoped. I love how easy it is to use!

30.) A great product!
Reviewed by: Recording... 123 New york, NY
Rating:
I have been using this product for about a month now.
It is very easy to use. The battery life is pretty good.
Sound quality is excellent. I have recorded messages on this voice recorder and sent the files via e-mail and my sister says it sounds like I am right next to her.

A great product!



31.) Love it!
Reviewed by: J. Ostermiller Denver, CO
Rating:
I don't have anything to compare, as this is the first I have purchased, but it has done everything I want and then some. When I first received it, I stuck it in my shirt pocket and walked around my business to see how things were recorded. It even picked up a customer's voice on a telephone call. I used it at a 4 day conference and it recorded everything that happened. Highly recommended.

32.) Affordable and easy to use!
Reviewed by: VW Chicago, IL
Rating:
Great quality for the price. Easy to learn to use. Excellent sound quality.

33.) Excellent Product
Reviewed by: C. Agudelo Miami, Florida
Rating:
Love this product, it is easy to use and very comfortable. The price was also outstanding, after comparing the price with other recorders, this outbeat the others by far. The shipping was also extremely quick. A+++++++++

34.) Highly Recommend
Reviewed by: Savannah_Kat Columbus, OH
Rating:
This is the second digital voice recorder I've owned, and I'm very satisfied with it. It's easy to use and stores plenty of files. It also sounds very clear. My needs are pretty basic, recording ideas for music projects, and this product is affordable, compact and efficient. I gave it 5 stars, but it would be nice if it were compatible with slightly older versions of macs.

35.) Nice little unit.
Reviewed by: JL Wiggins Washington, DC USA
Rating:
Ultracompact, easy-to-use, and good quality sound. I also love the case included as it hugs the recorder but is open on top, allowing the recorder to be on and mostly protected, with the microphone (which is at the top) still able to pick up dialogue. That last feature is especially good when you are interviewing in a dusty place (such as I am, being in the southern part of Afghanistan). Finally, it has its software inside so it is easy to load your files onto computers.

36.) "works as advertised"
Reviewed by: jerseybing Florida
Rating:
this is one good product...you have to read the manuel ..and figure out a few things...but overall..it's worth every nickel...works great with Windows Media Player...very durable...must have dropped it...five times...i'm talkin', from top shirt pocket...to concrete..."keeps on ticking"...whatever, your reason is to record...buy this one. 444 hours of recording..splilt among 5 different folders if you want...downnload em'....keep going...........

37.) Great product, quick delivery, all that I expected!
Reviewed by: Amanda DuFord Seattle, WA USA
Rating:
Great device to record. I use it for recording song ideas when I'm on the road and have no paper around. Also used it for lectures in class. Love how easy it is to load onto computer and iPod.

38.) This thing save my academic career!
Reviewed by: old student connecticut
Rating:
This recorder has been perfect for taping my college classes. I am an older student and don't take notes as well as I used to so it is so helpful to hear the lecture again and again. The only issue I had was that the first day I put it on my desk to record and you couldn't hear the professor that well. Now I just put it right on the instructors' desks and that has solved the problem.

39.) Just the ticket
Reviewed by: Monica Guy Cape Town, South Africa
Rating:
Just what I needed - small, compact, huge memory, easy to use and simple to transfer files to your computer. I doubt you can find a better product for the same price.

40.) It is great recorder
Reviewed by: Thomas C. Lee Los Angeles, CA USA
Rating:
It is great product. It's easy to use, and it can recorder 72 hours long under normal recording mode. And it can be download through the USB cord provided to the computer as a digital file.

41.) Olympus Digital Voice Recorder VN 6200PC
Reviewed by: Marlene Leonardi
Rating:
This Olympus recorder VN 6200PC is great to use, the ease of the instructions and the use is quite remarkable. As I am not a young person, I am
a senior using this product, I appreciate the ease of use and the power of the unit to pick up sound even in the next room. I use my recorder
as a secretary of a not for profit group and I can record our monthly meetings for my minutes. This is a great help to me.

