News

The top of the range digital dictaphone from Olympus, the DS-9500 comes in a kit. All of the parts in the kit can be replaced, with the exception of the recorder itself, so if you need another dock, spare battery or have lost you carry case these are the part numbers you will need:

Olympus DS-9500 USB Cable - KP-30

The USB cable allows the DS-9500 to be connected to your Mac or Windows PC and allows the file transfer. The USB cable can be connected into the back of the CR-21 dock or directly into the bottom of the DS-9500.

Olympus DS-9500 Rechargeable Battery - Li92B

Over time the rechargeable battery in your DS-9500 dictaphone will degrade with the constant charge/discharge cycle. When it does you will need a replacement battery which is part Li-92B. Note that the battery can fit into the DS9500 two different ways, only one way will work.

Olympus DS-9500 Docking Station/Cradle - CR-21

This handy little unit serves two purposes, to recharge the battery in the DS-9500 and to facilitate cordless transfer of data between your dictaphone and your computer. Note that the CR-21 is just the cradle, if you are looking to set up a separate desk you will also need the power supply (A517) and the USB cable (KP-30).

Olympus DS-9500 Software Licence Key for Windows & Mac - AS-9001

This square green piece of paper that comes in the box is very important. It is your unique licence key for the installation of the Olympus ODMS R7 Dictation Module on a Windows PC and DSS Player Plus v7 on a Mac. Only you will know this number so it must be kept safe. The Olympus software licence is a single install licence, so if you want to use the Olympus software on another PC or Mac you will need to buy another licence OR if you computer crashes and you can not find the original green square licence key. So, keep your licence key safe.

Olympus DS-9500 Carry Case - CS-151

A handy protector for your Olympus DS-9500 but if you like to dock your recorder can be a bit of a pain. It's leather look, faux leather or realistically its plastic but looks and feels nice.

Olympus DS-9500 Power Supply - A517

This is the power supply that fits into the back of the CR-21 dock and is used to charge the DS-9500 when in the cradle. It can not be plugged directly into the recorder, the recorder can only be charged out of the dock via the USB cable KP-20

 

Olympus Web SCP tracks the use of the Dictation and Transcription Module across the workgroup system. It also allows the IT Administrator to update the license simply by entering a new key, making it quick and easy to add more users to an ODMS environment without affecting the entire system.

This blog post discusses the Olympus ODMS - Multi User Licence Model and is relevant for:

• Legal or medical practice/office managers and
• IT support staff

The solution can:

• Interact with your Active Directory
• Manage device profiles centrally
• Configure (via .MST) client applications for dictation/transcription module
• Create packages for dictation/transcription module that can be deployed company wide
• Use a concurrent use licence model managed by a central application

And can work in the following scenarios:

• ODMS R7 alone (or co-existing with ODMS R6) across your network or
• Using ODMS in a virtual environment via Citrix, Terminal Services or VMWare View / VMWare Horizon

The Olympus dictation and transcription software, Olympus Dictation Management System or ODMS, currently at release 7 (R7) is the leading digital audio software for dictation and transcription. However, the way it is licenced can be painful if you manage a large, growing or multi-site practice as out-of-the-box the professional digital dictaphones (Olympus DS-9500 & DS-9000) and transcription kit (Olympus AS-9000) come with a single install licences. Meaning each individual PC needs to be touched and standalone software installed with a unique licence key. Storing and managing many individual licences keys can be an issue.

Help is at hand from Olympus in the form of a multi user licence (or MUL) whereby licence consumption is centrally managed making the deployment of Olympus software and managing the Olympus dictation/transcription modules easier to manage. The MUL is a concurrent use licence which means that each time a dictation or transcription module is run a licence will be reserved. The Olympus software can be deployed to many machines and access is then only limited by your maximum dictation/transcription licence count.

To convert your practice from single install ODMS licences to a MUL we are here to help. From converting your existing single install licences to a MUL licence and helping with any licence increases should your business grow.

How does an Olympus Multi User Licence work?

You will need to purchase the Olympus SCP (System Configuration Program) which is installed on a central server or workstation accessible on your network or intranet. It does not need a dedicated box and can co-exists with other software on a server, we recommend Windows Server 2016 Essentials but all Microsoft operating systems are supported from Windows 7 upwards.

