Olympus DM 520 User Manual

D I G I T A L T E C H N I C A L S U P P O R T  
O L Y M P U S I M A G I N G A M E R I C A I N C .  
( 8 8 8 ) 5 5 3 - 4 4 4 8  
h t t p : / / w w w . o l y m p u s a m e r i c a . c o m / s u p p o r t  
Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder  
Olympus DM-520 Digital Voice Recorder  
Product number 142075  
Shipping Date: September 2009  
Box Contents  
DM-520 Digital Recorder  
Stereo earphones  
USB 2.0 cable (KP-22)  
Carrying case  
Strap  
CD-ROM: Olympus Sonority software  
Instruction manual  
Warranty card  
Two AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries  
Features and Benefits  
Model  
DM-520  
Recording Format  
Linear PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)  
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3)  
WMA (Windows Media Audio)  
4 GB built-in Flash memory  
Recording Media  
Recording Time1  
PCM  
48 kHz mode: 5 hours, 45 minutes  
44.1 kHz mode: 6 hours, 15 minutes  
MP3  
320 kbps mode: 28 hours, 00 minutes  
256 kbps mode: 35 hours, 00 minutes  
192 kbps mode: 46 hours, 45 minutes  
128 kbps mode: 70 hours, 00 minutes  
WMA  
ST XQ mode: 68 hours, 45 minutes  
ST HQ mode: 137 hours, 30 minutes  
ST SP mode: 275 hours, 00 minutes  
HQ mode: 275 hours, 00 minutes  
SP mode: 541 hours, 00 minutes  
LP mode: 1,076 hours, 00 minutes  
MicroSD (512 MB – 16 GB)  
Card Format  
Input Level  
-60 dBv  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 1 of 15  
Last updated on September 25, 2009  
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Demographic Data Input  
Practical Maximum Output  
Write Protection  
Speaker  
Yes  
320 mW  
Yes  
23 mm diameter, round dynamic speaker  
3.5 mm mini-jack, impedance 2.2 k  
3.5 mm mini-jack, impedance 8 or more  
2 AAA Alkaline or 2 AAA NiMH batteries (BR-401)  
AC Adapter (A-514), sold separately  
Alkaline  
Microphone Jack  
Earphone Jack  
Power Supply  
External Power Supply  
Battery Life  
Recording:  
PCM 48 kHz mode: Approx. 32 hours  
MP3 128 kbps mode: Approx. 37 hours  
ST XQ mode: Approx. 38 hours  
LP mode: Approx. 51 hours  
Playback:  
Speaker  
PCM 48 kHz mode: Approx. 18 hours  
MP3 128 kbps mode: Approx. 19 hours  
ST XQ / LP mode: Approx. 19 hours  
Earphone  
PCM 48 kHz mode: Approx. 49 hours  
MP2 128 kbps mode: Approx. 57 hours  
ST XQ / LP mode: Approx. 58 hours  
NiMH (BR-401)  
Recording:  
PCM 48 kHz mode: Approx. 27 hours  
MP3 128 kbps mode: Approx. 30 hours  
ST XQ mode: Approx. 30 hours  
LP mode: Approx. 41 hours  
Playback:  
Speakers  
PCM 48 kHz mode: Approx. 15 hours  
MP3 128 kbps mode: Approx. 16 hours  
ST XQ / LP mode: Approx. 16 hours  
Earphonezs  
PCM 48 kHz mode: Approx. 39 hours  
MP3 128 kbps mode: Approx. 45 hours  
ST XQ / LP mode: approx. 46 hours  
4.33” x 1.53” x .63” (110 x 38.9 x 16 mm),  
excluding protrusions  
Size  
Weight  
2.96 oz (84 grams), including alkaline batteries  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 3 of 15  
Last updated on September 25, 2009  
D I G I T A L T E C H N I C A L S U P P O R T  
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OS Supported  
CPU  
Windows® XP/Vista  
Macintosh OS X 10.4.11 – 10.5  
Windows XP/Vista: 32 bits (x86) of 1 GHz and  
above or 64 bits (x64) processor  
Macintosh Mac OS X 10.4.11 – 10.5: Power PC G5  
or Intel Multicore Processor 1.5 GHz and above  
USB Port  
One free port  
Audio Output  
Earphone output or speaker  
1 Total recording time for all files. Maximum recording time per file varies depending on quality mode. Available  
recording time may be less if many short recordings are made. All figures are approximate.  
