Customer Reviews
DS-330, Small but Powerful
I purchased the DS-330 for the purpose of recording meetings of my Association. Usually 8-12 persons attend the meetings and are seated around a large conference table. I haven't yet been able to use the recorder at an actual meeting, but I have simulated the same conditions,testing the recorder, and found it quite suitable for the task. I learned to operate the DS-330 by trial and error rather than resorting to the Instruction Manual that accompanies the recorder. The Manual does contain the basics but the Manual Index does not help very much in finding the desired reference. The DS-330 is a fine recorder; its supporting documentation needs elaboration and improvement in the construction of the Index.
Recorder Could Make me a Millionaire
The main reason I purchased the recorder is so that I could tape my professor's lectures. In fact, it worked like a charm in my Biology class this past semester. At first I didn't think the recorder would be ideal because the playback on the recorder is hard to hear. However, when I downloaded the files to my computer, the sound quality was awesome. I credit this recorder to helping me receive an A in Biology because without the precise recordings, I would have never been able to remember and write down all of the details discussed during the class.
I'm also using the recorder to dictate a book I'm co-writing with my husband and found that this recorder works like a charm. For instance, the software works similar to a Dictaphone transcription machine because when you press the F4 key it stops playing and to restart the recorder, you simply press the F4 key again. To see a listing of the shortcut keys, simply click Tools, Function Key Settings (located on the menu bar).
Additionally, you can set up the auto back space to rewind up to five seconds every time you stop the recorder. Simply click Tools, Set Auto Back Space, and then choose the number of seconds you want the recorder to rewind each time you stop the recorder.
My husband and I are going to go out and buy another recorder for him so that he can use it to dictate his portion of the book that we are co-writing.
This recorder is a great purchase. You won't regret the purchase.
Use it everyday
My employment in the legal field often requires recording of conversations and interviews. The interviews become evidentiary in nature.
I originally purchased the DS330 two years ago. It has been an excelent tool I use everyday. The unit developed problems after getting kicked, frozen, laid on, etc. After two years of hard abuse, it still records well, plays what it records without problems, and trasfers the information without problems. The problem it developed was a shattered lcd display. I do not blame the recorder though...it was a rough night.....
I promptly went out and bought another as a replacement.
It has a few really great features I have not heard mentioned by others. Every recording it makes gets a unique number assigned to it when you download it to your computer. It includes a date and time stamp for every recording as well. If you need more than the time available to the recorder, just leave it in the cradle, and record directly into your computer with the software that is included with the recorder. (The longest recording I have made in the high quality setting was about 10 hours.)
All in all, it is a great product. I have had problems with other brands that just do not appear with this recorder!!
