DIGITAL VOICE
RECORDER

VN-541PC
VN-540PC
USER MANUAL

Getting started

1

Recording2

Playback

3

Editing

4

Use with a PC

5

Other information

6

EN

Thank you for purchasing our company’s digital voice recorder.
Please read these instructions for information about using the product correctly and safely.
Keep the instructions handy for future reference.
• To ensure successful recording, we recommend that you test the record function and volume
before use.
• If there are additions and/or modifications of functions due to firmware update for therecorder, the contents will differ. For the latest information, please visit our website.

Table of contents
Names of parts.................................... 4

1 Getting started
Setup................................................... 5
Inserting the batteries.........................................6
Turning the power ON.........................................7
Setting the time/date..........................................7
Setting the beeping sounds..............................8

Batteries.............................................. 9
Turning the power OFF...................... 9Preventing accidental operation..... 10
Setting HOLD mode...........................................10
Releasing HOLD mode......................................10

2 Recording
Recording.......................................... 11
Changing the recording scene.......................11
Basic recording procedure...............................12
Monitoring while recording............................13
Recording with an external microphone....13

Recording from another connected
device................................................ 14
Recording audio from another device withthis recorder..........................................................14
Recording audio from this recorder withanother device.....................................................14

EN
2

3 Playback
Playback............................................ 15
Basic playback procedure.................................15
Fast-forwarding....................................................16
Rewinding..............................................................17
Skipping to the beginning of a file ..............17
Playback through the earphones..................18

Changing the playback speed......... 19
Repeat playback............................... 20
Folder/File repeat playback.............................20
A/B repeat playback...........................................20

Reducing noise during playback(Noise Cancel)................................... 21

4 Editing
Changing the information screen.... 22
Preventing accidental file erasure(File Lock).......................................... 22
Index marks/temp marks................. 23
Writing an index mark/temp mark................23
Erasing an index mark/temp mark................23

Erasing files....................................... 24
Erase a single file..................................................24
Erase all the files in the folder.........................24

Formatting the internal memory.... 26﻿﻿Table of contents
5 Use with a PC
PC operating environment.............. 27
PC connection/disconnection.......... 28
Connecting the voice recorder to a PC........28
Disconnecting the voice recorderfrom a PC................................................................29

Loading a file to a PC........................ 30

6 Other information
Troubleshooting............................... 31
Recorder care.................................... 33
Accessories (optional)...................... 34
Copyright and trademark
information....................................... 35
Safety precautions........................... 36
Specifications.................................... 40

Indications used in this manual
NOTE
Describes precautions and operations thatshould be absolutely avoided in using thevoice recorder.
TIP
Describes useful information and hints thatwill help you getting the most out of yourvoice recorder.

☞

Indicates reference pages describing details
or related information.

EN
3

Names of parts
1

0

12 3

45

: VN-541PC
model only2
Names of parts

6
3
4
5
6
7
8

7
!
@
#
$
%
^
&

9

RecorderEN
4

1 Built-in microphone
2 m (microphone) jack
3 Display
4 USB connector
5 l (index/repeat)button6 n (recording
scene, folder/noise
cancel) button
7 p (playback, pause)
button8 0 button
9 Built-in speaker
0 q (earphone) jack

8
9

*
(

! LED indicator light@ o (power, hold)button# REC (record) switch$ + button% 9 button^ k (erase) button& – button* Battery cover( Strap hole
Display

1 Repeat
2 File lock
3 File number/Total
number of recorded

files in folder,
A/B repeat
4 Volume
5 Battery
6 Folder (recording scene)
7 Voice recorder status(recording, playback,fast playback, slow
playback)
8 Time and date,
Recording scene
9 Indicator display
area (recording date,time and date, remain,index/temp mark,erase, noise cancel,
hold, format, beep)

Getting started
Setup

Usage examples

Getting
startedAfter unpacking the voice recorder, follow thesteps below to have it ready for use.

3
Getting
started3
Getting
startedRecording meetings and discussions meansthat if you miss something important, you
can listen to it again as many times as you liketo confirm the content.

3
Getting
started

1 Inserting the batteries

1
Setup

This product is a voice recorder that is easy
to use for all age groups, from children tosenior citizens. It can be used in a range ofsituations, such as in business, or recording
memos.

2 Turning the power ON
3 Setting the time/date

Set the voice recorder’s clock for
use with file management.

the beeping
4 SettingsoundsThis recorder also features Noise Cancel
function useful for transcription, as well as
faster and slower playback.
Record messages as well aschanges to schedules insteadof taking memos. Simple
one-handed recording
means it is easierthan writing in a
notebook.

×

This voice recorder
can also be connected
to a PC, and used as
mass USB storage.
This is convenient fortransferring large files
such as image data
between computers.