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  
Features  
What are the main features of this model?  
The DM-520 is a high-quality, high-capacity digital recorder loaded with handy and intuitive  
usability features as well as support software that can run on both Windows PCs and Macs.  
It can record in three audio formats: PCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation), MP3 and WMA  
(Windows Media Audio). In PCM mode, microphone sensitivity levels can be set manually  
and the files that are created, which have a .WAV extension, can be split in the recorder.  
This model has 4 GB of built-in flash memory and a card slot that holds one microSD or  
microSDHC card of up to 16 GB capacity (sold separately). Files can be transferred from the  
card to internal memory and vice-versa.  
The DM-520 introduces Recording and Playback “scenes” – configuration templates – that  
make it easy to enable an array of preferred settings via a single menu selection. Three of  
the Recording scenes are pre-set with optimal settings for specific recording conditions;  
another three can be customized by the user. Five Playback scenes are available.  
There are five folders for organizing recordings and separate folders for storing Podcasts,  
music files and audio content purchased from Audible.com.® The Music folder holds WMA  
or MP3 music files transferred from Windows Media® Player or iTunes®.  
The ZOOM microphone incorporates DiMAGIC® Corporation’s DVM (DiMAGIC Virtual  
Microphone) technology for directional recording, and DiMAGIC’s Euphony psychoacoustic  
technology for enhanced playback in the recorder.  
The DM-520 also includes accessibility features designed to help the visually impaired. The  
Voice Guide speaks aloud menu items as they are selected in any of 19 languages.1 The  
recorder’s buttons feature ridges and grooves to make them more identifiable by touch.  
After transferring the files to a computer via the bundled USB 2.0 cable, the included  
Olympus Sonority software can be used to manage, archive and edit PCM and WMA files  
made with the recorder on Windows and Mac platforms. (The ability to edit MP3 files is  
available at additional cost via the Olympus Sonority Plus upgrade.) The software also  
enables subscription to and download from podcast URLs. The podcasts can be transferred  
to the recorder’s Podcast folder for playback at the user’s convenience.  
The bundled NiMH batteries can be charged in the unit while it is plugged into a computer’s  
USB port, so you can keep them conveniently topped off while you work with your files.  
1The default languages are English, French and Spanish; however, the others may be uploaded to the recorder  
from a computer by using the Olympus Sonority software.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 4 of 15  
Last updated on September 25, 2009  
 
D I G I T A L T E C H N I C A L S U P P O R T  
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What are Recording Scenes?  
Recording scenes are essentially sets of recorder settings that can be enabled all at once  
by making a single menu selection. This function is located in the Rec Menu as Rec Scene.  
The DM-520 has six recording scene options. Three are pre-set out of the box; each is  
optimized for recording in specific conditions. The other three are reserved for User  
Settings, allowing for customization to suit your preferences. To enable a User  
Settings scene, select one of the available User Settings options and then choose  
Scene Save. The recorder’s current configuration will be saved as a scene.  
The table below shows the menu settings that are applied in each of the preset  
Recording Scenes as well as the default settings when Rec Scene is set to Off. Only the  
listed functions are affected when a User Settings recording scene is saved.  
Record Setting  
Mic Sense  
Rec Mode  
Rec Level  
Zoom Mic  
Low Cut Filter  
VCVA  
Off  
Dictation  
Low  
HQ  
Conference  
Middle  
ST XQ  
Auto  
Lecture  
High  
ST XQ  
Auto  
Zoom  
On  
Middle  
ST XQ  
Auto  
Off  
Auto  
Off  
Wide  
Off  
On  
On  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Standby  
On  
On  
On  
On  
What are Playback Scenes?  
