DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS Thank you for purchasing an Olympus Digital Voice Recorder. Please read these instructions for information about using the product correctly and safely. Keep the instructions handy for future reference. To ensure successful recordings, we recommend that you test the record function and volume before use.
Introduction • The contents of this document may be changed in the future without advanced notice. Contact our Customer Support Center for the latest information relating to product names and model numbers. • The illustration of the screen and the recorder shown in this manual may differ from the actual product. The utmost care has been taken to ensure the integrity of this document but if you find a questionable item, error or omission, please contact our Customer Support Center.
Table of contents Introduction Table of contents .............................. 3 Safety precautions ............................ 4 Caution for usage environment ..................... 4 Handling the recorder .................................... 5 Battery handling precautions ........................ 6 1 Getting started Main features ................................... 7 Identification of parts ....................... 8 Display (LCD panel) ........................................ 9 Power supply ...........
Safety precautions Before using your new recorder, read this manual carefully to ensure that you know how to operate it safely and correctly. Keep this manual in an easily accessible location for future reference. • The warning symbols indicate important safety related information. To protect yourself and others from personal injury or damage to property, it is essential that you always read the warnings and information provided.
Safety precautions Warning regarding data loss: • Recorded content in memory may be destroyed or erased by operating mistakes, unit malfunction, or during repair work. It is recommended to back up and save important content to other media such as a computer hard disk.
Safety precautions Battery handling precautions f Warning: Follow these important guidelines to prevent batteries from leaking, overheating, burning, exploding, or causing electrical shocks or burns. • Keep batteries dry at all times. • Do not use a battery if it is cracked or broken. • Never subject batteries to strong shocks or continuous vibration. • If a battery leaks, becomes discolored or deformed, or becomes abnormal in any other way during operation, stop using the recorder.
Getting started Main features * VN-713PC, VN-712PC only. s Supports high capacity recording media. Besides the internal memory, you can also record into a microSD card (VN-713PC, VN-712PC only) (☞ P.13). s It has a built-in Variable Control Voice Actuator (VCVA) function (☞ P.30). s The Low Cut Filter minimizes air conditioner noise and other similar noises while recording (☞ P.29). s A Noise Cancel function*1 (☞ P.33) and a Voice Filter function*2 (☞ P.33) cut noise and enable clear audio playback.
Identification of parts 1 2 3 ( * & 1 Identification of parts ^ % $ # 4 8 5 9 0 6 ! @ ) = 7 - q 1 Built-in microphone 2 MIC (Microphone) jack 3 EAR (Earphone) jack 4 CALENDAR/SCENE button*1 SCENE button*2 5 Card cover*1 6 LED indicator light 7 Built-in speaker 8 + button 9 REC ( s ) (Record) button 0 9 button ! FOLDER/INDEX button @ – button # ERASE button $ `OK button % 0 button ^ STOP ( 4) button & MENU button * Display (LCD panel) ( Stand ) POWER/HOLD switch - USB connector = Battery cove
Identification of parts Display (LCD panel) The displayed character size on the screen can be changed. See “[Font Size]” (☞ P.34).
Power supply Inserting batteries 1 Lightly press down on the arrow and slide the battery cover open. 3 Close the battery cover completely by sliding to the direction A. 1 Power supply Battery indicator 2 Insert the batteries, observing the correct = and - polarities. When [ ] appears on the display, replace the batteries as soon as possible. When the batteries are too weak, [ ] and [Battery low] will appear on the display and the recorder will shut down.
Power supply Turning on/off the power Turning on the power HOLD Set the recorder to HOLD mode (A) Slide the POWER/HOLD switch to the [HOLD] position. While the recorder is turned off, slide the POWER/HOLD switch to the direction of the arrow. • After [Hold] appears on the display, the recorder is set to HOLD mode. 1 Power supply/ HOLD C A B Turning off the power Slide the POWER/HOLD switch to the direction of the arrow, and hold it for 0.5 seconds or longer.
Setting time and date [Time & Date] If you set the time and date beforehand, the information when the file is recorded is automatically stored for each file. Setting the time and date beforehand enables easier file management. 1 3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 to set the other items. Setting time and date When you install batteries for the first time or each time you replace the batteries, the “Hour” indication will flash. 9 or 0 button: Move to the previous/next item. + or − button: Change the value.
Inserting and ejecting a microSD card For VN-713PC, VN-712PC: The “microSD” indicated in the instruction manual refers to both microSD and microSDHC. With this recorder, besides the internal memory, you can store the data into commercially available microSD card. 3 Close the card cover securely. • When you insert the microSD card, the recording media changeover display will appear. 1 While the recorder is in stop mode, open the card cover.