The SCP is responsible for managing licence check-in/check-out and is also a central access point for administrators to manage from one location dictation workflows, device profiles and of course Olympus dictation/transcription module licences.

I already own a few ODMS dictation/transcription licences can I use those?

Yes, when moving from standalone licences to a MUL we will collect your licence keys from you and work with Olympus Australia to convert the single install licences  to a MUL. Should you own 5x dictation module licences then when converted you can have a maximum of 5 devices running dictation module at any one time, yet the software may be installed on tens or hundreds of devices. The same applies for your single transcription module licences. 

Should you need to increase your concurrent licence count at any point this can be easily achieved by purchasing additional DM or TM licences.

We have a few ODMS R6 licences and some new ODMS R7, can both be converted to the multi-user-licence model?

Yes they can. ODMS R6 is still supported (until January 2019) and it is possible to run both ODMS R6 and ODMS R7 MULs. However, we strongly suggest that you upgrade your ODMS R6 licences to R7 and just run an R7 MUL configuration.

What are the costs for moving from our standalone licences to a multi user environment?

For infrastructure this would depend on what you have available, as mentioned above this can co-exist on an existing server or you could setup a dedicated server, either virtual or physical. Olympus does not recommend running the SCP in Azure or AWS.

You would need to purchase the Olympus SCP software (part SCPLICENCE) which is $599 incl. GST.

Collect your existing ODMS R7 standalone licences and convert them to a MUL, we will do this for you and is free.

If you need to purchase additional ODMS R7 licences they cost:

• ODMS R7 Dictation Module (DM) - (part AS-9001OLP) @ $149 incl. GST
• ODMS R7 Transcription Module (TM) - (part AS-9002OLP) @ $249 incl. GST

Upgrade licences are available from ODMS R6 or DSS Player Pro R6 and cost $99 each incl. GST for both dictation and transcription module.

• Upgrade to ODMS R7 Dictation Module (DM) from DSS Player Pro R5 or ODMS R6 (part AS-9003)
• Upgrade to ODMS R7 Transcription Module (TM) from DSS Player Pro R5 or ODMS R6 (part AS-9004)

Can we set this up as a trial to see if it works for our business?

Yes, we can provide with trial licence keys to allow you to install Olympus SCP in your environment and trial the setup and process for 60 days for free. Just let us know how many concurrent DM and TM licences you need and we will organise the trial licences with Olympus Australia for you. We will also provide all the applications you need. To get you started click here for the ODMS R7 Workgroup Install Guide for your reference.

We are here to help. Please give us a call or email us at sales@dictate.com.au with any questions.

Olympus ODMS R7 was released in April 2018 simultaneously with the release of the latest professional digital dictation recorder the Olympus DS-9500 and the transcription kit AS-9000. 

The ODMS R7 software comes in two modules (installed via just one installer) Dictation Module (DM) and Transcription Module (TM). The DM comes in the box with the DS-9500 and the TM comes in the box with the AS-9000. 

Both modules are installed via a licence key. It is essential that you keep your licence keys safe as they will be required if you suffer a PC crash and need to re-install the software or if you upgrade your PC and need to move the software from the old to the new Windows computer.

It is possible to install ODMS R7 in trial mode. Trial mode will give you full functionality of either DM or TM for 60 days so is useful if you can't find your licence key but need to use the software or if you just want to see how ODMS R7 works for yourself before you buy.

• Buy AS-9001 - Olympus ODMS R7 DM Dictation Module Licence
• Buy AS-9002 - Olympus ODMS R7 TM Transcription Module Licence
• Buy AS-9003 - Olympus ODMS R7 DM Upgrade from ODMS R6 or DSS Player Pro 5
• Buy AS-9004 - Olympus ODMS R7 TM Upgrade from ODMS R6 or DSS Player Pro 5

Hot on the release of Olympus ODMS R7 dictation and transcription software for Windows back in April 2018 the first patch has been released, Patch 0001. Unlike a version update there is little in the way of release notes just a reference to an issue where ODMS R7 opens mulitiple Outlook windows, fixed with this patch.