EN
5

SetupInserting the batteries

1

Before using the voice recorder, insert the batteries in the battery compartment of the voicerecorder.

Setup

1

3

Slide open the battery coverwhile pressing down on it.

Pull up the battery cover in the
direction of 1.

4 Align the battery cover with thevoice recorder. (2)

1
2

1

2

2

Insert the batteries, making
sure its positive and negative
terminals are placed correctly.

2

EN
6

3

• Do not close the battery cover while
the batteries are still loose.

1

Insert the battery’s
negative terminal first.

5 Slide the battery cover in the
direction of 3 to close it.

SetupTurning the power ON
1

While the voice recorder is turnedoff, press and hold the o button.

Setting the time/date
Set the time and date beforehand to enableeasier management of recorded files.

Press the 9 (p) or 0
button to select the desired
setting item.

2

Press the + or – button to change
the number.

Setup

1

1

TIP
• If you install batteries for the first timeor replaced with new ones, the [hour]
indicator will flash automatically when
the power is turned on.

• To change the setting of another item,
press the 9 or 0 button to movethe blinking cursor, then press the + or
– button to change the number.

3

Press the p button to finalize
the setting.

EN
7

SetupTIP

1

Setting the beeping sounds

Setup• When setting the hour or minute, eachtime you press the n button thedisplay changes between the AM/PM
and 24-hour clock formats.
Example: 10 : 38 PM
PM 10 : 38
(default format)

22 : 38• When setting the year, month or date,each time you press the n button
the display order used for the datechanges.
Example: March 24, 201603. 24. ,16(default format)

The voice recorder makes beeping sounds
when buttons are pressed, or to warn in caseof operation errors. You can select whether
the voice recorder makes these beeping
sounds.

1

24. 03. ,16[ON]
Enables beeping sounds.
[OFF]
Disables beeping sounds.

NOTE• If the batteries in the voice recorder are
replaced with new ones, the [DATE]
screen is displayed automatically when
the power is turned on.
• Even if the voice recorder is not used
for a long period of time, when thebatteries are used up, the time and datemust be re-entered.

EN
8

Press the 9 or 0 button to
select [ON] or [OFF].

2

Press the p button to finalize
the setting.
• After beeping sound has been set,
version information will be displayed,
and then voice recorder will enter stopmode.

BatteriesTurning the power OFF

Battery indicator

Existing data, mode settings and the clock
setting are saved when the power is turnedoff.

As the battery loses its remaining charge, thebattery indicator on the display changes asfollows:1• [] indicates there is little remaining
battery charge. Replace it with a fresh one.
] and
When the batteries has run out, [[LO] appear, and operation stops.

Battery precautions• The voice recorder does not support
manganese batteries.
• Always turn power OFF before replacing
the batteries. Files may be damaged if
the batteries are removed while the voicerecorder is recording or performing an
operation such as erasing a file.
• You need to reset the time/date if thebatteries are replaced. See “Setting thetime/date” (☞ P.7) for the procedure.
• When not using the voice recorder foran extended period, always remove thebatteries before storage.
],• Even if the battery indicator is [playback with the built-in speaker at somevolumes may result in a drop in battery
output voltage, causing the voice recorderto reset. Lower the volume in this case.
• The continuous battery usage time willvary depending on the performance of thebattery in use (☞ P.41).

TIP• Turning the power OFF whenever thevoice recorder is not in use minimizes
battery consumption.

1
Batteries/Turning the power OFF

Press and hold the o button whilethe voice recorder is in stop mode.

Power Save mode
When the voice recorder has been
stopped for at least 5 minutes after power
ON, the power turns off automatically.

For users in Germany
Our company has an agreement with the
GRS (Joint Battery Disposal Association) in
Germany to ensure environmentally-friendly
battery disposal.

EN
9

Preventing accidental operation
Setting the voice recorder to HOLD mode maintains the current operation and disables button
operations.

1
Preventing accidental operation

Setting HOLD mode

Releasing HOLD mode

1

1

Press and hold the o button
during recording or playback.

[HOLD] appears in the display,
and the recorder enters HOLD
mode.
• Even if in HOLD mode, the REC switch
can be moved to the ON and OFF
positions.

Press and hold the o button
during HOLD mode.

TIP• HOLD mode is automatically released
after recording or playback finishes.

