Personal digital voice recorders give you the ability to easily record lectures, notes, meetings and more. The WS Series recorders from Olympus and Voice Tracers from Philips are inexpensive, yet feature-rich, delivering great sound reproduction in a small digital recorder.
FPO of someone recording a personal note using one of these recorders (not sure any exist, but we can take one) or a photo of someone shopping at a supermarket, a freeway jammed with cars.. somewhere someone would need a personal recorder for.
Olympus WS-Series and Philips Voice Tracer Personal Recorders Buy the Olympus WS-321M Buy the Philips Voice Tracer 660 Buy the Philips Voice Tracer 860 Buy the Philips Voice Tracer 880 Buy the Olympus WS-500M Buy the Olympus WS-331M
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Olympus WS Series Recorders

Lightweight and compact, these recorder still deliver quite a performance. With the ability to record at 44kHz sampling rate, these jewels give you a convenient and affordable way of capturing the events of your life.

Direct PC Link

FPO: close-up of USB plug.Slide the battery compartment from the recorder and voila, you reveal the integrated USB plug. No cables to tote, no software to install. Simply plug in and copy your voice files, MP3 music files or any other computer file to and from your computer.

Minimize Unwanted Noise

The WS serieshave additional tools to improve sound clarity. The Low Cut Filer minimizes background noises, such as air conditioners, during the recording. When you playback your file on the recorder, you can use the Noise Cancel and the Voice Filter functions to cut out unwanted sounds and deliver a cleaner, better sounding output.

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Philips Digital Voice Tracers

New from Philips! Philips has delivered what could perhaps be the most fun a person could have while recording important meetings, lectures or personal notes. Designed for both function and style the Philips Digital Voice Tracers are the perfect companion for those on the go!

Go Simple and Go with Style

American Dictation offers the three most full-featured Voice Tracers available today: the 880, the 860 and the 660. Want FM radio? Chose the 880 with 2 GB of storage and a lapel microphone. Just "need the facts, ma'am?" The 660 includes a voice alarm clock and up to 139 hours of record time.

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  • Olympus WS Series
  • Phillips Voice Tracers
  Olympus WS-331M Personal Digital Voice Recorder Olympus WS-331M Personal Digital Voice Recorder Olympus WS-321M Personal Digital Voice Recorder
 

WS-500M

WS-331M

 WS-321M
Features
Store and Playback MP3s Yes Yes Yes
USB Mass Storage Class Yes Yes Yes
Backlit Full-Dot LCD Yes Yes Yes
Fast and Slow Playback Modes Yes Yes Yes
Low Cut Filter Yes Yes Yes
Voice Filter Yes Yes Yes
Noise Cancel Function Yes Yes Yes
WOW® XTTM Rich Bass/3-D Stereo Sound Yes Yes Yes
Equalizer Setting Yes Yes Yes
Voice Activated Recording Yes Yes Yes
Maximum Record Time (LP Mode) 555+ hrs 555+ hrs 277+ hrs
 
Specifications
Recording Format WMA WMA WMA
Recording Media

Built-in 2 GB Flash Memory

Built-in 2 GB Flash Memory

Built-in 1 GB Flash Memory

Recording Time

- Stereo Xtra Quality Mode

- Stereo High Quality Mode

- Stereo Standard Play Mode

- High Quality Mode

- Standard Play Mode

- Long Play Mode

 

34 hrs, 50 min

69 hrs, 40 min

139 hrs, 25 min

139 hrs, 25 min

274 hrs, 10 min

544 hrs, 55 min

 

35 hrs, 30 min

71 hrs, 0 min

142 hrs, 5 min

142 hrs, 5 min

279 hrs, 35 min

555 hrs, 45 min

 

