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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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Olympus Imaging America Inc.
Page 8 of 14
Last updated on September 24, 2009
Specifications
What music file formats does the DM-420 support?
The DM-420 can store and play WMA (Windows Media Audio) files with bit rates of
between 5 and 320 kbps and mp3 files with bit rates of between 8 and 320 kbps. Variable
bit rate mp3 files may not play properly.
The DM-420 is compatible with Microsoft Corporation DRM 9 but not with DRM10.
What operating systems support the DM-420 digital voice recorder?
The DM-420 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-420 is supported by Macintosh Mac OS X 10.4.11 (“Tiger”) – 10.5 (“Leopard”).
How much dictation recording time is available in the DM-420?
The amount of potential dictation recording time available in the DM-420 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
Maximum Dictation Recording Time
(Internal Memory)
MP3 320 kbps mode
13 hours, 45 minutes
MP3 256 kbps mode
17 hours, 15 minutes
MP3 192 kbps mode
23 hours, 00 minutes
MP3 128 kbps mode
34 hours, 45 minutes
ST XQ mode
34 hours, 00 minutes
ST HQ mode
68 hours, 00 minutes
ST SP mode
136 hours, 00 minutes
HQ mode
136 hours, 00 minutes
SP mode
268 hours, 00 minutes
LP mode
533 hours, 00 minutes