If you are having this issue we recommend that you download and apply this patch. You can download it via the links below, please note that it is a .exe file so it may be blocked by your network admin or Windows itself, if so please email us sales@dictate.com.au and we will find a way to get you access to the patch.

• Click here to download R700Patch0001.exe
• Click here to download R700Patch0001.zip (contains the above .exe)
• Click here to download R700Patch0001.mp3 (rename the file to .exe once downloaded)

The Digital Speech Standard ( .dss ) file format has been around for years, it was developed jointly by Olympus, Phillips and Grundig back in 1994 and by 2005 became the standard for all digital dictation files, back then described as .dss (Digital Speech Standard) = MP3 for Speech. It was created specifically to maintain high-quality audio but in a small file size which could be easily transferred over the internet. At the time it was a revolution and saw traditional transcription typists move out of the office to be able to work from potentially anywhere in the world.

               

The decrypt password for the two encrypted .ds2 audio samples above is 1234

In 2009 the DSS Pro version of DSS was released which resulted in a new file format ending in .ds2 - the Pro format recognised the need for security in the internet world and allowed for encryption of the audio file, essential and a requirement now for confidential audio created by most of the digital dictaphone users today, mainly legal and medical professionals.

To play these file formats .dss / .ds2 you would need proprietary software, although the older .dss format has been cracked and many free transcription programs have the ability to play back .dss. But if you are serious about confidentiality as an author or serious about transcription as a typist then only the three who created the .ds2 format offer software to both play back and encrypt / decrypt dictation recorded in the .ds2 audio format which is now standard on all pro digital dictaphones.

Feel free to download the above DSS Pro .ds2 audio sample files to test playback in your audio / transcription software. The password for the encrypted files is 1234

Free Trials of both Olympus and Philips Software for Windows Are Available:

• Olympus ODMS R7 Free 60 day Trial
• Philips SpeechExec Pro Transcribe Free 30 day Trial

What Olympus and Philips software can playback the .ds2 audio format?

DSS Pro .ds2 Audio Files - Not Encrypted can be played with:

• Olympus ODMS R7 Dictation & Transcription Module for Windows
• Philips SpeechExec Pro Transcribe
• Olympus ODMS R6 Dictation & Transcription Module for Windows (discontinued)
• DSS Player Pro R5 Dictation & Transcription Module for Windows (discontinued)
• DSS Player Plus v7 for MacOS

DSS Pro .ds2 Audio Files - 256bit Encrypted can only be played with:

• Olympus ODMS R7 Dictation & Transcription Module for Windows
• Philips SpeechExec Pro Transcribe
• Olympus ODMS R6 Dictation & Transcription Module for Windows (discontinued)
• DSS Player Plus v7 for MacOS

DSS Pro .ds2 Audio Files - 128bit Encrypted can be played with:

• Olympus ODMS R7 Dictation & Transcription Module for Windows
• Philips SpeechExec Pro Transcribe
• Olympus ODMS R6 Dictation & Transcription Module for Windows (discontinued)
• DSS Player Pro R5 Dictation & Transcription Module for Windows (discontinued)
• DSS Player Plus v7 for MacOS

 

The latest professional digital dictaphone from Olympus comes packed with modern features and functions including wifi connectivity. When connected to any wifi network (office, home, local coffee shop) it is possible to email your digital dictation direct from the Olympus DS-9500 itself, perfect if you are working from home or out and about and can find a wifi hotspot.

• No need to return to your desk to dock your dictaphone
• Connect to any wifi hotspot anywhere and email your digital dictation

The process to configure your Olympus DS-9500 to send digital dictation via wifi is as follows.

Note: You can only set this up using the Olympus ODMS R7 Dictation Module for Windows. Mac users at the time of writing there is no way to configure this using DSS Player Plus for MacOS, you will need to find a friend or colleague with a Windows computer (the Olympus DS-9500 comes with a software install licence for both Windows and Mac).

