Olympus VP-10 Digital Voice Recorder

Initial setup is a little awkward because the buttons are small and I kept pushing them the wrong way. Otherwise, discreet and easy to use. The usb plug-and-play to transfer audio to a computer is straightforward. Charging is a snap (just push the “ok” button correctly).

I finally tested this in real world conditions and I'm very impressed!I clipped the recorder to a jacket pocket with the pocket flap snapped down over it. I had my jacket off and folded over my arm with the pocket facing outward. The first part of the recording is in a lobby with other people sitting 4 to 6 feet from me. The recorder picked up the conversations of others very clearly. In the next part of the recording my jacket is on a chair beside me and I'm talking with another person across a table. Both our voices were crisp and clear. You can tell that I'm closer to the recorder but my voice doesn't overwhelm the recording, nor is the other voice sound distant or hard to hear. I could only have made a better recording if I set up a recorder between us on the table.UPDATE (after a year and a half):This is one tough recorder! Six months ago I accidentally ran it through the wash; Soap, water, agitation... As soon as I discovered it at the bottom of the washing machine I pulled the battery and sealed the recorder in a baggie with several desiccant packets. I left it alone for a week, then popped in a battery and it powered up! Six months later it still works like a charm! BUT, (and I'm not complaining, just giving the whole picture) it's a bit finicky when I charge it via USB. Now, for greater reliability, I use a fresh battery from a separate charger. While I think of it, the rechargeable that went through the wash still charges as well. I wouldn't recommend splashing water on this recorder, much less giving the thumbs up to running it through the wash, but it took a beating and came out virtually unscathed! For the last six months I've been waiting to see if it will finally roll over and die, but it keeps working (except for the charging issue) like it's fresh from the box. If I hadn't already given it 5 stars I would be now.

I love this little voice recorder. I primarily use it to take quick notes for myself. It is small and light so its easy to carry with you everywhere. I like that you just slide the record switch over to both turn it on and start recording, then you simply slide the switch back to stop. At the end of the day, I plug it in to the USB on my computer and listen to the recordings to add things to my to do list for the next day or archive the ones I want to save. The sound quality of the recorded voice files are excellent. The onboard speaker is weak, but good enough for quickly reviewing recordings as most of my listening is done on my computer after transferring the files. The little spring-loaded clip at the back is flimsy though.I find that it is much easier and quicker to record audio than using my mobile phone and the sound quality of the recordings is better as well. I really like that two position, slide to record switch I mentioned earlier since I never really have to look at the unit to see if I turned it on or if I started the recording. If the unit is off, just slide the switch, wait two seconds and start talking, then slide the switch back after you are done. After I'm done recording, I just let it go to sleep. I don't even bother with the power switch to turn it off. In fact, I just leave the power switch in the "hold" position.The recorder has many other features and functions that you may or may not use, but I don't really use any of them so for me the simplicity, convenience and form factor are what I love the most. Maybe its a bit pricey for my simple application, but it is a very effective tool for me.Perfect for those "Eureka" moments in the middle of the night. You don't even have to turn on your bedside light or use the VP-10's display. Its very easy start and stop it by feel alone.

First let me say that I've only just set this up and will add more about performance once I've used it for a while. Setup was SO easy, with good directions and everything working as expected (unusual these days). I wonder if the chap who had difficulty with setup had a defective unit; I'm not nimble with electronics, but this setup was a breeze. I was delighted that this VP-10 came with a charged Ni-MH battery, so I was up and running in 10 minutes. I bought this primarily to carry around and record notes about family history for my grandbaby on the spur of the moment, so the form factor and features are perfect for this purpose. I shopped for days until I found the perfect recorder for my needs; I think this is it. As I said, I'll add more later, but I expect good reliability. I used Olympus recorders in the past, including using them for recording hundreds of hours of telephone interviews for my dissertation. I needed to trust the recorder, and Olympus never failed me. More to follow. . .

Lightweight and overall very good . I use this to record notes while I'm driving. The pull-to-record button is a bit awkward to use, but the scheme makes sense (you need something you won't toggle accidentally), and I've figured out a way to hold the recorder such that I keep both hands on the steering wheel and use my thumb to turn recording on/off. My biggest gripes are the plastic construction (which doesn't feel very sturdy at all) and the use of what must be the world's smallest 5-way control button (OMG).Pro tip: the Hermitshell Travel EVA Case (ASIN B01KC8O6T0) fits this recorder perfectly, with a space that also perefctly fits a short USB-A to USB-C adapter cable. (AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB 3.1 Gen1 Female Adapter Cable, ASIN B01GGKYXVE). The case is almost like a hard case in terms of stiffness, and the combination is very small and lightweight.