Olympus just announced a new field recorder with a pair of XLR mic inputs. =
It's called the LS-100. Suggested retail price is $399, with delivery sta=
rting in February.
Read more about the LS-100 here
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=3D1581
At first glance, the LS-100 looks similar to the familiar LS-11. But the L=
S-100 is changed in several respects. It's larger by roughly 20 mm / 1 inc=
h in height and width to fit the XLR connectors. Weight is up by 105 g / 3=
.7 oz. The LCD is laid out in a different way. And the physical controls =
are different, including a gain control wheel for each audio channel.
Olympus says the mics used in the LS-100 are their best yet in a portable r=
ecorder. The mics are directional and positioned at a 90* angle to each ot=
her, like other Olympus handheld recorders.
The LS-100's on-board battery is a Li-Ion unit, the 925 mAh LI-50B sold by =
Olympus for its digital cameras. The Olympus-Europa web site estimates a 1=
2 hour recording time (probably without phantom power). Photos on the web =
site show no opening on the bottom of the LS-100, so I assume the battery c=
an be changed through the side door, where the SDHC card slot is located. A=
genuine Olympus LI-50B costs about $15, while compatible models cost as li=
ttle as $4.
Without a manual, and only a few low resolution photos to view, much of the=
LS-100 is a mystery at this point. Details will be available closer to th=
e product launch in a few weeks.
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