42.) Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)
Reviewed by: kphoto MA, USA
Rating:
This is just what I wanted. An inexpensive idea recorder. I researched these units and narrowed it down to this one. USB transfer is a plus. I feel that it isn't cheaply made for something in this price range. I mean you can spend way more (like the Olympus DS-30) and get something that'll withstand all sorts of abuse I'm sure, but treat it nice (like you would your iPod or laptop) and I think it will be your best friend for on the fly recording.

43.) Does what it was designed to do
Reviewed by: RockonPirates
Rating:
My high school son is starting to write sports stories for the local paper. He has to interview participants and then write the quotes as part of his stories. Trying to right the quotes down while doing the interview was of course very difficult. I researched all of the recording devices and narrowed my choice to this one or a sony. Most reviewers liked the regular file system on this unit vs sony and seem to say it was easier to use. My son has found it to be extremely useful. He uses it with every interview and it picks up the voices even with a lot of back ground noise. He can do multiple interviews one right after the other..

44.) Perfect for my needs!
Reviewed by: Surfinkimo Ca. USA
Rating:
I have my own website and do a podcast program, therefore, I needed a simple digital recorder for interviews I conduct. I highly recommend this product. It does exactly what I need / want it to do and that's all that matters to me.

Pros:
Built in Speaker and mic.
External plugs for a mic and earphones.
Simple use buttons for record, playback and erase.
Lots of memory 1Gb
USB compatible easily transfers / transfers to my PC
Voice activation feature
3 recording modes SP, LP or HQ. LP mode gives about 444 hours
Nice size screen for viewing
Fits easily into any pocket
Lock feature so doesn't turn on/off while not using
Known brand name
GREAT price!!

Cons:
I haven't found any yet


Bottom line....For $35.00 total including shipping, It was well worth every dollar!!



45.) OUTSTANDING VOICE RECORDER.
Reviewed by: Jack I. Johnson Wesley Chapel, FL United States
Rating:
This recorder operates from within a pocket for hours without missing anything.
The clarity is superb and the voice quality it reproduces is amazing!

46.) Compact and useful
Reviewed by: occasional shopper NY
Rating:
I bought this to record interviews for my articles, and, so far, it has been working well. Haven't really figured out the system for arranging files and folders (seems a little cryptic), so can't comment on that. Also, I'm not crazy about the "pause" button being the on/off button. However, the sound quality is pretty good, and the recorder is nice and small, and convenient. I don't have any complaints so far (except the file management system, but, once again, I haven't figured that out yet, so maybe it's better than I think).

47.) Olympus digital Voice Recorder VN 6200PC Review
Reviewed by: Diane Alta Loma, Calif USA
Rating:
I liked mine so well;I bought one for a dear friend. Buying through Amazon.com was so easy. I love my digital Olympus voice recorder. VN6200PC Diane in Alta Loma, Calif.

48.) I love my voice recorder
Reviewed by: NICOLE MICHIGAN
Rating:
I got this voice recorder as a birthday gift from a friend. I had it listed on my wish list, but never expected anyone to actually buy something from the list. Boy was I surprised. I find it easy to use and very compact. I haven't had a chance to download the audio files, but so far, it is exactly what I needed. I use it to record ideas and to conduct interviews and it works great.

49.) Pretty satisfied with the product.
Reviewed by: AG Bloomington, IN
Rating:
It does everything it is advertised to do. Nice and compact, with easy to use interface.

50.) Olympus recorder
Reviewed by: Carl
Rating:
I got this for a good price and it was even better than i thought it would be. A nice little device that has great pick sounds pick up. It hears everything and the play back is great. I recommend it.

51.) Very useful
Reviewed by: Natalia Migues
Rating:
I was expecting to find the correct voice recorder though I'm studying journalism and it is a very important tool for me.

52.) I love plug and play on a PC
Reviewed by: knitting ninja San Jose, CA USA
Rating:
There are several digital recorders on the market in the price range of this Olympus. I chose this model for several reasons (see below) and have not been disappointed. The size, weight, screen, buttons and rocker switches are all well placed and, combined with their ample size, makes them easy to operate. The menu system is easy to navigate and is intuitive. In fact, it is so easy to use I only used the instruction manual to figure out how to play tracks in fast forward. The most important feature to me is the plug and play ability of the device (I tried it on Windows XP and Vista). Without installing ANY additional software, the device shows up in Windows Explorer as a new drive that contains your recordings in .wma format. This makes playing, burning and format conversion very simple. No buggy software to install and update. Easy to use between home and work. In a nut shell...