NOTE• When any button is pressed during HOLD mode, [HOLD] appears in the display for 2
seconds. No other operation is performed.
• Setting HOLD mode during voice recorder playback (or recording) continues the playback(or recording) operation and prevents any other operation from being performed. (Thevoice recorder stops when playback ends or when recording ends because, for example,
there is no remaining memory space.)EN
10

Recording
Recording
You can select from four recording scenes on this voice recorder - [MEMO], [TALK], [MUSIC],
and [LP]*. Recorded audio will be stored in the same folder as the selected recording scenes.
Each folder can store up to 199 files.
* VN-541PC model only

2
Recording

Changing the recording scene[MEMO]

Suitable for recording your own voice and other sounds that are extremely close.

[TALK]

Suitable for recording meetings held in a small space and other sounds that are fairly close.

[MUSIC]

Suitable for recording realistic audio with exceptional clarity such as live recording of amusical instrument performance or out in the open air.

[LP]*

Suitable for recording for a long time.

* VN-541PC model only1

While the voice recorder is in stop
mode, press the n button.
a

TIP• To record the speaker’s voice clearly, set[MEMO], and place the voice recorder’sbuilt-in microphone near the speaker’s
mouth (5 to10 cm away).

b
a Folder in which the recorded file isstoredb Recording scene• Press the n button to switch
between recording scenes.

EN
11

Recording
Basic recording procedure
1

2

Changing the recording scene(☞ P.11).

TIP• Each new voice recording file is savedin the selected folder.

Recording

2

3

Point the built-in microphonein the direction of the sound torecord.

NOTE

Slide the REC switch to start
recording in the direction of thearrow.
abca File number/Total number ofrecorded files in folderb Voice recorder status indicator(during recording)c Elapsed recording time
• The LED indicator light lights.

4

Slide the REC switch to stop
recording in the direction of thearrow.

dEN
12

d File length• Even when the power is turned off, you
can immediately start recording bysliding the REC switch up.

• To prevent the beginning of therecording being cut off, start recording
after the LED indicator light has lit orrecording indicator has appeared in
the display.
• When the remaining possible recording
time is 60 seconds, the LED indicatorlight starts flashing. It flashes more
rapidly as the remaining time decreases(at the 30- and 10-second points).
• If the number of files inside therecorder reached 199 or the memory
becomes full, you will not be able torecord any further, and [FULL] will
be displayed. You will need to delete
unnecessary files to record more(☞ P.24).

Recording
Monitoring while recording
You can monitor the recording as you aremaking it by listening on the earphones
plugged into the voice recorder’s q jack.
Use the + or – button to adjust the recording
monitor volume.

1

Connect the earphones to thevoice recorder’s q jack.

You can record audio input using an external
microphone or other device connected to
the voice recorder’s m jack. Do not plug or
unplug devices into voice recorder jacks
while recording.
• Microphones with plug-in power supplies
can be used.

1

2
Recording• The earphones is not supplied.

Recording with an external
microphone

Connect an external microphone
to the voice recorder’s m jack.

To q jackTo m jack• Changing the volume will not affectthe recording level.
NOTE• To avoid unpleasantly loud sound, set
the volume to [00] before plugging in
the earphone.
• To prevent feedback, do not place theearphone near the microphone while
recording.

2

Start recording.
• See “Recording” (☞ P.12) for
descriptions of recording operations.
TIP• See “Accessories (optional)”(☞ P.34) for the compatible external
microphones.

EN
13

Recording from another connected device
Recording audio from anotherdevice with this recorder

2
Recording from another connected device

Audio can be recorded when you haveconnected the audio output terminal(earphone jack) of another device and the mjack of the recorder by using the connecting
cord KA333 (optional).

To audio input terminalof other device
To m jack

NOTE

14

Audio from this recorder can be recorded
to another device by connecting the audio
input terminal (microphone jack) of the otherdevice and the q jack of this recorder using
the connecting cord KA333 (optional).

To audio output terminalof other device• When recording from a connected
external device, perform a test
recording and adjust the output levelof the connected device as needed.

EN

Recording audio from this recorderwith another device

To q jackPlaybackPlayback
In addition to files recorded by the voice recorder, you can also play files in WMA format
transferred from a PC.

Basic playback procedure
1

2

3

Press the p button to start
playback.

• Immediately after selecting the file,the following file information will be
displayed in order.

Playback

Select the file to play from thefolder containing it.

g
h

a
b

g Voice recorder status indicator(during playback)h Elapsed playback timeca Current filenumberb Current folderc Recordingdate
d Recordingtime
e File lengthf File start3
dPress the + or – button to adjust
the volume to the desired level.
iefi Volume• The volume can be adjusted to asetting between [00] to [30]. The
higher the number, the louder thevolume.
• If the volume is set too loud, a warning
screen may appear.

EN
15

Playback4

3

Press the p button to stop
playback.

Fast-forwarding

Playback• The file being played stops right away.
The resume function automaticallystores the playback stop position inmemory. The position is retained even
if the power is turned off. The nexttime the power is turned on, playback
can be resumed from the stop position
stored in the memory.
• If the end of a file is reached without
the p button being pressed, thenit will stop at the beginning of thenext file.

