What are the specifications for the WS-100?
Olympus WS-100 Digital Voice Recorder
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| Olympus WS-100 Digital Voice Recorder |
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| Product Number 141805 |
| Shipping date: May 2005 |
| Box Contents
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| WS-100 Digital Voice Recorder |
| Stereo Earphones |
| One AAA Alkaline Battery |
| USB Cable |
| Neck Strap |
| Instruction Manual |
| Warranty Card |
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Specifications |
| Model |
WS-100 |
| Recording Format |
WMA (Windows Media Audio) |
| Recording Media |
Built-in 64 MB Flash® memory |
| Recording Time |
HQ Mode: approx. 4 hours 20 minutes
SP Mode: approx. 8 hours 40 minutes
LP Mode: approx. 27 hours 20 minutes |
| Card Format |
n/a |
| Input Level |
-70 dBv |
| PC Interface |
USB Direct, 2.0 Full Speed |
| LCD |
19 x 19 mm |
| LED |
2 colors (red and green) |
| Folder Messages |
5 folders, 199 messages per folder |
| Sampling Frequency |
HQ Mode: 44.1 kHz
SP Mode: 12.0 kHz
LP Mode: 8.0 kHz |
| Overall Frequency Response |
HQ Mode: 100-12,000 Hz
SP Mode: 100-5,000 Hz
LP Mode: 100-2,000 Hz |
| LP Mode |
Yes |
| Voice Activation |
Available via menu selection |
| Demographic Data Input |
n/a |
| Practical Maximum Output |
100 mW |
| Write Protection |
n/a
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| Speaker |
Built-in 16 mm round dynamic speaker |
| Microphone Jack |
3.5 mm mini-jack, impedance 2 kohms |
| Earphone Jack |
3.5 mm mini-jack, impedance 8 ohms |
| Power Supply |
1 AAA Alkaline or 1 NiMH battery |
| External Power Supply |
USB |
| Battery Life |
Alkaline Approx. 13 hours
NiMH Approx. 12 hours |
| Size |
3.7"L x 1.57"W x .59"D(94 x 40 x 15.1 mm) (excluding protrusions) |
| Weight |
1.9 oz. (54 grams) (including battery) |
| OS Supported |
Windows ME/Windows 2000 Professional/
Windows XP Professional/Windows XP Home Edition/Windows Vista |
| USB Port |
One free port |
| Audio Output |
Earphone output or speakers | |
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What are the main features of this model? The WS-100 is a combination digital voice recorder and mass storage device. With 64 MB of built-in Flash® memory, it is capable of 27 hours of recording time. It can also function as a mass storage device ("jump" drive) to transfer files from one computer to another. Its USB connector is built-in and is exposed by removing the battery holder. Therefore, it can connect to most Windows computers without a USB cable. Since it records in WMA (Windows Media Audio) format, it is supported by Windows Media Player. This means that the WS-100 can be used on Windows computers without the necessity of installing proprietary software to download and manage files. The earphone jack permits playback through headphones. The microphone jack accomodates accessory microphones in place of the built-in microphone. |
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The WS-100 doesn't have any software packaged with it. Why not? The WS-100 is designed to record in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format so that its files will be playable on any personal computer that has Windows Media Player installed. The program is a standard of the Windows operating system. Therefore, no additional software is required. |
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What are the Windows system requirements? The WS-100 is supported by Windows ME, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Home Edition. |
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I can't find the USB port on the recorder. How do I export my files to my computer? The WS-100 has a built-in USB connector. When the battery holder is detached, the connector is revealed. This allows the recorder to be plugged directly into a computer's USB port. If the design of the computer prohibits direct plug-in, the bundled USB extension cable can be used to connect the device to a computer. |
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How do I open my files in a Windows operating system? Connect the recorder to the computer via a USB port and click on My Computer. The WS-100 will be shown as a Removable Disk drive. Clicking on the drive will show the dictation folders and files. Clicking on a folder will show its contents. Clicking on a file will open Windows Media Player and play the file. Files can be copied and pasted to the Desktop or into a folder. |
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Can the WS-100 be used on a Macintosh computer? The files from a WS-100 can be played on a Macintosh computer running Windows Media Player for Mac. The program is not native to the Macintosh operating system; however, it is available as a free download from Microsoft.
The recorder can also be used as a mass storage device if the Mac supports USB storage class, in which case it is seen as an Untitled drive on the Desktop. |
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The WS-100 also functions as a "mass storage device." What does this mean? In addition to being an audio recorder, the WS-100 is also a portable hard drive. In this respect, it can be used in the same way "jump" drives are used. You can load documents, presentations, images, and music tracks via the USB port. You can carry data from one computer to another and have voice-recording capability all in one compact device. |
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I imported some music tracks and they won't play. Why not? The WS-100 is not a music player. The tracks are stored as files in a mass storage device. The firmware in the recorder cannot find or play the music files. |
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Can I rename my dictation files when they are displayed in My Computer? Dictation files in the WS-100 should not be renamed when displayed in My Computer because the recorder's file management software may not be able to find the renamed file. |
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I want to clear my recorder of all of the loaded files. How do I format the recorder? The recorder should be formatted only by using the internal FORMAT function found in the recorder's Menu. Using a computer to format the recorder may corrupt or delete system files needed to run the recorder, so formatting via the computer is not recommended.