Inserting and ejecting a microSD card 1 Inserting and ejecting a microSD card Notes • It is possible to switch the recording media over to the internal memory (☞ P.35). • In some cases microSD cards that have been formatted (initialized) by another device, such as a computer, may not be recognized. Be sure to format microSD cards with this recorder before using them (☞ P.36). Ejecting a microSD card 1 While the recorder is in stop mode, open the card cover.
Selecting the folders and files The recorder provides five folders, [ & ], [ ' ], [ ( ], [ ) ] and [ * ]. Each folder can store up to 200 files. 1 While the recorder is in stop mode, press the FOLDER/INDEX button. • The folder changes each time you press the FOLDER/INDEX button. 2 Press the 9 or 0 button to select a file. c Selected date c 1 9, 0 buttons: Move to the previous/next day. + , − buttons: Move to the previous/next week. • Dates with recorded files are shown with underbars.
About recording Recording Before starting recording, select a folder among [ & ] to [ * ]. These five folders can be selectively used to distinguish the kind of recording; for example, Folder [ & ] might be used to store private information, while Folder [ ' ] might be dedicated to holding business information. 3 Press the STOP ( 4) button to stop recording. d File length d 2 Recording 1 Select the recording folder (☞ P.15). 2 Press the REC ( s ) button to start recording.
Recording Pause While the recorder is in recording mode, press the REC ( s ) button. Changing the recording scene [Rec Scene] You can easily change the recording settings by selecting the scene which best matches your usage (☞ P.32). 2 Recording • The recorder will stop if left on pause for more than 60 minutes. 4 Resume Recording: Press the REC ( s ) button again. • Recording will resume at the point of interruption.
Recording Recording from external microphone or other devices The external microphone and other devices can be connected and the sound can be recorded. • Do not plug and unplug devices into the recorder’s jack while it is recording. 2 Recording EN 18 Connect an external microphone to the MIC jack of the recorder. To MIC jack Notes • The built-in microphone will become inoperable when an external microphone is plugged into the recorder’s MIC jack.
About playback Playback 4 Press the STOP ( 4) button at any point you want to stop playback. • This will stop the file being played back midway. When the resume function is activated the stopped location will be registered, even if the power is turned off. The next time the power is turned on, playback may be resumed from the registered stopped location. 3 1 Select the file to be played back from the folder that contains it (☞ P.15).
Playback Forwarding and Rewinding Locating the beginning of a file 3 Playback While the recorder is in stop mode, press and hold the 9 or 0 button. While the recorder is in stop mode or playback mode, press the 9 button. • If you release the 9 or 0 button, it will stop. Press the `OK button to start playback from where it was stopped. • The recorder skips to the beginning of the next file. While the recorder is in playback mode, press and hold the 9 or 0 button.
Playback Notes • When you attempt to skip to the beginning of a file during playback, the recorder will start playback from the index mark or temp mark if those are recorded. You will skip to the beginning of the file, if you perform the operation while in stop mode (☞ P.22). • When [Skip Space] is set to other than [File Skip], the recorder will skip forward/ reverse the specified time, then will start playback (☞ P.34).
Playback 3 Press the `OK button. • Even if playback is stopped, the changed playback speed will be retained. The next playback will be at that speed. Setting an index mark or a temp mark If index marks and temp marks are placed, you can quickly find a location you want to listen to in fast forward and fast rewind and when cuing a file. Index marks cannot be placed on files created on machines other than this recorder, but temp marks can be placed instead to temporarily remember desired locations.
Playback Clearing an index mark or a temp mark Notes • Temp marks are temporary markings. They will be automatically erased if you move to another file or connect the recorder to a computer. • Up to 99 index and temp marks can be set in a file. If you try to place more than 99 index or temp marks, the [No more can be set] message will appear for index marks, and [No more can be set] for temp marks. • Index or temp marks cannot be set or erased in a locked file (☞ P.28).
Playback 2 Press the REC ( s ) button at the point you want to start segment repeat playback. • [ w ] will flash on the display. Note • As in normal playback mode, playback speed can be changed during segment repeat playback as well (☞ P.21). If an index mark and temp mark are placed or cleared during segment repeat playback, segment repeat playback will be canceled and it will return to normal playback mode (☞ P.22).