The DM-520 has an option for the user to create up to five Playback Scenes to setup the  
recorder to preset playback scenarios. The settings that can be saved as a Playback  
Scene are Property, Noise Cancel, EUPHONY, Voice Filter, Play Mode, Play  
Speed, Skip Space, Backlight and LED.  
To create a Playback Scene, first configure the recorder with the desired settings. Then,  
in the menu, go to Play Scene > Scene Save and select a User Setting option.  
Finally, press the [OK/MENU] button to save the scene. The recorder will save the  
settings of the functions listed above as a Playback Scene. To create another scene,  
create a new mix of menu settings and repeat the process.  
To select a saved Playback Scene for use, in the menu go to Play Scene > Scene Select  
and choose the desired User Setting. Press the [OK/MENU] button to activate the scene.  
What is the function of Noise Cancel?  
Noise Cancel can be enabled to reduce background noise in recordings made in noisy  
surroundings. In effect, the function treats the loudest sounds as the most important  
and reduces other sounds to make the dictation clearer.  
The Noise Cancel options are OFF, LOW and HIGH. The options are set in the recorder’s  
menu. The LOW or HIGH settings remain valid until Noise Cancel is set to OFF. Noise  
Cancel is not available while the Voice Filter is set, and it cannot be used during Slow  
Playback or Fast Playback.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
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What is EUPHONY?  
The DM-520 features EUPHONY MOBILE – a psychoacoustic surround sound system that  
combines bandwidth correction, expansion technology and virtual acoustical source  
processing technology to allow the listener to alter the audio dynamics when playing back  
recordings through earphones. EUPHONY creates a natural, expansive feel so listeners are  
less prone to experience a closed-in feeling or to grow tired over extended listening sessions,  
such as when playing audio books. The options are: OFF, Natural, Wide and Power.  
EUPHONY is only applied during playback and cannot be used when recording.  
What is VCVA?  
Variable Control Voice Actuator (VCVA) is a function that configures the recorder to  
record automatically only when sound is detected at a pre-set level, and stop when the  
sound drops below the threshold level. The purpose of the function is to eliminate “dead  
air” during recordings, thereby conserving memory and shortening file times.  
VCVA is enabled in the recorder’s menu. In the DM-520, the VCVA can be set to any of  
15 different values. The higher the value, the more sensitive the recorder is to sounds.  
At the highest level, even the faintest sound will activate recording.  
What is the function of the LowCut Filter?  
The recorder has a Low Cut Filter function to minimize low-frequency sounds and  
record voices more clearly. This function can reduce noise from air conditioners,  
projectors and other types of “white noise.”  
What is the function of the Voice Filter?  
The Voice Filter cuts low- and high-frequency tones to create a playback frequency  
range encompassing the tones in the human voice, thereby making the playback of  
dictation recordings clearer. Voice Filter works in all playback speeds.  
What enhancements do the upgrades to Olympus Sonority offer?  
Purchasing the upgrades adds the following features to the version of Olympus Sonority  
that is bundled with the DM-520:  
Plus Edition  
MP3 Editing – Adds the ability to output and convert to an MP3 file. With the  
MP3 format, output and conversion at 320 kbps, 256 kbps, 192 kbps and 128  
kbps as well as ID3 tag editing are possible.  
Create a Music CD – Allows an audio CD to be easily created by specifying in the  
browsing screen the files to write to a CD. If the total size of the specified audio  
files exceeds the capacity of a CD, the files can be divided onto multiple CDs.  
Configuring the Recorder Menu – The built-in device settings (advanced  
settings such as the recording mode, alarm setting and timer recording) can be  
configured using Olympus Sonority.  
Music Editing Plug-in  
Effects – Adds more than 20 types of advanced effect functions.  
Spectrum Analyzer – Displays the frequency distribution of the sound being  
played, in real time, on the Waveform Editing screen.  