17 hrs, 40 min

35 hrs, 25 min

70 hrs, 55 min

70 hrs, 55 min

139 hrs, 30 min

277 hrs, 35 min
Input Level -70 dBv -70 dBv -70 dBv
PC Interface

USB Direct

2.0 full speed

USB Direct

2.0 full speed

USB Direct

2.0 full speed
Folders and Messages

5 folders, 200 messages/folder

5 folders, 200 messages/folder

5 folders, 200 messages/folder

Sampling Frequency

- Stereo Xtra Quality Mode

- Stereo High Quality Mode

- Stereo Standard Play Mode

- High Quality Mode

- Standard Play Mode

- Long Play Mode

 

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

22.0 kHz

8.0 kHz

 

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

22.0 kHz

8.0 kHz

 

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

44.1 kHz

22.0 kHz

8.0 kHz

Overall Frequency Response

- Stereo Xtra Quality Mode

- Stereo High Quality Mode

- Stereo Standard Play Mode

- High Quality Mode

- Standard Play Mode

- Long Play Mode

 

50-19,000 Hz

50-15,000 Hz

50-9,000 Hz

50-13,000 Hz

100-7,000 Hz

100-3,000 Hz

 

50-19,000 Hz

50-15,000 Hz

50-9,000 Hz

50-13,000 Hz

100-7,000 Hz

100-3,000 Hz

 

50-19,000 Hz

50-15,000 Hz

50-9,000 Hz

50-13,000 Hz

100-7,000 Hz

100-3,000 Hz
Practical Maximum Output 70 mW 70 mW 70 mW
Speaker Built-in 18mm Built-in 18mm Built-in 18mm
Microphone Jack Yes Yes Yes
Earphone Jack Yes Yes Yes
Power Supply 1 AAA Battery 1 AAA Battery 1 AAA Battery
External Power Supply No No No
Battery Life Approx 21 hrs (alkaline) Approx 21 hrs (alkaline) Approx 21 hrs (alkaline)
Size (L x W x D)

3.7" x 1.5" x 0.4"

(94.7 mm x 38.6 mm x 10.9 mm)

3.7" x 1.5" x 0.4"

(94.7 mm x 38.6 mm x 10.9 mm)

3.7" x 1.5" x 0.4"

(94.7 mm x 38.6 mm x 10.9 mm)
Weight 1.6 oz (46 g), including battery 1.7 oz (47 g), including battery 1.7 oz (47 g), including battery
Supported Operating Systems Windows / Mac‡ Windows / Mac‡ Windows / Mac‡
Suggested Retail*

$99* Buy the Olympus WS-331M Personal Digital Voice Recorder

$149* Buy the Olympus WS-331M Personal Digital Voice Recorder

$99* Buy the Olympus WS-321M Personal Digital Voice Recorder
  Philips Voice Tracer 880 Personal Digital Recorder Philips Voice Tracer 860 Personal Digital Voice Recorder Philips Voice Tracer 660 Personal Digital Voice Recorder
  VT-880 VT-860 VT-660
Features
USB 2.0 Mass Storage Device Yes Yes Yes
Slow and Fast Voice Playback Yes Yes Yes
Index Mark Feature Yes Yes Yes
Lightweight and Portable Design Yes Yes Yes
Voice-Activated Recording Yes Yes Yes
Adjustable Microphone Sensitivity Yes Yes Yes
Free Stereo Lapel Microphone and Stereo Earphones Yes Yes Yes
Alarm Clock Function Yes Yes Yes
Extra Large Backlit LCD Yes Yes Yes
USB Powered Recording Yes Yes  
FM Stereo Radio Yes    
 
Specifications
USB Connectivity

High-Speed 2.0

Mini-USB

High-Speed 2.