The Pros,
* Well laid out
* Really easy to use
* No extra software on Windows machines
* Records in a file format that needs no conversion to store and play on your PC
* It comes with a nice slip case
* Connects to the PC with a standard mini-USB
* The recording in the highest quality (71 hours) is very good

The Cons,
- The wrist band is an ACCESSORY. I can't believe that cost cutting measure!
- The USB cable supplied is less than 8 inches long
- The recording quality in the longest mode is pretty poor (but you get 444 hours)
- The sound is hard to hear with the built in speaker when recorded in the longest play mode

For my meeting recording needs, this player hits the mark.

53.) Good DVR for a reasonable price
Reviewed by: Philonius Monk Columbus, OH
Rating:
Just purchased this recorder today. Literally went from Staples to history class, unwrapping it along the way. Didn't have to read the manual at all, just sat in my chair, in the middle of the class, turned in on (of course, put the batteries first) and hit the record button. I recorded an hour and a half lecture and went home and transferred it to my computer in about 2 minutes.

This is a really handy device and for the price, I think it serves it's purpose very well. As other reviewers have mentioned, however, it does have a slightly light-weight, almost flimsy, feel, but overall I think it seems well-built and would probably tolerate being dropped a couple times.

Today is my first time using it, and, I'd say within about 10 minutes I'd figured out everything that can be done with it. Which, in one way, may seem to suggest that it has limited functions, but, I feel that it's more important that an item like this be fool-proof, and super easy to use. This Olympus is fool-proof.

54.) not bad at all
Reviewed by: Aram R. Sadda
Rating:
gets the teacher in a big lecture hall. sound is way better on computer.

55.) my overview
Reviewed by: T. Lintott Michigan, USA
Rating:
purchased this recorder for several reasons... #1 - I can hook the USB up to my computer and see/play/copy/move all of the recorded files (this makes backup very easy) #2 - it fits in my pocket so transport is not a big deal. #3 - it is very easy to use ....... had it for a few weeks now. ~ I like the advantage of so much recording time that when I am at an event I do not need to 'look at the clock' when using it. I feel this was a good choice for me and I am really glad I read about how the recorders download files to a computer. If I did not read this I could have mess up and got a recorder that needs to install software to get the sound files onto my computer. This one is like a memory stick.. just plug in the USB and there they are - all the recorded sound files.


56.) Worth the Money
Reviewed by: BDogPound Carolina's
Rating:
This digital recorder is a great machine for the price. Recorder is light weight, play back is clear, machine is easy to use, even has auto shut off to preserve battery life if you forget to turn it off. Many great features for a digital recorder at this small of a price. Being able to listen to a class leature several times has really helped my grades improve!
The only draw back is the mono earphone jack instead of a regular stereo jack, but you can get a small adapter for less than $5 that will allow you to use your regular headphones.

57.) Fantastic Recorder
Reviewed by: Mad. Wisc. DT Madison, WI United States
Rating:
This amazing recorder really does a great job. The recording quality is just what I needed, and it is in a nice compact and easy to use size. It is a little difficult to learn to begin with, but after a few times of going over the instructions, it can easily be mastered. I'd highly recomend this product to anyone looking for an inexpensive digital voice recorder.

58.) A Good Value
Reviewed by: D. Richardson Auburn, AL US
Rating:
This is a good digital recorder. It's certainly not like the tape recorder I had as a kid. I was surprised at how well it picks up sounds and very clearly. Plus, being digital, you can immediately upload the recording to your computer. The way it does it is by creating folders that allow many recordings. So far, I made over 5 different recordings that each lasted over 6 hours each. But I do not yet know the maximum hours of recording available. There are other features that I have not tried mostly because I haven't read the directions yet. This also proves the user friendly and intuitive nature of the product. It's good.

59.) good product, found out I could have gotten it cheaper in the store
Reviewed by: Tommy T. Cook
Rating:
good recorder. this is my second one and I love the features. the playback is not great, but it works. the seller was too expensive. oh well. my fault for not researching better.