Unlimited Track Editing – Eliminates the limitation on the number of tracks  
that can be edited simultaneously.  
To add the Music Editing Plug-in, Olympus Sonority must first be upgraded to the Plus Edition.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 6 of 15  
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What is Intro Play?  
Intro Play enables quick searches for files in the recorder’s folders by playing only the  
first few seconds of a recording. When Intro Play is enabled, simply selecting a file in  
the folder’s file list will automatically play the beginning of a file without having to press  
the [PLAY] button. The selectable options are 3 sec, 5 sec, 10 sec and Off.  
What are Index Marks and Temp Marks?  
Index Marks are digital tags that can be inserted while recording or during playback.  
They are used to skip forward or backward in recordings to pre-selected points. Up to 16  
Index Marks can be added to a single file.  
Index Marks cannot be placed in files created on machines other than Olympus digital  
voice recorders. This means that they cannot be placed in podcasts. Instead, Temp  
Marks can be placed in podcasts to temporarily remember desired locations. Up to 16  
Temp Marks can be added to a single file.  
Both Index Marks and Temp Marks are inserted using the [INDEX] (SCENE) button on  
the recorder. Index Marks and Temp Marks cannot be added to files in the Audible folder.  
What is the purpose of the Audible folder?  
The Audible folder (a sub-folder of the Music folder) is present to download and play  
audio content purchased from the Audible.com® Web site (http://www.audible.com/).  
Audible.com is a source for audio books and audio newspaper and magazine articles.  
Audible also has Web sites for the United Kingdom, France and Germany for content in  
other languages.  
Audible files are not managed by the Olympus Sonority software. When users purchase  
a subscription to Audible.com, they receive Audible Manager software. The DM-520 is  
listed in the Mobile Device listing in Audible Manager. Audible Manager is used to  
download audio content from the Audible.com Web site and transfer files to the  
recorder’s Audible folder.  
When the Audible folder is selected on the recorder, the recorder automatically  
switches to the Audible mode. The Audible mode is able to play the downloaded Audible  
files in any of the three formats used by Audible. When a content file is transferred to  
the recorder, a .pos file is created to record the playback position of a file. This allows  
the recording to take up where it had left off during a prior listening session.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 7 of 15  
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Specifications  
What music formats does the DM-520 support?  
The DM-520 can store and play WMA (Windows Media Audio) files with bit rates of  
between 5 and 320 kbps; 16 bit WAV (Linear PCM format) files, and mp3 files with bit  
rates of between 8 and 320 kbps. Variable bit rate mp3 files may not play properly.  
The DM-520 is compatible with Microsoft Corporation DRM 9 but not with DRM10.  
What operating systems support the DM-520 digital voice recorder?  
The DM-520 is supported by Windows XP Home Edition service packs 2 and 3, Windows  
XP Professional service packs 2 and 3, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition service pack  
2, and the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the following Windows Vista editions: Home  
Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate (all at service pack 1).  
The DM-520 is supported by Macintosh Mac OS X 10.4.11 (“Tiger”) – 10.5 (“Leopard”).  
How much dictation recording time is available in the DM-520?  
The amount of potential dictation recording time available in the DM-520 depends on  
several factors, including the selected quality mode and whether the recorder is  
configured to use internal memory or a removable memory card (sold separately).  
When a quality mode is selected, several audio file properties are put into place. These  
properties determine the level of detail of the saved file data. A higher-quality recording  
saves more-detailed information and creates a larger data file that uses more memory.  
A lower-quality recording makes a less-detailed data file, so the memory lasts longer.  
Podcasts and Audible files use up portions of the recorder’s built-in flash memory, as do  
files saved on the recorder when it is used as a USB flash drive (aka “thumb drive”).  
This usage will reduce the amount of memory available for recording new files.  
The table below shows the maximum dictation recording times possible using the built-in  
memory (assuming there are no other files saved in the recorder).  