1

Press and hold the 9 button
during playback.
• Playback starts from the current
position when you release the 9
button.
• If an index mark or temp mark in thefile is reached, fast-forwarding stops at
the mark (☞ P.23).
• Fast-forwarding stops when the end of
the file is reached.
TIP• Press the 9 button during playback
to skip forward 10 seconds.

EN
16

PlaybackRewinding

Skipping to the beginning of a file3
Playback

1

Press and hold the 0 button
during playback.
• Playback starts from the current
position when you release the 0
button.
• If an index mark or temp mark in thefile is reached, rewinding stops at themark (☞ P.23).
• Rewinding stops when the beginningof the file is reached.

Skipping to the beginning of thenext file1

Press the 9 button while thevoice recorder is in stop mode.
Skipping to the beginning of thecurrent file

1

TIP

Press the 0 button while thevoice recorder is in stop mode.
Skipping to the beginning of theprevious file

• Press the 0 button during playback
to rewind 3 seconds.

1

Press the 0 button when
the playback position is the
beginning of the file.
TIP• To skip the files continuously, pressing
the 9 or 0 button while therecorder is in stop mode.

EN
17

PlaybackPlayback through the earphones
You can connect the earphones to the voicerecorder’s q jack and listen to playback
through them.
• The earphones are optional.

3

1

Connect the earphones to thevoice recorder’s q jack.

Playback
To q jack2

Press the p button to start
playback.
• There will be no sound from the speaker
when the earphones are connected.

f CAUTION• Avoid excessive volume when listening toplayback through the earphones.
It may cause hearing damage or loss.
NOTE

EN
18

• To avoid unpleasantly loud sound, set
the volume to [00] before plugging in
the earphone.
• If the volume is set too loud, a warning
screen may appear.

Music files
If a music file transferred to the voice recorderis unplayable, check that its sampling rate,
bit count and bit rate values are within the
supported ranges. The sampling rate, bitcount and bit rate combinations supported
for music file playback by the voice recorder
are shown below.
File format

Sampling rate

WMA format

8 kHz,
22.05 kHz,44.1 kHzBit rate
5 to 320 kbps

• Even if the file formats is compatible forplayback on this recorder, the recorder does
not support every encoder.

Changing the playback speed
Changing the playback speed is handy for speeding up conference presentations, or for slowing
down parts difficult to discern when learning a language.

1

3

Press and hold the p button
during playback.

Press the p button to finalize
the setting.
baPress the + or – button.

b Voice recorder status indicator(during fast-playback)
NOTE• The playback speed can be adjusted
between [x0.5] and [x2.0] in 0.1
increments.
• The playback speed increases whenthe + button is pressed, and decreases
when the – button is pressed.
• To return to the normal playback
speed, set the setting to [x1.0].
TIP• Press and hold the p button on
the playback speed screen to return
to [x1.0] at once.

• Altered playback speed settings are
retained even after power OFF.
• Changing the playback speed will makethe battery deplete more quickly.
• Noise Cancel function will not be
available while you are changing the
playback speed (☞ P.21).

Changing the playback speed

a Playback speed

2

3

Fast playback restrictions
Depending on their sampling frequency andbit rate, some files may not play normally.
In this case, you will need to reduce theplayback speed.

EN
19

Repeat playback
Folder/File repeat playback

A/B repeat playback

You can select the repeat range in the file or
the folder.

1

3

Press and hold the l button
while the voice recorder is in stopmode.
a

The voice recorder has a function withwhich you repeat the playback of a portion(segment) of the file being played.

Repeat playback

1

Select a file for A/B repeat
playback, and start playback.

2

Press and hold the l button
when playback reaches thedesired start position for A/B
repeat playback.

a Repeat indicator]:
Plays the files in the current folder
repeatedly.
[]:
Plays the current file repeatedly.
[• Press and hold the l button toswitch repeat settings.

2

EN
20

Release the p button to finalize
the setting.

• [A] will flash on the display.
TIP• You can change the playback speed(☞ P.19), and fast-forward/rewind(☞ P.16, P.17) when the [A]indicator is blinking.
• If playback reaches the end of the filewhen the [A] indicator is blinking,the end of the file is treated as thesegment end position, and repeat
playback starts.

Repeat playback
3

Press and hold the l button
again when playback reaches
the desired end position for A/B
repeat playback.

Reducing noise during
playback (Noise Cancel)
Use the Noise Cancel function to reduce noise
when a recorded voice is difficult to discern.

1

Press and hold the n button
while the voice recorder is in stop
mode, or during playback.

