Today, Olympus announced its latest portable high-quality audio recorder, the LS-11. I’m a fan of the LS-10, the predecessor of the LS-11. I use the LS-10 for all the interviews I conduct — either over the phone or in person. Both devices can record uncompressed 24 bit/96 kHz linear PCM format audio for high-quality digital stereo. I sometimes use the uncompressed 24-bit mode to record ambient sounds when traveling.
One of my favorite features is the programmable function key. I have mine set to toggle the LCD backlight on or off. The backlight can turn itself off automatically, but I like to turn it off manually to optimize battery life and eliminate a potential distraction.
Many of the main functions are handled externally with analog controls. That’s a real plus in my book. When you’re fumbling to start or stop a recording, or adjust the volume, you’re better served with proportionally large and clearly marked dials and buttons.
The LS-11 expands the LS-10’s onboard memory from 2GB to 8GB. Both models have an SD card slot that can handle the higher-capacity SDHC cards, as well as standard SD cards. The LS-11 adds the ability to place index marks within a file during recording or playback. It also allows for rudimentary file edits. Olympus claims the LS-11 can record up to 23 hours on two AA batteries.
My only complaints with the LS-10: It takes too long for the device to go from being off to being ready to record, and changing the volume level while recording can sometimes be noisy.
These aren’t cheap products. The LS-11 will be available in September with an estimated street price of $399.99. If you look around, you can find the LS-10 for less than $250. Here’s a link for more information on both models.