Olympus WS-331M User manual

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.
EN
DIGITAL VOICE
RECORDER
WS-331M
INSTRUCTIONS
INSTRUCTIONS

2
Trademarks
IBM and PC/AT are the trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business
Machines Corporation.
Microsoft, Windows and Windows Media are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
WOW XT, SRS and symbol are trademarks of SRS Labs, Inc.
WOW XT technology is incorporated under license from SRS Labs, Inc.
MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson.
The product was developed based on noise-canceling technology under license from NEC
Corporation.
Other product and brand names mentioned herein may be the trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners.
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 utmost care has been taken to ensure the integrity of the contents of this document.
In the unlikely event that a questionable item, error, or omission is found, please contact
our Customer Support Center.
●Any liability for passive damages or damage of any kind occurred due to data loss
incurred by a defect of the product, repair performed by the third party other than
Olympus or an Olympus authorized service station, or any other reasons is excluded
from the Olympus’s liability.

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1
2
6
3
5
7
4
INDEX
Table of Contents P.4
Safe and Proper Usage P.6
Getting Started P.8
When Using the Recorder as a Voice Recorder P.19
Using the Recorder onYour PC P.44
Using the Recorder as a Music Player P.48
P.72
Other Practical Use Methods P.94
Other Information P.95
Feature Common to the Voice Recorder
and Music Player

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Introduction .............................................. 2
INDEX ...................................................... 3
Table of Contents .................................... 4
Safe and Proper Usage ........................... 6
General Precautions ................................ 6
1 Getting Started
Main Features .......................................... 8
Identification of Parts ............................. 10
Inserting Battery .................................... 12
Power Supply ........................................ 13
VOICE Mode and MUSIC Mode ........... 14
Setting Time/Date (Time & Date) .......... 17
2 When Using the Recorder as a
Voice Recorder
Recording .............................................. 19
Using the Variable Control
Voice Actuator (VCVA) .................... 22
Recording Modes (Rec Mode) .............. 24
Microphone Sensitivity (Mic Sense) ...... 25
Set the Low Cut Filter (Low Cut Filter) .... 26
Recording from External Microphone
or Other Devices ............................. 28
Playing ................................................... 30
Noise Cancel Function (Noise Cancel) ... 34
Set the Voice Filter (Voice Filter) .......... 36
Continuous Playback (All Play) ............. 38
Locking Files (Lock) .............................. 40
Menu List (VOICE Mode) ...................... 42
3 Using the Recorder onYour PC
Saving Files in Your PC ......................... 44
Operating Environment ......................... 45
Connecting to Your PC .......................... 46
4 Using the Recorder as a
Music Player
Using the Recorder as a Music Player .... 48
Using Windows Media Player ............... 48
Importing Content for Listening on the
Recorder .......................................... 49
Window Names ..................................... 50
Copying Music from CD ........................ 51
Table of Contents

5
Transferring Music File to the Recorder...... 52
Music Playback ...................................... 55
Select Play Mode (Play Mode) .............. 59
Random Playback (Random) ................ 61
Increasing the WOW Effect (WOW) ...... 63
Selecting Equalizer (EQ) ....................... 66
Moving the Tracks (Move) ..................... 68
Menu List (MUSIC Mode) ...................... 70
5 Feature Common to the Voice
Recorder and Music Player
Erasing ................................................... 72
Hold ........................................................ 75
Index Marks and Temp Marks ............... 76
How to Begin Segment Repeat Playback .. 78
Menu Setting Method ............................ 80
Auto Backspace Review (Back Space) ... 82
Changing the Playback Speed
(Play Speed) ................................... 84
System Sounds (Beep) ......................... 87
Backlight (Backlight) .............................. 88
LCD Contrast Adjustment (Contrast) .... 89
LED (LED) ............................................. 90
Formatting the Recorder (Format) ........ 91
Viewing System Information
(System Info.) .................................. 93
6 Other Practical Use Methods
Using as External Memory
of the Computer ............................. 94
7 Other Information
Alarm Message List ............................... 95
Troubleshooting ..................................... 96
Accessories (Optional) .......................... 97
Specifications ........................................ 98
Technical Assistance and Support ...... 100
Table of Contents

6
Safe and Proper
Usage
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.
General Precautions
●Do not leave the recorder in hot,
humid locations such as inside a
closed automobile under direct
sunlight or on the beach in the
summer.
●Do not store the recorder in places
exposed to excessive moisture or
dust.
●Do not use organic solvents such as
alcohol and lacquer thinner to clean
the unit.
●Do not place the recorder on top of
or near electric appliances such as
TVs or refrigerators.
●Avoid recording or playing back near
cellular phones or other wireless
equipment, as they may cause
interference and noise. If you
experience noise, move to another
place, or move the recorder further
away from such equipment.
●Avoid sand or dirt. These can cause
irreparable damage.
●Avoid strong vibrations or shocks.
●Do not disassemble, repair or modify
the unit yourself.