4aPress the p button.
• Playback stops. The playback segment
specified for this function is retained.

a Noise Cancel indicator
NOTE

NOTE
• You cannot write index marks or temp
marks during A/B repeat playback.

Canceling A/B repeat playback
1• Using the Noise Cancel function will
make the battery deplete more quickly.
• Noise Cancel function will not be
available while you are changing the
playback speed (☞ P.19).

Reducing noise during playback (Noise Cancel)• Segment A/B is set, and A/B repeat
playback starts.

3

Press and hold the l button
while the voice recorder is in stop
mode, or during playback.

NOTE• A/B repeat playback function will becancelled in case position of the filereaches beginning or end of the file bypressing the 9 or 0 buttons.

EN
21

Editing

4

Changing theinformation screen

Preventing accidental
file erasure (File Lock)

Press and hold the p button while the voicerecorder is in stop mode to display the remaining
recording time, as well as the current time/date.
Continue press and hold the p button todisplay the time/date settings screen (☞ P.7).

With the file lock feature you can lockimportant files to prevent them being
accidentally erased. Once locked, file is noterased even if the operation for erasing all thefiles in its folder is performed (☞ P.24).

1

Changing the information screen/
Preventing accidental file erasure (File Lock)

Press and hold the p button whilethe voice recorder is in stop mode.

NOTE• Select the file you want to lock, and stopat the start of the file.

aa Remaining
possiblerecordingtime
b Current datec Current timed Setting thetime/datee Setting the
beepingsoundsf Version
information22

Select the file you want to lock.

2

Press the l button while thevoice recorder is in stop mode.
abca File lock indicator
d

e

EN

1

f

Index marks/temp marks
Writing an index mark or temp mark in a file enables you to quickly access desired position in
the file with the same operations used for fast-forwarding, rewinding or skipping to the startof a file. Files created using this voice recorder have index marks written to them. It may not be
possible to write index marks to files created using other recorders from our company. Files towhich index marks cannot be written have temp marks written. Additionally, temp marks are
written to files created with devices from other companies.

Erasing an index mark/temp mark1

1

Select a file that contains index
mark/temp mark you want toerase and start playback.

2

Use the 9 or 0 button to
select the index mark/temp markyou want to erase.

3

When the number of the index
mark/temp mark to erase is being
shown (for about 2 seconds) inthe display, press the k button.

When the desired position has beenreached press the l button towrite an index mark or temp mark.

aba Number of the index mark/temp markb Index mark/temp mark indicator

4
Index marks/temp marks

Writing an index mark/temp mark

NOTE
• Temp marks are temporary markings.
They are automatically erased when you
select a different file, or when recorder isconnected to a PC.
• You can write up to 99* index marks/
temp marks in a single file. The message[FULL] appears if you attempt to write
more than 99* marks.
(99: for VN-541PC/16: for VN-540PC)• You cannot write or erase index marks/
temp marks in files that have been locked
by the file lock function (☞ P.22).
• Index marks/temp marks cannot be
written to the beginning of files.
• If the files created on this voice recorder
are played back on a PC, the index marks
may not be retained.

• Any subsequent index marks/temp
marks in the file are automaticallyrenumbered.

EN
23

Erasing files
This section describes how to erase a single unnecessary file from a folder, erase all the files in
the current folder at once. Files cannot be restored after being erased, so please check carefully
before erasing a file.

Erase a single file

Erase all the files in the folder

1

Select the file you want to erase.

1

2

Press the k button while thevoice recorder is in stop mode.

Select the folder from which toerase all files.

2

Press the k button while thevoice recorder is in stop mode.

3

Press the k button again.

4

Press the 0 button to select[YES].

5

Press the p button.

4
Erasing files

The file of this number iserased. After it is erased,
renumbering is performed
automatically.
• The voice recorder returns to thestopped mode if no operation is
performed for 8 seconds.

3

Press the 0 button to select[YES].

• [END] appears when the process has
finished.

4
EN
24

Press the p button.
• [END] appears when the process has
finished.

Erasing files
NOTE

4
Erasing files• Locked files and read-only files cannot
be erased (☞ P.22).
• If there is a file that cannot be recognizedby the recorder, the file will not be erased.
The voice recorder must be connected toa PC to erase these files.
• Before erasing a file, replace the battery
to ensure it will not run out before theprocess has finished. Erasing processes
can take over 10 seconds to complete.
To prevent the risk of damage to data,
never remove the battery before an
erasing process has finished.

EN25

Formatting the internal memory
Formatting the internal memory erases all existing files saved on it. Be sure to transfer allimportant files to a PC before formatting.

1

While the voice recorder is instop mode, press and hold the kbutton for more than 3 seconds.