60.) good for recording classes, and also baby voice. so-so looking
Reviewed by: Sheng Sun
Rating:

my wife thinks it's good for her classes.

it's also easy/quick to record our baby's funny spontaneous voice. The camcorder may not be readily available (out of battery easily).

the external looking/making feels so-so

61.) Olympus digital voice recorder 6200PC
Reviewed by: ducphil Reno, Nevada
Rating:
I have not had any issues with this product. Very easy to use and down load to computer. Audio is picked up very well even from far away. I would have to rate this product as above good but not excellent because this is the first voice recorder I have ever purchased. Purchasing from Amazon was quick and easy with no hassles at all.

62.) Worked Exactly As I Hoped
Reviewed by: Matt Minnesota
Rating:
I was simply looking for an affordable voice recorder that would pick up sound well. This product has not disappointed. It is fairly simple to use, compact, picks up distant sounds well, and the battery life has been good. In addition, the transfer from recorder to PC could not be easier. My only suggestion for improvement would be a rewind/fast forward feature to review long recordings quickly. All in all, I have been very pleased with it.

63.) Very good
Reviewed by: Rodrigo Niterói, RJ Brasil
Rating:
I loved it!

I've been using this to record my classes, so I can listen them at home, and the quality is awsome.

64.) Good but takes time to learn menu
Reviewed by: Kengineer Milw WI
Rating:
Bought this about 3 weeks ago. Good sound for a little recorder.
I read the manual - which comes with 4 sets of languages.
Some important advice - don't lose the English one.

Accidentally hit the wrong button and was stuck on fast play back - then slow play. Finally downloaded the English manual from their site but was too tiny too read. Lopsided online manual won't fit on any American paper form...They must have something against 8.50" x 11" forms?
Got it working again after 1/2 an hour.

Easy to run and transfer to PC.
Rememeber to have the speaker which is in the back, face you.
Taped my band with it and was Ok when replayed with decent speakers.

Most likely would buy it again dispite the multi finction buttons.
Just keep the manual handy if you fat finger it like I did....


65.) Frequency Response concerned
Reviewed by: K. Feng
Rating:
My wife needs to playback right after her class. VN-6200PC's all features are excellent as I read from reviews excepts the frequency response. The low end of frequency response for all modes is 200 Hz (C3 note is 220 Hz; C4 note is 440 Hz as reference). I could tell it is not enough for my regular male tone. But works very well for my wife's voice. I found Olympus' other digital voice recorders have different frequency response with the same recording modes. For example, WS-400S is 50 Hz instead. Now the VN-6200PC meets all my wife's needs. But next time, I will consider other with better frequency response.

66.) Great for graduate school students
Reviewed by: Onlinenow
Rating:
I needed a recorder for graduate school and this was in the perfect price range. The only issue is that some of my classes are in large lecture halls and the sound is not the greatest. I would recommend attaching a small microphone to increase the sound quality.

67.) It's a really good product
Reviewed by: Addum Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rating:
The recording is really good. I use It to record my classes, and the feature of indexing the most important spots is really usefull. It doesn't use too much energy also. It also comes with a case which is great to protect it, and it's easy to transfer the files to the computer. The bad points: If I wanna listen the recording through phones placed in the recorder, only one side of the earphones will work. I got a little bit disappointed by this. And you can't name the files inside the recorder. However, the price is good and the product is worth buying If you want a high-quality recording.

68.) works great!
Reviewed by: C. K. Wells
Rating:
I use this recorder for taping one on one conversations and it works and sounds great!

69.) Works as expected
Reviewed by: Sylvia Valerio
Rating:
I'm happy with my purchase, works great for what I needed it for... capturing lectures ... playback quality is awesome! can upload easily to my PC...
Only wish the earphone jack was compatible with my ear phones... need to run by Radio Shack to get an adaptor so I an use my ear phones...

70.) Great Digital Recorder
Reviewed by: muldowneyarts.com Merrimack, NH United States
Rating:
For the price - this is a great digital recorder. I use it mostly for recording notes for website content ideas (blogging). It doesn't work well for recording two way conversations (interviews) through the built in microphone but otherwise the sound quality is great. The USB cord they provide is quite short but I use it mostly with a laptop and have other cords that are compatible. Overall I am very happy with my purchase.