Individual files can be deleted from the recorder while it is connected to a computer without negative effects. |
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How much recording time is available in the WS-100? The length of the potential recording time available in the WS-100 is governed by the quality mode that is selected. When a quality mode is selected, a number of audio file properties are put into place that determine the level of detail of the saved file data. A higher-quality data file saves more detailed information and creates a larger data file that uses more memory space. A lower-quality recording makes a less-detailed data file, so the memory goes a lot farther.
The table below shows the maximum recording times possible (assuming there are no other files saved on the recorder).
| Quality Mode |
Maximum Recording Time |
| HQ Mode |
4 Hours 20 Minutes |
| SP Mode |
8 Hours 40 Minutes |
| LP Mode |
27 Hours 20 Minutes |
The different quality modes save the digital record of the recording with different levels of faithfulness to the original sound. The HQ (High Quality) Mode is recommended for music, drama, or interviews that may be made for broadcast. HQ (High Quality) Mode makes a very detailed digital record of the sound and uses a very wide frequency range that uses up the available Flash® memory very rapidly. Lower-quality modes, such as SP (Standard Play) and LP (Long Play), make a less detailed digital record of the sound and use a narrower frequency range and use up the available Flash® memory much more slowly. These modes would be used for audio note-taking or recording college lectures or seminars in which large content is more important than high audio quality. |
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How is the recording volume controlled? The WS-100 always records at 100% volume level to prevent accidentally recording with the volume set too low.
The recorder has two levels of microphone sensitivity:
- LO is a low-sensitivity level used for up-close recording such as dictation.
- HI is a high-sensitivity level used in conference or lecture situations.
Microphone sensitivity is set via the MIC function in the recorder Menu. |
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How is the playback volume controlled? The playback volume is controlled during playback using the [+] (plus) and [-] (minus) buttons on the right side of the recorder. Pressing [+] increases the playback volume. Pressing [-] reduces the playback volume. |
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How can the playback speed be changed? Once the playback is started in the WS-100, the playback speed can be changed by pressing the [PLAY] button again. The first selection is S.PLAY, which is slow play (-25% normal speed). Pressing the [PLAY] button again changes the playback speed to F.PLAY, which is fast play (+50%). |
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What is VCVA and how do I enable it? VCVA (Variable Control Voice Actuator) automatically starts recording when it senses sound and stops recording in the absence of sound. The purpose of the function is to eliminate "dead air" during recordings, thereby conserving memory and shortening file times.
To enable VCVA:
- Open the Menu by holding down the [MENU/FOLDER] button for one second.
- Using the [FF] button, scroll to VCVA.
- Change OFF to ON by pressing the [FF] button.
- Set ON by pressing the [PLAY] button.
- Press [STOP] to exit the Menu.
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What are Index Marks? Index Marks are digital tags that can be inserted while recording or during playback. They are used to skip forward or backward in recordings to pre-selected points. Up to 16 Index Marks can be added to a single file. |
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How are dictation files erased? To erase a selected file, press the [ERASE] button. The LCD screen will display ERASE. Press the [ERASE] button a second time, and the file will be erased. The LCD will briefly display DONE.
To erase the contents of a selected folder, press the [ERASE] button for 3 seconds. The LCD screen will display ALL ERASE. Press [ERASE] a second time, and the folder contents will be erased. The LCD will briefly display DONE. |
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Will using an accessory microphone with an extended frequency range improve the quality of my recordings? Using an accessory microphone with an extended frequency range may not improve the quality of the recordings in a WS-100. The recorder has an overall frequency response of 100 Hz to12,000 Hz, but the different quality modes modify the detail of the saved file data by saving some frequencies and discarding others. This is how the recorder varies the potential recording time and uses the built-in Flash® memory more efficiently.
The table below shows the overall frequency response in the different quality modes:
| Quality Mode |
Overall Frequency Response |
| HQ Mode |
100-12,000 Hz |
| SP Mode |
100-5,000 Hz |
| LP Mode |
100-2,000 Hz |
The different quality modes save the digital record of the recordings with different levels of faithfulness to the original sound. The HQ (High Quality) mode is recommended for music, drama, or interviews that may be made for broadcast. HQ (High Quality) Mode makes a very detailed record of the sound and uses a wide frequency range that uses up the available Flash® memory very rapidly. Lower quality modes, such as SP (Standard Play) and LP (Long Play), make a less detailed digital record of the sound and use a narrower frequency range and use up the available Flash memory much more slowly. These modes would be used for audio note taking or recording college lectures or seminars in which large content is more important than high audio quality. |
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How long does the battery last? One AAA alkaline battery will power a WS-100 for approximately 13 hours. One AAA NiMH rechargeable battery will power a WS-100 for approximately 12 hours. |
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How can I transfer a recording from another device into the WS-100? Analog sound files can be imported and exported to other audio devices using a male/male patch cord with 3.5 mm plugs on each end. Olympus makes a patch cord--the KA-333 Compaticord (item # 145122).
To import a file into the WS-100, put one end of the KA-333 into the microphone jack of the WS-100 and the other end into the earphone jack of the other device. Press [RECORD] in the WS-100 and then [PLAY] in the other device.
To export a file from the WS-100, put one end of the KA-333 into the earphone jack of the WS-100 and the other end into the microphone or input jack of the receiving device. Press [RECORD] in the receiving device and then [PLAY] in the WS-100.
The jacks in the WS-100 have a maximum input voltage of 10 VDC. Higher voltages may damage the recorder.
Note:The KA-333 Compaticord is available for purchase from Olympus' online store at www.olympusamerica.com. |
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Is there an AC adapter for the WS-100? An AC adapter is not available for the WS-100. When the recorder is connected to the computer, the computer's USB port powers the device. |
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