4
Formatting the internal memory
EN
26

5

Press the p button.

• [END] appears when the process has
finished.

2

Press the 0 button to select[YES].

3

Press the p button.

4

Press the 0 button to select[YES] again.

NOTE• Never format the voice recorder froma PC.
• Formatting erases all the existing data,
including locked files and read-only files.
• Time/date settings as well as various
set content will retain information frombefore formatting.
• Before formatting, replace the battery
to ensure it will not run out before theprocess has finished. The formatting
process can sometimes take over 10
seconds to complete. To prevent the risk ofdamage to data, never remove the battery
before a formatting process has finished.
• Even when formatting or erasing(☞ P.24) is performed, only thefile management information of theinternal memory is updated and therecorded data is not completely erased.
Before giving the voice recorder tosomebody or disposing of it, perform
initialization and then record silence
until there is no recording timeremaining in order to prevent theleakage of personal information.

Use with a PC
PC operating environment
The requirements shown are the operating environments needed for using a USB connection tosave files recorded by the voice recorder on a PC.
Windows
Operating system: Microsoft Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10 standard installation
PC: Windows PC with at least one available USB port
Macintosh
Operating system: Mac OS X 10.5 to 10.11 standard installation
PC: Apple Macintosh series PC with at least one available USB port

PC connection precautions• When uploading or downloading a file to or from the voice recorder, data transfer willcontinue as long as the voice recorder’s LED indicator light is flashing. Never disconnect
the USB connector before data communication has finished. Always use the procedureon ☞ P.29 to disconnect the USB connector. Data may not be transferred correctly if
you disconnect the connector before the drive has stopped.
• Do not format (initialize) the voice recorder’s drive from a PC. Formatting done from a
PC will not be done correctly.
• Voice recorder folders or files that are moved or renamed in a Windows or Macintosh file
management screen may be reordered or become unrecognizable.
• Note that it will still be possible to read and write data on the voice recorder after
setting the attribute of the voice recorder’s drive to ’Read only’ on a PC.
• To prevent nearby electronic devices being affected by noise, disconnect the external
microphone and earphones when connecting the voice recorder to a PC.

PC operating environment

NOTE• Even when the requirements for the operating environment are satisfied, updated
versions, multiboot environments, self-modified PCs and other compatible machines will
not be covered under the operational warranty.

5

EN
27

PC connection/disconnection
Connecting the voice recorder to a PC
1

Start the PC.

NOTE

2

Connect the USB cable to the USB
port of the PC.

3

After making sure the voicerecorder is in stop mode, connect
the USB cable to the connecting
port on this recorder.

• Insert the USB connector securely all
the way. Operation will not be normal if
the connection is not made properly.
• Connecting the voice recorder througha USB hub may result in unstable
operation. Do not use a USB hub if
operation is unstable.
• Use only our compatible micro USB
cable. Operation is not guaranteed if
another manufacturer’s cable is used.
Only use our micro USB cable with thevoice recorder and never use it withanother manufacture’s products.
Once the included micro USB cableis broken or lost, please contact theCustomer Support Center.

5
PC connection/disconnection
TIP

EN
28

• Windows: The voice recorder isrecognized and displayed in the[Computer] folder with the model
name as the drive name.
• Macintosh: The voice recorder isrecognized and displayed on thedesktop with the model name as thedrive name.
• For information on the PC’s USB port,
see the PC’s user manual.

PC connection/disconnection
Disconnecting the voice recorder from a PC
Windows

Macintosh

1

1

Click [ ] on the task bar in thelower right hand corner of thescreen and click [Eject DIGITAL
VOICE RECORDER].

Drag-and-drop the removabledisk icon for the voice recordershown on the desktop to thetrash can icon.

• The letter used to identify the drive
will vary according to your PC.
• When the window indicating it is safe
to remove hardware appears, close thewindow.

Check that the LED indicator lightof the voice recorder has stopped
blinking and then disconnect theUSB cable.

2

Check that the LED indicator lightof the voice recorder has stopped
blinking and then disconnect theUSB cable.

NOTE

PC connection/disconnection

2

5• To prevent the risk of data damage, never disconnect the voice recorder from the USB
port while the LED indicator light is flashing.

EN
29

Loading a file to a PC
Files recorded with the built-in microphone are saved in a folder named [RECORDER] on the
PC. You can copy voice recorder files to any folder on the PC.
Drive name

VN-541PC *Folder names

RECORDER

FolderMEMO(Memo)TALK(Talk)

MUSIC(Music)* Recognized/displayed byvoice recorder drive name.

002

199

File

5

001

LP

(LP)

VN-541PC model only

Loading a file to a PC

Windows

Macintosh

1

Connect the voice recorder to thePC (☞ P.28).