71.) Olympus Digital recorder
Reviewed by: Gina Payne St. Louis, MO
Rating:
Good sound quality,reasonably priced & fairly easy to figure out. A little smaller than I expected (4" in length), but that just makes it easier to take with you.

72.) Happy as S----
Reviewed by: J. P. Schultes
Rating:
I use this to record my guitar lessons. I just set it on a table and let it run for the whole hour. I couldn't believe the sound quality on playback through my computer. It picked up everything of the music and the comments of the instructor.



73.) Great Digital Recorder
Reviewed by: Utomo P. Widjaja
Rating:
Good Quality products

If they want to improve, here is the list
1. More Sound quality options. I think 5 level will be great.
2. Add Sensitivity Level
3. Stereo Please. for better sound
4. Support Windows 7

74.) Worth your money
Reviewed by: Prakash Germantown, MD, USA
Rating:
I've been testing this for the last couple of weeks. And I must say I'm extremely satisfied with this product. This was the first voice recorder I purchased for my classes. And I've experimented it with different distances in the class and overall its very good. The microphone is highly sensitive and picks up even softer voices. There is plenty of memory and its really small and portable.
I recommend any beginner/amateur to buy this product...

75.) Recorder Review
Reviewed by: James "The Fishy" Michael Seattle, WA USA
Rating:
This recorder works great, I wish it was a different format than WMV but it works with linux and acts as a USB Massive Storage Device so no drivers are even needed. I love it.

76.) Good item when on sale
Reviewed by: Jeff G
Rating:
My son needed a voice recorder for school that could NOT play videos, so I bought this one; otherwise we would have used a MP3 player that also records. This one works well for lectures and we can transfer files from our computer to the device for play (we use the free publicly available CDEX program to convert from whatever to WMA files). It only has a mono earphone jack so that makes it a little problematic for normal stereo headphones. All in all it good for this catergory of device.

77.) How can you not have stereo output in this day and age ?
Reviewed by: S. Nair Houston, TX USA
Rating:
Well designed usability features, good batter life. The problem was that the output was monorual. I had to get an adapter from Radioshack to convert it into pseudo-stereo.

78.) Not a bad little unit
Reviewed by: FAR Upstate NY
Rating:
Purchased for my wife to use at school. Decent deal for the price. The menu system is tad confusing and the sound quality is so-so. However, this unit has plenty of features and USB to PC capability. You can convert files to MP3 format easily. Olympus offers good support.

79.) Good price based on the quality
Reviewed by: J. But San Jose, CA
Rating:
I am satisfy with this product. Good quality, good price!
I am only use it for recording in the class, so I just use
the basic functions and it is great with this price.

80.) Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)
Reviewed by: GoodThingsbuyer NJ, USA
Rating:
It is right on the money: good quality, convenient and simple controls, the unit is adequate to its price.

81.) big d of monterey CA.
Reviewed by: BIG D ROYAL OAKS, CALIFORNIA, US
Rating:
If you are into ghost hunting?this recorder is for you.i pick up three evp's the first night i had it.the sound is clear,it's easy to use.the only thing is you can't save just a few minutes of what you want,you have to keep the hole recording.It's a great recorder for the price,and it can pick up the most quietest sounds.The pc is easy if you have windows,i just haven't figured out how to save it to my hard drive.I can save it,but it wont play back after being saved.

82.) Simple and handy digital recorder but lacks editing capability
Reviewed by: W. Mando Kenner, LA
Rating:
Generally, it is a good digital recorder, it has a good sound for its size. It has many features and it is easy to use. The only draw back I found is the lack of editing capability, in other word, you cannot go back to the middle of previous recording and start recording from that point, you can do this if you download the recording to a computer and use sound editor. It is useful to get notes or record a lecture but not to compose a useful dictation.

83.) digital voce recorder
Reviewed by: Edward H. Goralewski
Rating:
The Model 6200PC is easy to use for notes... If you try to record music the speaker seem to vibrate.....should just use to recprd notes, etc.
Ed Goralewski

84.) Handy little recorder
Reviewed by: Collector Huntingtown, MD USA
Rating:
Very easy to set up and use. I had no problem following the instructions. The recorder is compact and lightweight and will easily fit in a shirt pocket. Recording and play back sound quality are average.