Recording Mode  
PCM 48 kHz mode  
PCM 44.1 kHz mode  
MP3 320 kbps mode  
MP3 256 kbps mode  
MP3 192 kbps mode  
MP3 128 kbps mode  
ST XQ mode  
Maximum Dictation Recording Time  
5 hours, 45 minutes  
6 hours, 15 minutes  
28 hours, 00 minutes  
35 hours, 00 minutes  
46 hours, 45 minutes  
70 hours, 00 minutes  
68 hours, 45 minutes  
137 hours, 30 minutes  
275 hours, 00 minutes  
275 hours, 00 minutes  
541 hours, 00 minutes  
1,076 hours, 00 minutes  
ST HQ mode  
ST SP mode  
HQ mode  
SP mode  
LP mode  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 8 of 15  
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Using removable memory media can expand the recording capacity of the DM-520. The  
table below shows the potential recording capacity of the recorder with different-sized  
microSD and microSDHC memory cards.  
Recording Mode  
Maximum Dictation Recording Time (memory card)  
1 GB  
2 GB  
4 GB  
PCM 48 kHz  
PCM 44.1 kHz  
MP3 320 kbps  
MP3 256 kbps  
MP3 192 kbps  
MP3 128 kbps  
ST XQ  
1 hr. 15 min.  
2 hrs. 45 min.  
3 hrs. 00 min.  
13 hrs. 30 min.  
17 hrs. 00 min.  
23 hrs. 00 min.  
34 hrs. 00 min.  
33 hrs. 00 min.  
67 hrs. 00 min.  
135 hrs. 00 min.  
135 hrs. 00 min.  
267 hrs. 00 min.  
531 hrs. 00 min.  
5 hrs. 30 min.  
6 hrs. 00 min.  
27 hrs. 00 min.  
34 hrs. 00 min.  
45 hrs. 00 min.  
68 hrs. 00 min.  
66 hrs. 00 min.  
133 hrs. 00 min.  
266 hrs. 00 min.  
266 hrs. 00 min.  
524 hrs. 00 min.  
1042 hrs. 00 min.  
1 hr. 20 min.  
6 hrs. 30 min.  
8 hrs. 00 min.  
11 hrs. 00 min.  
16 hrs. 30 min.  
16 hrs. 00 min.  
32 hrs. 00 min.  
65 hrs. 00 min.  
65 hrs. 00 min.  
128 hrs. 00 min.  
255 hrs. 00 min.  
ST HQ  
ST SP  
HQ  
SP  
LP  
What are the maximum recording times per file?  
A maximum recording time per file is set for each quality mode. Even if a recorder’s  
memory is not exhausted, a single file cannot be continued beyond the limit.  
Maximum Recording Time Per File  
Quality Mode  
Recording Time  
PCM 48 kHz mode  
PCM 44.1 kHz mode  
MP3 320 kbps mode  
MP3 256 kbps mode  
MP3 192 kbps mode  
MP3 128 kbps mode  
ST XQ mode  
3 hours, 00 minutes  
3 hours, 20 minutes  
29 hours, 40 minutes  
37 hours, 10 minutes  
49 hours, 40 minutes  
74 hours, 30 minutes  
26 hours, 40 minutes  
26 hours, 40 minutes  
53 hours, 40 minutes  
26 hours, 40 minutes  
53 hours, 40 minutes  
148 hours, 40 minutes  
ST HQ mode  
ST SP mode  
HQ mode  
SP mode  
LP mode  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
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Usage  
How is the recorder turned off?  
The recorder is turned off by sliding the [POWER/HOLD] control on the right underside  
of the recorder downward and then releasing it. The switch should then be moved  
upward to the HOLD position to prevent accidental activation of button functions.  
Which recording quality mode should I use?  
Different quality modes save the digital record of a signal with different levels of faithfulness  
to the original sound. The ST XQ and ST HQ modes are recommended for music, drama or  
interviews that may be made for broadcast because they make very detailed digital records  
of the sound and use a very wide frequency range.  