Mini-USB

High-Speed 2.0

Mini-USB
Microphone Connectivity 3.5 mm 3.5 mm 3.5 mm

Headphone Connectivity

 

3.5 mm

3.5 mm

 

3.5 mm
Display

LCD, Segment

1.5 in / 39 mm

LCD, Segment

1.5 in / 39 mm

LCD, Segment

1.5 in / 39 mm
Recording Format

.mp3, .wav

.mp3

.mp3
Recording Media

2 GB Built-In Flash

2 GB Built-In Flash

1 GB Built-In Flash

Microphone

 

Stereo

 

Stereo

 

Mono

Recording Time

PCM: 3.25 hrs

SHQ: 35.5 hrs

HQ: 71 hrs

SP: 94.5 hrs

LP: 142 hrs

SLP: 284 hrs

 

SHQ: 35.5 hrs

HQ: 71 hrs

SP: 94.5 hrs

LP: 142 hrs

SLP: 284 hrs

 

SHQ: 17.5 hrs

HQ: 35 hrs

SP: 46.5 hrs

LP: 69.5 hrs

SLP: 139.5 hrs

Compression Rate

PCM: 1,441 kbps

SHQ: 128 kbps

HQ: 64 kbps

SP: 48 kbps

LP: 32 kbps

SLP: 16 kbps

 

SHQ: 128 kbps

HQ: 64 kbps

SP: 48 kbps

LP: 32 kbps

SLP: 16 kbps

 

SHQ: 128 kbps

HQ: 64 kbps

SP: 48 kbps

LP: 32 kbps

SLP: 16 kbps
Sampling Rate

PCM: 44.1 kHz

SHQ: 44.1 kHz

HQ: 22 kHz

SP: 16 kHz

LP: 16 kHz

SLP: 16 kHz

 

SHQ: 44.1 kHz

HQ: 22 kHz

SP: 16 kHz

LP: 16 kHz

SLP: 16 kHz

 

SHQ: 44.1 kHz

HQ: 22 kHz

SP: 16 kHz

LP: 16 kHz

SLP: 16 kHz
Speaker

Built-In 30 mm Round Dynamic Speaker. 110 mW Output

Built-In 30 mm Round Dynamic Speaker. 110 mW Output

Built-In 30 mm Round Dynamic Speaker. 110 mW Output
Music Playback

.mp3/.wma Compression

8 - 320 kbps MP3 Bit Rates

32 - 192 kbps WMA Bit Rates

No DRM Support

.mp3/.wma Compression

8 - 320 kbps MP3 Bit Rates

32 - 192 kbps WMA Bit Rates

No DRM Support

.mp3/.wma Compression

8 - 320 kbps MP3 Bit Rates

32 - 192 kbps WMA Bit Rates

No DRM Support
Tuner / Reception

FM Stereo

87.5 - 108 MHz

20 Preset Channels

Automatic Digital Tuning

 N/A N/A
Power

Two AAA Alkaline Batteries

Two AAA Alkaline Batteries

Two AAA Alkaline Batteries
Battery Life

SHQ: 30 hrs

SLP: 50 hrs

SHQ: 30 hrs

SLP: 50 hrs

SHQ: 35 hrs

SLP: 50 hrs
Size (L x W x D)

4.3" x 1.6" x 0.7"

(108 mm x 40 mm x 18.4 mm)

4.3" x 1.6" x 0.7"

(108 mm x 40 mm x 18.4 mm)

4.3" x 1.6" x 0.7"

(108 mm x 40 mm x 18.4 mm)
Weight 2.8 oz (78 g), including battery 2.8 oz (78 g), including battery 2.8 oz (78 g), including battery
Supported Operating Systems Windows / Mac‡ Windows / Mac‡ Windows / Mac‡
Suggested Retail*

$149* Buy the Philips Voice Tracer 880 Personal Digital Voice Recorder

$129* Buy the Philips Voice Tracer 880 Personal Digital Voice Recorder

$99* Buy the Philips Voice Tracer 660 Personal Digital Voice Recorder

 

 

*Actual price may vary. Contact American Dictation for details, or visit our On-line Store.

‡ Recorder does not come with software. You will need to have software capable of playing WMA audio files. Contact American Dictation for information.