85.) Devin Strong
Reviewed by: Devin L. Strong Braselton, GA
Rating:
This is my first digital recorder. It's a good price and very easy to use.

86.) Works exceptionally well...
Reviewed by: Frequent buyer Boston, MA
Rating:
Really useful recording device. Size is perfect for discrete use, and audio quality is wonderful. Only small issue is it's so fully featured that the features get in the way of easy use.

Overall I'm exceptionally pleased with this device.

87.) Recorder for everyday
Reviewed by: Angelique Martin
Rating:
Works well for conference recordings...picks up everyone speaking. In public place, like bus, picks up background noice but can work well if placed closed to one's mouth.

88.) Very Nice
Reviewed by: MusicMan USA
Rating:
Device does just what it says it will do. It is very convenient for carry around voice recorder, and it works very well. Constructions is efficient, and use is simple enough. I recommend it.

89.) Compact recorder
Reviewed by: Donna Katz Pennsylvania
Rating:
I use this recorder for recording ideas while I'm on the road. I like the compactness of it. The instructions were another issue. They were not as clear as they could have been written, but with a bit of brain power, it can be figured out. I wish that there was an indicator of some sort stating whether it is on or off. Hold????

90.) Great product.
Reviewed by: Laura28419
Rating:
This was a terrific purchase. It's easy to use, records with good sound quality and at surprisingly long distances, and easily transfers to a computer. I'm very satisfied.

91.) Great deal
Reviewed by: Graham Oliver ATX
Rating:
I've had no problems with it, haven't had to refer to the manual for anything. Sound quality seems a little low but that could just be the environments I'm using them in. I don't have a lot of experience with other recorders to know for sure.

92.) An OK voice recorder
Reviewed by: D. H. Hudson
Rating:
This unit has too many "bells and whistles" (for me). It is not easy to use without looking at the instructions, each time you use the unit. It does seem to work as advertised - it just has too many features for what I wanted (I guess I should have gone to a store, where I could actually try out a recorder before I purchased one).

93.) Alarm feature
Reviewed by: Pilot101 USA
Rating:
One of the main reasons I bought this item was to get an alarm playback feature. It's advertised in product description but I can't find it anywhere in the manual or in the device. Besides that everything is working fine. But come on, alarm or no alarm that's a big difference!

94.) Recorders shouldn't be this expensive
Reviewed by: Mr. Tony Yu Los Angeles, CA USA
Rating:
With the progression of technology, digital recorders shouldn't be this expensive. This little device is not cheap, but still a good deal. I have no complaints regarding the device but the accessories is a problem. I can't find anything to fit my sam browne gun belt so until then it will rest as a bulge in my breast pocket.

95.) Has pros and cons
Reviewed by: S. F. Bell Raleigh, NC United States
Rating:
I haven't tried all of the VN-6200PC's capabilities in differing circumstances yet, but below are a few preliminary comments.
Pros:
- Lots of memory: 1 GB of built-in memory gives about 70 hours of HQ recording and up to 400 hours of lower-quality recording.
- Playback sound quality (at least in HQ mode) is pretty good for a voice recorder.
- When connected to a PC, it shows up and functions pretty much like a flash memory card (you can even use it as one).
Cons:
- Looks and feels rather kind of cheaply made- i.e., it has a light-weight, "cheap plastic" look about it. The Sony voice recorders looks sleeker and feel better in your hand.
- There are no adjustable options for naming files; e.g., you cannot automatically name files with the date/time of the recording. All sound files are automatically named by sequential numbers, and when you transfer them to your computer you would have to manually re-name them with the file date if you want that. (The files do have standard modification dates, though, since you can set the date and time on the recorder.)
- There is no sound file management software either included or available on the Olympus Web site. All files are in .wma format, so if you want to make them into .mp3's or anything else, you'll need converter software from an external source. The same is true if you want to do batch-renaming or any type of sound or file editing.
- Mono only: no stereo recording/playback.
Bottom line: Works pretty well if you want to do straightforward recording of occasional lectures, meetings, dictation notes, etc. However, if you're doing complicated tasks, like a series of interviews with different people, it might get difficult to keep track of the files and manage them. Also, if you want to do any editing of the files or anything beyond simply playing them back on your computer, you'll need to either pay for a separate sound editing program or be comfortable finding and using a freeware one.