Lower-quality modes, such as SP (Standard Play) and LP (Long Play), make a less-detailed  
digital record of the signal and use a narrower frequency range so they will use up the  
available Flash memory much more slowly. These modes are best used for audio note  
taking or recording college lectures or seminars – situations in which large content capacity  
is more important than high audio quality.  
How do I select which type of memory to use?  
The selection of built-in memory or removable memory card is made in the menu. When  
a microSD or microSDHC card is inserted in the card slot for the first time and the  
recorder is turned on, the option to select the memory mode is displayed on the start-up  
screen. Thereafter the selection needs to be made in the Device Menu through the  
Memory Select function.  
The available options are Built-in Memory and microSD Card. MicroSD and  
microSDHC cards from 512MB to 16 GB can be used. For optimum performance, it is  
advised to format the card the first time it is put in the recorder. If the card is being  
used for dictation and files are frequently erased, it is advisable to routinely download all  
of the files to a computer and format the card to keep it free of a build-up of artifacts of  
previous files. Occasional formatting of the built-in memory using the menu Format  
function is also advised.  
One advantage of recording to removable media is that multiple cards can be used to  
organize content (e.g. one can hold podcasts and another can hold a music library).  
How is recording volume controlled?  
By default, the DM-520 records automatically at 100% volume level to prevent accidentally  
recording with the volume set too low.  
The recorder has three levels of microphone sensitivity:  
High: The highest recording sensitivity, it is suitable for conferences with large  
crowds and recording audio at a distance or low volume.  
Middle: Suitable for recording meetings and seminars with a small number of people.  
Low: The lowest recording sensitivity, it is suitable for close-up dictation.  
Microphone sensitivity is set via the MIC SENSE option in the recorder’s menu.  
The DM-520 also allows the user to manually preset a fixed recording level using the  
Rec Level > Manual option in the recorder’s menu. It also disables the limiter. The  
limiter automatically adjusts the recording level to prevent “clipping.” Clipping occurs  
when the recording level allows sound levels beyond the dynamic range of a recording  
device to be recorded. The result is distortion in the louder portions of the recording.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
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The DM-520 features a recording level meter on the LCD screen so that recording levels  
can be monitored. If the level is too high and clipping may occur, OVER is displayed  
above the level meter. It is recommended to do a test recording before doing a final  
recording to set the manual recording levels appropriately.  
How is playback volume controlled?  
The playback volume is controlled during playback by using the [+] (plus) and [-]  
(minus) buttons on the circular pad on the face of the recorder. Pressing [+] increases  
the playback volume. Pressing [-] reduces the playback volume.  
How is the playback speed controlled?  
The playback of files in the DM-520 can be changed to between 50% and 150% of the  
default playback speed in increments of 0.05. The tone of the file will be adjusted  
digitally without changing the pitch so that the recording sounds natural.  
The play speed is changed in the recorder’s menu, under Play Speed. The options are:  
S. Play (Slow Play): x0.50 to x0.95 of normal speed in x0.05 increments  
F. Play (Fast Play): x1.05 to x2.0 of normal speed in x0.05 increments  
S. Play and F. Play are not available while Noise Cancel is enabled. During fast/slow  
playback, files will be played in monaural even if they were recorded in stereo.  
Can I rename my files when they are displayed on my computer?  
Files in the DM-520 should not be renamed when displayed in a computer’s file-browsing  
software (e.g. My Computer) because the recorder’s file-management software may not  
be able to find a renamed file.  
How does the Zoom Mic option work?  
The Zoom Mic menu option employs the DiMAGIC Virtual Microphone(DVM) audio  
pickup system that allows more dynamic recording by focusing on sound from selectable  
directions. It enables expansive stereo recording to high directivity recording using the  
DM-520’s built-in microphones.  
The options available in Zoom Mic are: OFF, Wide, Narrow and Zoom.  
The Zoom option has the narrowest angle of reception and records only in monaural.  
Because the DVM technology is tailored to the recorder’s microphone, Zoom Mic is  
incompatible with Olympus accessory microphones and third-party microphones.  