1

2Open Windows Explorer.
• When you open [Computer], the voicerecorder is recognized and displayedwith the model name as the drive
name.

3

Click on the folder labeled withyour voice recorder’s model
name.

4

Copy the desired data to the PC.

5

Disconnect the voice recorderfrom the PC (☞ P.29).

Copy these files to the PC.

Connect the voice recorder to thePC (☞ P.28).
• When the voice recorder is connectedto the Macintosh operating system,
it is recognized and displayed on thedesktop with the model name as thedrive name.

2

Double-click the removable disk
icon labeled with your voicerecorder’s model name.

3

Copy the desired data to the PC.

4

Disconnect the voice recorderfrom the PC (☞ P.29).

NOTE

EN
30

• To prevent the risk of data damage, never disconnect the voice recorder from the USB
port while the LED indicator light is flashing.

Other information
Troubleshooting
ProblemAlarmmessage

Possible cause

Solution

The batteries are not inserted
properly.

Check that the positive andnegative terminals of thebatteries are placed correctly(☞ P.6).

LO

The remaining battery poweris low.

Replace the batteries (☞ P.6).

-

The power is OFF.

Turn the power ON (☞ P.7).

LO

The remaining battery poweris low.

Replace the batteries (☞ P.6).

-

The power is OFF.

Turn the power ON (☞ P.7).

HOLD

The voice recorder is in HOLD
mode.

Release HOLD mode (☞ P.10).

FULL

There is no remaining memory.

Erase unnecessary files(☞ P.24).

FULL

The maximum number ofrecordable files (199) has beenreached.

Erase unnecessary files(☞ P.24).

-

The earphones are connected tothe q jack.

To output the playback throughthe built-in speaker, disconnect
the earphones.

-

The volume is set to [00].

Adjust the volume (☞ P.15).

The recording is
too quiet.

-

The output level of theconnected external device may
be too low.

Adjust the output level of theexternal device.

Missing audio file.

NO FILEThe file was recorded in adifferent folder.

Select another folder.

The display isblank.

Unable to operate
the voice recorder.

Unable to record.

Playback isinaudible.

6
Troubleshooting

-

EN
31

Troubleshooting
ProblemNoise during
playback.

Unable to erase
a file.

6
Troubleshooting

Noise whenmonitoring arecording.

Unable to write
index marks/temp
marks.

Playback speed isfast (or slow).

EN
32

Alarm
message

Possible cause

Solution-Objects brushed against thevoice recorder while recording.

Try your best not to touch thevoice recorder during recording.

-

The voice recorder wasplaced near a mobile phoneor fluorescent light during
recording or playback.

Redo the operation with thevoice recorder in a different
location.

LOCK

The file is locked.

You must unlock the file before
you can erase it (☞ P.22).

LOCK

The file is a read-only file.

Unlock the file, or undo the readonly setting on a PC.
Connecting a speaker with abuilt-in amplifier may cause
feedback during recording.
Using the earphones to monitor
recording is recommended.

-Feedback is being caused.

FULL

The maximum number of marks(99: for VN-541PC/16: for VN540PC) has been reached.

Erase unnecessary marks(☞ P.23).

LOCK

The file is locked.

Unlock the file (☞ P.22).

LOCK

The file is a read-only file.

Unlock the file, or undo the readonly setting on a PC.

-

Playback speed function is set toanything other than [x1.0].

Set the playback speed function
setting to [x1.0] (☞ P.19).

Adjust the recording setup suchas by moving the earphones andmicrophone farther apart, or
ensuring the microphone is notfacing the earphones.

Memory error.

ERROR

An internal memory error
occurred.

Contact the Customer Support
Center.

Format error.

ERROR

A formatting problem occurred.

Format the memory again(☞ P.26).

Recorder cares Exterior• If the voice recorder gets dirty, wipe gently with a soft cloth. If the recorder gets very dirty,
soak the cloth in mild soapy water and wring well. Wipe the recorder with the damp clothand then wipe it with a dry cloth.

s Display• If the display gets dirty, wipe gently with a soft cloth.
NOTE• Do not use benzene, alcohol or other strong solvents, or chemical cleaning cloths.

6
Recorder careEN
33

Accessories (optional)
Accessories for our voice recorders can be purchased directly from the Online Shop on the our
website.
Availability of accessories differs depending on the country.

ME52W mono microphone(unidirectional)
Designed to record sound from a
distance while minimizing the impact ofsurrounding noise.

ME34 compact zoom microphone(unidirectional)
Comes with an integrated stand ideal fortable placement when recording eventsfrom a distance, such as conferences or
lectures.

