Olympus, the world’s market leader for portable digital voice recorders and professional dictation devices, announces the release of the LS-12 and LS-14 Linear PCM digital handheld audio recorders. Successors to the overwhelmingly popular LS-7 and LS-10 PCM recorders, the Olympus LS-12 and LS-14 effortlessly capture and playback pristine, better-than-CD quality sound up to 130dB SPL with new on-board directional stereo microphones and amplifier. Ease of use is another key feature of the LS-12 and LS-14 as users can set optimal recording levels on a “Mode Select Dial” located on the face of the recorder rather than having to go through menu settings. There are also functions specifically for musicians, including overdub recording, Metronome and Chromatic Tuner capabilities.
“The Olympus LS-12 and LS-14 Linear PCM recorders allow you to capture and playback live music and sound exactly how you experience it,” said Amy Leslie, Sr. Marketing & Business Development Manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The revolutionary part of these recorders is that you don’t have to spend time playing around in the menu settings to find the perfect recording level to capture sound based on your environment. Just turn the dial to your ideal mode and press record.”
Professional Sound
A hallmark of the Olympus LS series has always been superior sound quality, and the LS-12 and LS-14 take that reputation to a new level. The LS-12 features two new internal 90-degree directional stereo condenser microphones with a frequency response of 60Hz to 20 kHz, allowing the user to capture lower-bass frequencies. The LS-14 compliments those directional stereo condenser microphones with a third omnidirectional center “TRESMIC,” increasing the frequency response range to 20Hz - 20 kHz. This makes the LS-14 an ideal recorder for an incredibly loud environment. Both recorders support sound pressure levels up to 130 decibels, more than enough to capture extreme sound from a rock band without experiencing clipping issues.
Complimenting the new high-quality stereo microphones is a new amplifier circuitry. The audio and system circuitry are separated on the Olympus LS-12 and LS-14 to minimize sound degradation and keep the signal true. A switchable low-cut filter enables users to eliminate low-frequency sound at two different settings, 100Hz or 300Hz. With this feature, unwanted background noises can be greatly minimized.
A Musician’s Best Friend
Ideal for any musician’s gear bag, the Olympus LS-12 and LS-14 recorders feature overdubbing capabilities, allowing sound recording to take place over the original sound while simultaneously monitoring it through the Playback Synchro Recording feature. Playback speed control can be set anywhere from 50 percent to 300 percent, perfect for budding musicians to pick up tracks at their own pace. A Metronome feature allows users to keep flawless time, and the Chromatic Tuner function ensures accurate tuning for each musical instrument selected. Status for the Metronome and Chromatic Tuner are clearly displayed on the LCD menu screen. Metronome tempo is displayed through flashing buttons above the menu.
Specifications and Accessories
Files are recorded in PCM or MP3 modes and saved to the internal memory (2GB for the LS-12 and 4GB for the LS-14) or on SD / SDHC (up to 32GB) cards. The LS-12 and LS-14 operate on two AA alkaline batteries or two AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries. The LS-14 recorder boast up to 48 hours of continuous recording while the LS-12 offers an impressive 50 hours. They also include mic, line-in, and ear jacks and a tripod hole on the back for a clip stand. The LS-12 comes in gunmetal grey, while the LS-14 comes in black. For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus LS-12 product page and LS-14 product page.
The LS-12 and LS-14 are packaged with a USB cable and two AA alkaline batteries. In addition, the LS-14 comes with additional accessories, including a case and our new stand clip, which attaches to the tripod hole by allowing the device to be clipped directly to a microphone stand or displayed on a table reducing surface vibration.
Pricing and Availability
Packed with cutting-edge technology and easy-to-use features, these handheld masterpieces will hit all major retail stores at the recommended price of $149.99 for the LS-12 and $199.99 for the LS-14 in early-November 2012. They will also be available directly from Olympus.
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