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General Precautions
●Do not operate the unit while
operating a vehicle (such as a
bicycle, motorcycle, or go-cart).
●Keep the unit out of the reach of
children.
<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.
Any liability for passive damages or
damage of any kind occurred due to data
loss incurred by a defect of the product,
repair performed by the third party other
than Olympus or an Olympus authorized
service station, or any other reasons is
excluded from the Olympus’s liability.
Batteries
Warning
• Batteries should never be exposed to
flame, heated, short-circuited or
disassembled.
• Do not attempt to recharge alkaline,
lithium or any other non-rechargeable
batteries.
•Never use any battery with a torn or
cracked outer cover.
•Keep batteries out of the reach of
children.
• If you notice anything unusual when
using this product such as abnormal
noise, heat, smoke, or a burning odor:
1remove the batteries immediately
while being careful not to burn
yourself, and;
2call your dealer or local Olympus
representative for service.

8
1
Main Features
Getting Started
Main Features
This product can be used to record meetings or notes, for use in conferences and other
business settings, and for language studies. It can also be used as a digital music player.
This recorder features a two-part design. The battery compartment separates from the main
unit to expose a USB terminal, for direct connection to your PC.
Main Features of the Digital
Voice Recorder
●The recorder stores highly compressed
WMA (Windows Media Audio) format voice
messages in integrated flash memory. (☞
P. 19)
It can also play back WMA and MP3
(MPEG-1/MPEG-2 Audio Layer-3) format
files. (☞P. 30)
●It has a built-in Variable Control Voice
Actuator (VCVA) function. (☞P. 22)
●The Low Cut Filter minimizes air conditioner
noise and other similar noises while recording.
(☞P. 26)
●A Noise Cancel function (☞P. 34) and a Voice Filter
function (☞P. 36) cut noise and enable clear audio playback.
●You can choose one of three stereo or three monaural recording
modes. (☞P. 24)
Stereo
microphone
Noise-Cancellation
monaural microphone
Telephone
pickup
Tie clip microphone
External Microphone
(optional) ☞P. 97
Recording modes Recording time
ST XQ 35 hours 30 minutes
ST HQ 71 hours 00 minutes
ST SP 142 hours 05 minutes
HQ 142 hours 05 minutes
SP 279 hours 35 minutes
LP 555 hours 45 minutes
Available recording time may be
shorter if many short recordings are
made. (The displayed available
recording time and recorded time are
approximate indications.)

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1
Main Features
●It has a backlight full-dot display (LCD
display screen). (☞P. 11)
●It features various repeat functions. (☞
P. 59, P. 78)
●Index mark and temp mark features
allow you to quickly find desired
locations. (☞P. 76)
●The playback speed can be controlled
as preferred. (☞P. 84)
●Connecting this recorder directly to the USB port
links up with your PC. The data can be transferred
or saved without USB cable or driver software. (☞
P. 46)
• This recorder is compatible with USB 2.0, enabling fast
data transfer to a computer.
●This USB storage class support recorder can be
utilized as external memory to read and save the
data. (☞P. 94)
• By connecting the computer with the USB, pictures, text
data, etc. can be saved, and utilized to carry data.
Main Features
Ni-MH
rechargeable
battery and charger
set (optional)
☞P. 97
Main Features of the Digital Music Player
●You can play back music files in WMA and MP3 format. (☞P. 55)
•This recorder can hold about 500 songs. (at 128 kbps, 4 minutes per
song)
●It has built-in WOW XT. (☞P. 63)
●You can change the playback equalizer settings. (☞P. 66)

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1
1EAR (Earphone) jack
2MIC (Microphone) jack
3Built-in stereo microphone (R)
4REC (Record) button
5STOP button
6PLAY button
7Built-in speaker
8USB terminal
9VOL (+) button
09button
!VOL (–) button
@FOLDER/INDEX button
#ERASE button
$OK/MENU button
%0button
^Display (LCD panel)
&Record/Play indicator light
*Built-in stereo microphone (L)
(USB access indicator light
)Strap hole
-HOLD switch
=Mode (VOICE/MUSIC) switch
qRELEASE (Release) button
wBattery cover
Identification of Parts
4
3
9
0
!
@
#
^
w
&
*
$
%
5
6
7
8
1
2
(
=-
)
q
Main unit
Battery
compartment
Identification of Parts