96.) Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)
Reviewed by: Camera Diva LOVELAND, OH, US
Rating:
I purchased this recorder to use in my photojournalism class for adding audio testimony and ambient sounds to my photo slideshows. The small size of the recorder and the fairly high quality of the sound is well worth the money, however, the down side to using a recorder like this one is that the digital files are all recorded in wma format which was not compatable with the slideshow audio editing programs I used to edit and add the sounds into the slideshow programs. Most slideshow programs require the audio format to be in an mp3 format, which meant that I had to download an audio switch program to convert the wma files into mp3 before I could edit and add them to the slideshow program. This was cumbersome and costly, as I had to ultimately purchase the switch program to complete and convert all my files. When shopping for a good digital audio recorder, consider the file format that the audio is recorded, then consider going to a higher quality recorder that records initially in an mp3 format. It may cost a little more, but in my opinion will be well worth the investment in time and headache.

97.) Needs better documentation
Reviewed by: Tom Durkin Nevada City, CA United States
Rating:
The documentation is so difficult to understand that I haven't even tried to use it yet. It says it has all the features I was looking for, but I may just re-sell it and keep on using my Olympus microcassette recorder instead. Perhaps a video tutorial online might be a help -- if it's more coherent than the pathetic printed instructions.

98.) Fair for the price
Reviewed by: doctoral student Pennsylvania
Rating:
It is cumbersome to get from the VPN files to mp3 files, much easier from the iPod touch I ended up using with a $10 microphone. Also figuring out where a recording is in the filing system is not always clear unless you noted this elsewhere. However, for the price it is OK. I use it as a back-up to my iPod touch, which has more user-friendly features like titles for recordings and easier Wi-Fi file transfer.













99.) Batteries dead
Reviewed by: Karen Georgetown, TX United States
Rating:
The price for this went way down the day after I bought it, so that's a little annoying. (I am a devotee of Amazon rather than eBay to avoid this sort of thing.) Also the batteries that came with it were dead.

100.) Not as good as the vn4100pc
Reviewed by: Joe G. Joe G. Toledo,Oh
Rating:
The play back sound is lower then needed and the recording needs to be a little more sensitive..... But it looks nice! Just not as good as the vn4100pc.

101.) Awesome - Except WMA Sucks!
Reviewed by: Breck San Francisco, CA
Rating:
This is a terrificly engineered product. Unfortunately whoever was in charge of the business aspect of this product screwed up royally by doing a deal with Microsoft whereby it records sound to WMA format.

This is a proprietary Microsoft format and if you want to do ANYTHING with your sound files, besides listen to them at regular speed in Windows Media Player, tough luck. You'll have to convert them to MP3 or something first, which takes about 1 HOUR for a sound file that is a few hours long.

Why would they save sound files to WMA? My only guess is $$. It's a shame, this would be a really terrific product, however now every time I use it I have to run my computer for hours to convert the file into a usable format.

102.) Beware- This item is NOT very Mac compatible
Reviewed by: M. Healey NY, NY United States
Rating:
We bought this for a research project where we are collecting interviews. While the recorder was easy to use and has great sound and pick up quality *on the recorder* the files we transferred to computer had a significantly more distorted quality. Also our tem leader has a mac, and the files would not transfer, which was a nightmare. We now have to have someone transfer the files on a pc, then burn them to disc then give them to the project leader and transfer them to a mac. We did not have this problem with our other voice recorders. if you have a PC, this product is great. If you have a mac, look elsewhere.

103.) Piece of junk, but same as everything else you find these days
Reviewed by: Y T San Francisco
Rating:
Something as stupid-simple as a plain voice recorder shouldn't cost this much.

Still, I'm satisfied with it, but that is only because I have money to spare and don't care about this device being less than satisfactory.