1. Via the Dictation Module - configure your docked Olympus DS-9500 to use a wifi network (you can add multiple WiFi networks) - click here for a detailed guide

2. Create an email profile - this defines the email message the will be used when attaching your audio file - click here for a detailed guide

 

3. Add the email address of the people who will be the recipients of your .ds2 audio files - click here for a detailed guide

 

Important: Make sure that during all the above steps you apply the changes, this ensures that the settings made in the Dictation Module are flashed to the Olympus DS-9500

 

 4. Finally, to email your digital dictation from your Olympus DS-9500 using the settings just configured - click here for a detailed guide

 

 

 

We are pleased to announce that we have just added the option to pay by Bitcoin or Ethereum along with the traditional methods of payment, credit card and bank transfer.

Why have we done this you may ask? Well we love technology and new innovations, crypto currency is something that we are interested in and feel it now has a place in mainstream e-commerce so we wanted to test it out. Many people now own some form of crypto currency, Bitcoin being the most well known and the original but there has been huge interest in recent years in alt coins (the other ones) like Ethereum and Ripple.

We have partnered with Coinbase, a secure online platform for buying, selling, transferring, and storing digital currency which is fully supported by our online ecommerce platform Shopify. 

New from Olympus Australia in the LS range is the Olympus LS-P4. Traditionally the LS series were aimed at musicians with its high quality audio recording across the range of volume from soft to extremely loud. Now Olympus have added videographers to the target market by adding a hot shoe adapter to place the recorder on top of popular 4K recording DSLRs including Olympus' very own range of OM-D cameras.

This is the first Olympus recorder to incorporate the ability to record in the lossless FLAC audio format (it can also record in linear PCM wav and mp3). With FLAC recording you can achieve near perfect 96kHz/24-bit recordings that are better than CD quality but with file sizes which are up to 30% smaller compared to the PCM WAV format. It's the FLAC format that will get the video people and the musicians excited, that paired with the incredible in-built tresmic microphones for superb audio pickup.

Weighing in at only 75g with the single AAA rechargeable battery on-board the little Olympus LS-P4 packs a punch protected in it's metal body with up-to 39 hours of battery life off one charge. The Olympus LS-P4 comes with 8Gb of memory built in and the option to pop in a microSD card up-to 32Gb for additional storage.

More videos over in our main blog - Olympus LS-P4 What The FLAC?

Recently Olympus Australia launched their new Olympus DS-9500 pro dictaphone, ousting the old faithful DS-7000 and bringing with it WiFi connectivity and an ODMS upgrade.

ODMS R7 looks pretty much the same as ODMS R6 so will be familiar to existing users. What is new though is WiFi connectivity which enables the DS-9500 to send audio, over wifi rather than through the dock, saving you a trip back to your desk every time you want to send dictation. Early reports from users who have upgraded from the DS-7000 or DS-5000 is positive, they like this feature.

What do I need to setup wifi transfer?

Olympus WCS or Wireless Communication Service is what you need. Its a program that runs on a Windows PC or server and provides the link from DS-9500 to your shared network folders from which the transcription modules can auto collect the audio. The WCS installer is free (no licence required) and comes with the ODMS R7 software (you can download the latest version at any time from dictat.es/r7 )

Drop into the WCS folder, right click on the setup.exe and "Run as Administrator" to install the WCS client:

Click through the Flexera InstallShield screens (next, next, next) and take the defaults, including the default port 9500 (you can change this later). When you get to the "Enable device management by SCP" you can leave this un-ticked. This is only used in larger organisations where administrators can manage many device profiles from a central location:

Once installed you will need to restart your PC or server: 

When your computer restarts you will be able to find the Olympus WCS and its settings:

From within the settings you can define the location for the audio files to be places, there are advanced options to store files based on author ID. The next step is to create a wireless profile on your Olympus DS-9500, you will need to know the IP address of the computer that the WCS service is running in, it is preferred that it is a static IP address.

Full details on all of the above in the official Olympus WCS Admin Guide 

Olympus Australia today announced the up and coming release of the new Olympus DS-9500 professional digital dictaphone to replace the long running DS-7000 work horse.

With its sleeker look and updated animated display the DS-9500 is expect to be unleashed on Australia on 11th April.

Also announced was an update to the Olympus ODMS (Olympus Dictation Management System) dictation and transcription module Windows software moving to release R7 (no mention of a Mac DSS Player Plus update :-( ). Also a refresh for the AS-7000 transcription kit now rebranded as the AS-9000 with the ODMS R7 software.