Erasing A selected file can be erased from a folder. Also, all files in a folder can be erased simultaneously. 6 Press the `OK button. 3 1 Select the file you want to erase (☞ P.15). 2 While the recorder is in stop mode, press the ERASE button. 3 Press the + or − button to select [All in folder] or [One file]. • If an action is not selected within 8 seconds, the recorder will return to stop mode. 4 Press the `OK button. 5 Press the + button to select [Start].
Menu setting Menu setting method Items in menus are categorized so that you can quickly set a desired item. You can set each menu item as follows. 3 Press the `OK button to move the cursor to the item to set. 4 Press the + or − button to move to the item you want to set. 4 5 Press the `OK button. Menu setting method • Moves to the setting of the selected item. 1 Press the MENU button. 6 Press the + or − button to change the setting. 2 Press the + or − button to move to the item you want to set.
Menu setting method 7 Press the `OK button to complete the setting. Menu list [File Menu] [Rec Menu] • Pressing the 0 button without pressing the `OK button will cancel the settings and return you to the previous screen. 8 Press the STOP ( 4) button to close the menu screen. Notes • The recorder will stop if you leave it idle for 3 minutes during a menu setup operation, when a selected item is not applied.
Menu setting method File Menu File Lock Locking a file keeps important data from being accidentally erased. Locked files are not erased when you select to erase all files from a folder (☞ P.25). 1 Select the file you want to lock. 2 Select [File Lock] from the menu on the [File Menu]. 4 [Lock]: Locks the file and prevents it from being erased. [Unlock]: Unlocks the file and allows it to be erased.
Menu setting method Rec Menu Rec Level Recording sensitivity is adjustable to meet recording needs. 1 Select [Rec Level] from the menu on the [Rec Menu]. [High]: High recording sensitivity suitable for conferences with many participants and recording audio at a distance or low volume. [Low]: Standard recording sensitivity suitable for dictation.
Menu setting method VCVA When the microphone senses that sounds have reached a preset threshold volume level, the built-in Variable Control Voice Actuator (VCVA) starts recording automatically, and stops when the volume drops below the threshold level. The VCVA feature extends recording time and conserves memory by stopping recording during silent periods, which helps the playback to be more efficient. 2 Press the 9 or 0 button to adjust the start/stop actuation level.
Menu setting method V-Sync. Rec For VN-713PC: Voice sync recording starts when a voice louder than the voice sync level (detection level) is detected. When the voice becomes low, recording will automatically stop. When voice sync recording is on and the input level is equal to or below the voice sync level (detection level) for a period of at least the specified detection time, the recorder will return to the standby mode or stop mode.
Menu setting method • If sound at a volume equal to or below the voice sync level continues for the specified time, voice sync recording will end automatically, and the recorder will return to the recording standby mode or stop mode. Every time the recorder enters standby mode, the file will be closed and recording will continue in a new file. • To stop the recorder during voice sync recording, press the STOP ( 4) button.
Menu setting method Note • When a recording scene is selected, recording-related menu settings cannot be changed. If you wish to use these functions, set [Rec Scene] to [Off ]. Play Menu Noise Cancel For VN-713PC: 1 Select [Noise Cancel] from the menu on the [Play Menu]. [High] [Low]: Enables the Noise Cancel function. Noise will be reduced in the file when it’s played back for better sound quality. [Off ]: Disables this function.
Menu setting method • In [Folder] mode, when the recorder comes to the end of the last file in the folder, [End] flashes for two seconds on the display and the recorder stops at the start of the first file in the folder. Skip Space This function enables you to skip (forward) or reverse skip (rewind) a file being played for a set period. This function is convenient for quickly skipping to another playback position or repeatedly playing back short phrases.
Menu setting method Beep The recorder beeps to alert you to button operations or warn you of errors. System sounds may be turned off. 1 Select [Beep] from the menu on the [LCD/Sound Menu]. [On]: Enables the Beep function. [Off ]: Disables this function. Language(Lang) You can select the display language for this recorder. [English] [Français] [Deutsch] [Italiano] [Español] [Русский] • The selectable languages differ depending on the region.
Menu setting method Menu settings after resetting (initial settings): 4 Rec Menu: [Rec Level] [Rec Mode]*1 [MP3] [Rec Mode]*2 [Low Cut Filter] [ VCVA] [ V-Sync. Rec]*3 [On/Off ] [ V-sync time] [Mode] [Rec Scene] [High] [192 kbps] [32 kbps] [Off ] [Off ] [Off ] [1 sec.] [Continuous] [Off ] Format If you format the recorder, all files will be removed and all function settings will return to defaults except date and time settings. Transfer any important files to a computer before formatting the recorder.