Pros:
*It can record for an impressive length of time
*relatively simple operation and upload capabilities

Cons:
*poor sound, expect to be able to understand what you've recorded, but don't expect it to sound very good. It sounds fizzly and tinny like a low bitrate mp3.
*only records in a windows proprietary format. So stupid; so, so stupid.
*no backlight. Forget trying to read the screen in slightly dim lighting.
*very simple device, no bells and whistles, nothing to write home about, yet still this expensive. Why? Because everybody else makes junk too, so this company has very little competition.

If you are serious about voice recording, get the Zoom h4n (amazing). If you need to make notes for yourself, you use a windows machine, and don't care at all about quality but just need a relatively low cost recorder, get this.

I'm satisfied, but barely. I enjoy knowing that if I happen to lose it, I won't be very upset.

104.) Mic ruined in less than a month
Reviewed by: L. Bozorg Cambridge, MA
Rating:
I absolutely do not recommend purchasing this item. I bought mine last month, and also purchased the ear piece to record phone interviews for my research. On my 27th interview the mic stopped operating, and all that was being recorded was ambient noise. I asked a friend with the same device about whether she knew what was wrong, and she said she stopped using it because the same thing happened to her. I called olympus and they told me the mic was likely broken. Pretty sorry for a one-month old product.



105.) Cheap 5 way switch ruins the product
Reviewed by: pensf San Francisco, CA United States
Rating:
Although I've used Olympus voice recorders for years and probably owned 5 or more, I've never found one yet that had all the features I wanted. These include upload sound files to PC, ability to use standard software (not Olympus), small size, good built-in microphone, quality construction, large control buttons.

The VN6200 PC is the only one I ever returned because I found it totally unsatisfactory. The big button is both a push button and a 4 way directional rocker switch. I found it to be so cheaply made that I could not use this button without a great deal of difficulty. When trying to rock upward, I frequently ended pushing the button instead. After spending about 10 minutes just trying to set the clock on the device, I decided to return it.

106.) No ability to re-record corrections
Reviewed by: PChoca Phoenix, AZ, USA
Rating:
I am very disappointed with this product. If you expect to use it for dictation purposes, forget it! You cannot go back to a spot and record over a correction, as you can with the least expensive micro-cassette recorders. If you want that feature in an Olympus digital recorder, you have to spend over $200 for another machine. Nothing in the information I read prepared me for that. It was only after I received it and, disappointed, contacted Olympus technical support, that it was confirmed that it could not be used for my intended purpose. Perhaps other brands offer this feature at a lower price; I did not check.

107.) Not for dictation !!!
Reviewed by: David B. Mcmahon Charleston, West Virginia
Rating:
You cannot, during recording, back up a little bit and make changes. Is is very frustrating that all the product descriptions do not tell you that. I had to send it back.

108.) Faulty Battery Cover
Reviewed by: Daniel R. Boone Tucson, AZ USA
Rating:
The Olympus Digital Voice Recorder has never been able to be used. After inserting the two batteries in place, it was not possible to clip on the battery cover. One of the bottom clip projections is smaller than the other and prevents the cover from clipping into place. I have not found time or packing materials to send back.

Features of Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)

Transfer audio files quickly and easily to a computer with the convenient PC link.Voice activation extends recording time by recording only when the microphone senses sound. Record up to 444 hours of uninterrupted audio in LP mode. Select from three recording modes to meet your specific needs: HQ for high quality; SP and LP for extended recording. Index marks let you specify a particular point in a recording or playback for easy retrieval. Large LCD for easy, quick viewing of file locations, recording status and battery life. Slow and Fast Playback modes let you listen to audio 25 percent slower or 50 percent faster than real time. Contains five folders that each hold up to 200 files. Alarm Playback: Playback a pre-selected file at a specific time for reminders or wake-up calls.

1.) Record up to 444 hours of uninterrupted audio in LP mode;
2.) Pc link with USB 2.0 PORT - Upload files directly to your PC using a simple cable connection for easy file management.;
3.) Voice activation extends recording time and saves battery life by recording only when the microphone senses sound.;
4.) Recording modes - Lets you select standard playback (SP), long playback (LP) or high quality (HQ) mode.;
5.) Large LCD for easy, quick viewing of file locations, recording status and Battery life;

Package Height x Length x Width: 6.2 in. x 6.2 in. x 5.2 in.
Package Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Accessories for Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN 6200PC)