How are files erased from the recorder?  
Dictation, Audible, Podcast and Music files can be erased from the recorder by selecting  
the file and pressing the [ERASE] button. The LCD screen will highlight Cancel. While  
Cancel is highlighted, press the [+] button to select File Erase, and then press the  
[OK] button. The LCD screen will display the File Erase screen with Cancel highlighted.  
Press the [+] button to select Start and then press the [OK] button. The LCD will then  
display Erase Done.  
To erase all of the files in a folder, use the same procedure, but select Files in Folder  
instead of File Erase.  
Note: Locked files and files that are set as read-only cannot be erased using this function.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 11 of 15  
Last updated on September 25, 2009  
D I G I T A L T E C H N I C A L S U P P O R T  
O L Y M P U S I M A G I N G A M E R I C A I N C .  
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h t t p : / / w w w . o l y m p u s a m e r i c a . c o m / s u p p o r t  
I want to clear my recorder of all files. How do I format the recorder?  
The recorder should be formatted only by using the internal FORMAT function found in  
the menu. Formatting using the computer may corrupt system files needed to run the  
recorder and may delete the Voice Guide Data and Audible system files. When the  
recorder is connected to a computer, individual files can be deleted using its file-  
browsing program (e.g. My Computer) without negative effects.  
How do I charge the recorder’s rechargeable batteries?  
The two bundled BR-401 NiMH batteries can be charged in the recorder via a USB  
connection to a computer. The USB cable should be plugged directly into a computer  
USB port and not into a USB hub. USB hubs split up the USB current and the battery  
may not fully charge through a hub connection.  
To charge the batteries through a USB port, first connect the USB cable bundled with  
this recorder to a computer. Next, press the [STOP] button on the recorder while  
plugging the other end of the USB cable into the recorder. Charging will be displayed in  
the charging indicator at the top of the LCD screen and the orange LED will be lit. The  
LED will go out when charging is completed.  
The batteries can also be charged using the optional AC Adapter A-514, which has a USB  
plug on its cable. To set up the recorder to charge from the AC adapter, in the menu go  
to USB Settings > USB Connect > AC Adapter and press the [OK/MENU] button.  
How should the recorder be disconnected from a Windows computer?  
Any USB device should be disconnected from a Windows® computer using the [Safely  
Remove Hardware] icon located in the Taskbar in the lower right corner of the  
Desktop screen. The icon features a green arrow suspended above a device and  
pointing to the lower left.  
Any open files should be closed before starting the disconnect process. Simply removing  
the device from the USB port without using the recommended disconnect procedure can  
result in corruption of files or firmware.  
Double-clicking on the [Safely Remove Hardware] icon opens a dialog box to shut down  
the USB connection so that the device can be safely disconnected. Select the device to be  
disconnected by clicking once on its name, and then click on the [Stop] button.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 12 of 15  
Last updated on September 25, 2009  
D I G I T A L T E C H N I C A L S U P P O R T  
O L Y M P U S I M A G I N G A M E R I C A I N C .  
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Clicking on the [Stop] button launches another dialog box to confirm the devices that  
are to be stopped. Clicking the [OK] button closes the USB connection.  
The desktop screen will display a message balloon above the taskbar indicating that it is  
safe to disconnect the hardware.  
How should the recorder be disconnected from a Macintosh computer?  
Any USB device should be disconnected from a Macintosh computer either by clicking on  
the EJECT button or dragging the drive icon that represents the device to the Trash.  
Accessories  
Will using an accessory microphone with an extended frequency  
range improve the quality of my recordings?  
Using an accessory microphone with an extended frequency range may not improve the  
quality of the recordings in a DM-520. The recorder has an overall frequency response of  
40 – 23,000 Hz, but the different quality modes modify the detail of the saved file data  
by saving some frequencies and discarding others. This is how the recorder is able to  
vary the potential recording time and use the built-in flash memory more efficiently.  