Menu setting method 4 Press the + button again to select [Start], and press the `OK button. • Formatting begins and [Formatting!] flashes on the display. • [Format done] appears when formatting ends. • Formatting on the recorder will be Quick Format. If you format the microSD card, information of file management is refreshed and the data inside the microSD card is not deleted completely. When handing over and disposing the microSD card, be careful about the data leakage from the microSD card.
Using the recorder on your PC Apart from using this unit as a recorder, you can use it as an external memory for your computer, as a storage device. • The files recorded by this recorder can be played back on your computer using Windows Media Player. You can also transfer the WMA files downloaded with Windows Media Player to your recorder and listen to them (excluding files with copyright protection). Connecting to your PC 1 Boot the PC. 2 Connect the USB cable to the USB port of the PC.
Using the recorder on your PC Macintosh: When you connect the recorder to Mac OS, it will be recognized by the drive name of the product name on the desktop. If a microSD card is inserted, [Untitled] will be displayed. Disconnecting from your PC Windows 1 Click [ ] on the task bar located at the lower-right corner of the screen. Click [Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device]. 1 Drag and drop the recorder’s drive icon for this recorder displayed on the desktop to the Recycle Bin icon.
Other information Troubleshooting Q-1 Nothing happens when a button is pressed. A-1 • The POWER/HOLD switch may be set to [HOLD] position. • The batteries may be depleted. • The batteries may be inserted incorrectly. Q-2 No sound or quiet sound is heard from the speaker while playing back. A-2 • The earphone plug may be plugged into the recorder. • The volume may be set to the minimum level. Q-3 Recording is not possible.
Specifications 4 External dimensions: General points 4 Recording format: MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer3)* WMA (Windows Media Audio) * VN-713PC, VN-712PC only 4 Sampling frequency: 108 mm × 39 mm × 16.8 mm (without protrusions) 4 Weight: 71 g (including batteries) 4 Operating temperature: 0°C - 42°C/ 32°F - 107.6°F MP3 format* 192 kbps 44.1 kHz 128 kbps 44.1 kHz 48 kbps 44.
Specifications Guide to battery life The following values are strictly references. 4 Alkaline batteries: Recording mode Built-in microphone (During recording mode) Built-in speakers (During playback mode) Earphone (During playback mode) MP3 format * 192 kbps 53 h. 20 h. 60 h. WMA format 5 kbps 72 h. 21 h. 68 h. * VN-713PC, VN-712PC only 6 Specifications EN 42 Note • Battery life is measured by Olympus. It varies greatly according to the type of batteries used and the conditions of use.
Specifications Guide to recording times The following values are strictly references. 4 MP3 format*1: Recording mode Internal memory VN-713PC (4 GB) microSD card*1 VN-712PC (2 GB) 2 GB 4 GB 8 GB 16 GB 192 kbps 44 h. 22 h. 22 h. 44 h. 89 h. 178 h. 128 kbps 66 h. 30 min. 33 h. 30 min. 33 h. 66 h. 133 h. 268 h. 48 kbps 177 h. 89 h. 30 min. 88 h. 30 min. 177 h. 356 h. 715 h.
Specifications Maximum recording time per file • The maximum capacity for a single file is limited to approx. 4 GB for WMA and MP3. • Regardless of the memory remaining amount, the longest sound recording time per file is restricted to the following value. 4 MP3 format*: 192 kbps approx. 49 h. 40 min. 128 kbps approx. 74 h. 30 min. 48 kbps approx. 198 h. 40 min. * VN-713PC, VN-712PC only 4 WMA format: 32 kbps 6 approx. 26 h. 40 min. 16 kbps approx. 53 h. 40 min. 5 kbps approx. 148 h. 40 min.
Technical assistance and support The following are contact information for technical support for Olympus recorders and software only. s Technical Hotline Number in the U.S. and Canada 1-888-553-4448 s User Support E-mail address in the U.S. and Canada distec@olympus.
OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. Shinjuku Monolith, 3-1 Nishi-Shinjuku 2-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0914, Japan. Tel. +81 (0)3-3340-2111 http://www.olympus.com OLYMPUS EUROPA HOLDING GMBH (Premises/Goods delivery) Wendenstrasse 14-18, 20097 Hamburg, Germany. Tel. +49 (0)40-237730 (Letters) Postfach 10 49 08. 20034 Hamburg, Germany. http://www.olympus-europa.