Olympus DSS Player for Mac

User Reviews

• This is NOT the software, but an UPDATE

  drtyrellJanuary 11, 2014

  Pros

  Pretends to be what you're looking for.

  Cons

  This is merely an update to non-existent software.

  Summary

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• sorta works.

  bschlenderDecember 11, 2010

  Pros

  sorta works.

  Cons

  byzantine.

  Summary

  Olympus has had ten years to make this product what it ought to be and hasn't gotten there yet.

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• a q&d port from windows

  tomkSeptember 12, 2010

  Pros

  it transfers dss files from the voice recorder, when it isn't crashing.

  Cons

  very poor human interface design - a visually ugly mishmash of confusing elements and "ya can't get there from here" thinking. the programmer(s) simply don't have a clue about gui programming. or interface design guidelines.

  Summary

  this is not a programme designed for the mac, and it really shows. i would pay to use an alternative - ANY alternative - that connects with my olympus voice recorder (and preferably converts to a standard sound format, so i never have to use olympus' software again).<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Sep 12, 2010<p/>ATTN OLYMPUS: when posting software updates, it would be most helpful (really) to include a note, somewhere, like right in the title or the first line of the description, about which previous versions can or cannot be updated. "suck it and see" is not the right approach, especially if you want paying customers to ever buy your products again.

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• Good Grief...is this the best they could do?

  kskelley6210August 2, 2010

  Pros

  I found no pros.

  Cons

  Simple functions like changing a file name are next to impossible. The functions aren't intuitive. Occasional users till have to read the directions every time they use the software. The only thing worse than the software is the directions.

  Summary

  First off, I hate the software that came with the Olympus digital recorder. It would make sense to have drag and drop capabilities when downloading. Instead it takes multiple steps to import the files from the recorder to the computer. Very disappointing.

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• User interface greatly enhanced

  dhstarrJuly 25, 2010

  Pros

  User interface is greatly improved. It appeared to be faster.

  Cons

  I really did not notice any negatives in this release.

  Summary

  UPGRADE!!

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• useful fixes to base v6 DSS software, v6 is cheap!

  CNET-W4CHLJanuary 28, 2010

  Pros

  - good manipulation of DSS, even WMA files in newer Olympus recorders - inexpensive base software (under $20, sometimes under $10) - if you only manipulate DSS and WMA files from recorders, handy tool to have

  Cons

  - some freeware offers most of the functions on WMA files, even for limited DSS translation (see NCH site) - only two recent upgrades, this one which provides needed fixes for base V6 and a V7 upgrade available from Olympus web site.

  Summary

  The base software for which this is an upgrade is available inexpensively (try eBay), even the Olympus site it is under $20. There are functions here specific to use of DSS/WMA digital recorders for transcription that are very nice to have (uses indexes, allows insertion and maintenance of indexes). Freeware available gets you other features and this is not a tool for managing other audio files.

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• This is not the player - it is an UPDATE

  fschwab3September 24, 2009

  Pros

  Waste of time and effort

  Cons

  Requires a basic player

  Summary

  One must have the basic player for this update. The player costs about $45.00. I needlessly downloaded the update only to find that it wasn't a functional player. The info regarding it's true nature is buried in the specifications section of the description.

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• very user-friendly

  lyndallbAugust 31, 2009

  Pros

  Keeps cutting out and I need to relaunch it. Can be irritating and time-consuming when I am working to a deadline.

  Cons

  Not much at all that I don't like

  Summary

  Except for the fact that quite often now the system shuts down mid voice file and I have to relaunch it, I like the product. Is there any software I can download to update my version 6 DSS Olympus player? Would appreciate your prompt response. lyndall.bauer@gmail.com

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• Utter rubbish.

  HerrFunkenOctober 7, 2007

  Pros

  Cons

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Why this awful bit of software gets a 3 stars I don't know. My Olympus dictaphone otoh, is really very good (DM-20)- but this DSS Player software?? I've just upgraded from version 1.x.x and apart from not having files in the shared folder and in documents instead, this update is utter rubbish and personally, Olympus should be ashamed of themselves. For a start the DSS Player application is really not very OSX at all- it even looks like it's been ported from 9 then left to 'rot'. Not even the scroll function, built into almost every other application seems to work- and the fonts all look like a hangover from OS9.x. I don't know what the Windows version of this software is like- probably a lot better than the Mac version? No prizes there then? Not good IMO. AND there is still no option for mp3 or AAC conversion in the software (okay fair play- all those who use the excellent iListen, need AIF files, but at least iListen is developed by people who care about the Apple Mac platform, unlike Olympus). Sorry for the rant, but I'm still having to drop all my files into iTunes just to convert them to mp3/4's and it's driving me nuts, and I've been doing this all morning. I'd rather be outside playing with my children :( :( :(

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• Not great, but it works

  blappitydooSeptember 10, 2005

  Pros

  Cons

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Nowadays, I'm just happy that there is a mac version. But there are definite bugs. The software insists on naming all your local folders "Folder A," Folder B, etc. , even though it lets you rename the ones on the recorder itself. It should download things on the recorder to folders of the same name, but doesn't. Also, when you select multiple recordings and say "convert to AIFF," it only converts one. Those are the features I use most often. It really needs to learn how to work with iTunes. So crappy interface, but it does work, if you don't mind Windows-level usability and bugs.

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