The table below shows the overall frequency response in each recording mode:  
Quality Mode  
Overall Frequency Response  
PCM 48 kHz mode  
PCM 44.1 kHz mode  
MP3 320 kbps mode  
MP3 256 kbps mode  
MP3 192 kbps mode  
MP3 128 kbps mode  
ST XQ mode  
40 Hz - 23,000 Hz  
40 Hz – 21,000 Hz  
40 Hz – 20,000 Hz  
40 Hz – 20,000 Hz  
40 Hz – 19,000 Hz  
40 Hz – 17,000 Hz  
40 Hz - 19,000 Hz  
40 Hz - 16,000 Hz  
40 Hz - 9,000 Hz  
40 Hz - 13,000 Hz  
40 Hz - 8,000 Hz  
40 Hz – 3,000 Hz  
ST HQ mode  
ST SP mode  
HQ mode  
SP mode  
LP mode  
Is there an AC adapter available for the DM-520?  
The DM-520 is compatible with the optional A-514 AC Adapter. The adapter can be used  
to power the recorder and also to charge the rechargeable batteries bundled with it.  
The A514 AC Adapter can be purchased directly from The Olympus Store by clicking here.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 13 of 15  
Last updated on September 25, 2009  
D I G I T A L T E C H N I C A L S U P P O R T  
O L Y M P U S I M A G I N G A M E R I C A I N C .  
( 8 8 8 ) 5 5 3 - 4 4 4 8  
h t t p : / / w w w . o l y m p u s a m e r i c a . c o m / s u p p o r t  
Troubleshooting  
I formatted the recorder using my computer and the Voice Guidance  
data is gone. Can I restore it?  
If you format the recorder and erase the Voice Guidance data by mistake, or if you want  
to change its language, the Voice Guidance Data can be copied from the Olympus  
Sonority software to the recorder via either of the following procedures:  
Uploading Voice Guidance Automatically  
Olympus Sonority automatically detects the languages supported by a connected  
recorder and uploads the corresponding files not stored in the recorder. Voice  
Guidance languages that can be downloaded into the DM-520 are Japanese,  
English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Finnish, Czech, Norwegian,  
Swedish, Portuguese, Greek, Danish, Polish, Dutch, Hindi and Urdu.  
Connect the recorder with Voice Guidance capability to the computer and open  
Olympus Sonority.  
With the built-in Voice Guidance of the recorder turned on, Olympus Sonority will  
automatically checks the state of the Voice Guidance files in the recorder. If the  
recorder lacks any of the required files, the Upload File dialog box will appear.  
Click the [OK] button. The Voice Guidance files will be uploaded.  
Uploading Voice Guidance Manually  
To manually upload the Voice Guidance in a desired language, perform the  
following steps:  
Connect the recorder with the Voice Guidance capability to the computer and  
open Olympus Sonority.  
Select the [Device] > [Upload Voice Guidance Files] menu option. The  
Transfer Voice Guidance Files dialog box will appear.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 14 of 15  
Last updated on September 25, 2009  
D I G I T A L T E C H N I C A L S U P P O R T  
O L Y M P U S I M A G I N G A M E R I C A I N C .  
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h t t p : / / w w w . o l y m p u s a m e r i c a . c o m / s u p p o r t  
Voice Guidance files that can be uploaded are listed in the drop-down list. Select the  
desired Voice Guidance language to upload and click on the [OK] button.  
The Voice Guidance in the selected language will upload to the recorder. The Voice  
Guidance file set to the primary supported language in the recorder will be overwritten  
with the new Voice Guidance file in the selected language.  
The battery ran out while I was recording a file, and now I can’t find  
or play the file. Why?  
If the battery runs out of power during the recording of a file, the recording in progress  
will be lost because the file header will be unable to close. It is crucial to change or charge  
the battery once the battery indicator shows only one hash mark of power remaining.  
Removing the battery while the recorder is in use may also corrupt a file.  
Olympus Imaging America Inc.  
Page 15 of 15  
Last updated on September 25, 2009  

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