6
Accessories (optional)EN
34

ME33 boundary microphone
A microphone for recording conferencesthat enables connection of up to threeleft- and three right-channel units.
Cascade connection enables the left/right channel connections to beextended up to about 12 meters, tocapture sound from a broad range.

ME15 mono tie clip microphone(omnidirectional)
A small, unobtrusive microphone thatcomes with a tie-clip.

TP8 telephone pickup microphone
An earphone microphone that canbe worn in the ear during phone
calls. Clearly captures voices andconversations during phone calls.

KA333 connecting cord
A resistive connection cord with stereo
mini-plugs (3.5 mm diameter) on bothends. Used to connect the earphone jackoutput to the line input when recording.
Comes with plug adapters (PA331/
PA231) that adapt to mono mini plugs(3.5 mm diameter) or mono mini miniplugs (2.5 mm diameter).

CS131 Carrying case

Copyright and trademark information• The information in this document is subject to change in future without prior notice.
Contact Customer Support Center for the latest product names, model numbers and otherinformation.
• Voice recorder displays and product illustrations shown in this manual may differ fromthe actual product. While every precaution has been taken to ensure the accuracy of
the information in this manual, errors may occasionally arise. Any questions or concerns
regarding doubtful information, or possible errors or omissions should be directed to theCustomer Support Center.
• OM Digital Solutions Corporation is the copyright holders of this manual. Copyright law
prohibits unauthorized reproduction of this manual, or unauthorized distribution of
reproductions thereof.
• Note that we will not be held liable in the event of damages, lost earnings, or any claims
from third parties resulting from improper use of the product.

Trademarks and registered trademarks• Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
• Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Inc.

Copyright and trademark information

All other brand or product names in this manual are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective owners.

6

EN
35

Safety precautions
Before using the voice recorder, readthis manual to ensure correct and safe
operation. After reading this manual, be
sure to keep it on hand for ready reference
whenever needed.

Important safety precautions• Important safety precautions in thismanual are accompanied by the symbol
and labels below. Always follow theseprecautions to prevent harming yourself
or others, or causing damage to property.
• The meaning of each precaution type isgiven below.

6

f DANGER

Safety precautions

A precaution about an imminent
danger that is expected to result indeath or serious injury if equipment
is handed incorrectly.

f WARNING
A precaution about a situation thatis expected to potentially result indeath or serious injury if equipment ishandled incorrectly.

f CAUTION
A precaution about a situation thatis expected to potentially result ininjury, or is expected to result only
in property damage, if equipment ishandled incorrectly.

EN
36

Voice recorder safety precautions
f WARNING
s Do not use the voice recorder in
an atmosphere that might contain
flammable or explosive gases.
It may cause fire or explosion.

s Do not attempt to disassemble,
repair or modify the voice recorder.
It may cause electric shock or injury.

s Do not operate the voice recorderwhile operating a vehicle (such as abicycle, motorcycle or car).
It may cause traffic accidents.

s Do not leave the voice recorder ina location accessible to infants andchildren.
Pay attention when using the voicerecorder near an infant or child, taking
care not to leave it unattended. Infants
and children are unable to understandvoice recorder safety precautions, and are
at risk of accidents such as:– Strangulation caused by accidental
entanglement of the earphone cordaround the neck.
– Operation errors resulting in injury orelectric shock.

s If you notice unusual odor, noise,
heat, burning odor or smoke
coming from the recorder:
1 Disconnect batteries and USB connection
immediately, taking care not to burn or
injure yourself. Continued use may resultin fire or burns (Do not touch the productwith bare hands when it’s overheating).
2 Contact your place of purchase or service
center.

Safety precautionss If the voice recorder is dropped
in water or, if water, metal or
combustible foreign matter gets
inside:1 Remove the battery immediately.
2 Contact your place of purchase orservice center for repair. Continued use
may result in fire or electric shock.

s When carrying or storing thebattery, always place it in the caseand protect its terminals. Do notcarry or store the battery together
with precious metal items such as
key rings.
It may cause overheating, electric shockor fire.

s Do not connect the battery directly
to a power outlet or car cigarette
lighter.
s Do not use or leave the battery
in a hot location such as in direct
sunlight, inside a vehicle on a hot
day, or near a room heater.

f CAUTION

s Battery fluid in the eyes may cause
blindness. If battery fluid gets ineyes, do not rub the eyes. Instead,rinse them thoroughly with tap
water or other clean water rightaway. Go to doctor immediately.

s Do not raise the volume before
performing an operation.
Hearing damage or loss may result.

Batteries
f DANGERs Do not place the battery near
ignition sources.
s Do not incinerate, heat or
disassemble the battery. Do notshort-circuit the battery’s positive
and negative electrodes.
It may cause fire, ruptures, combustion or
overheating.

s Do not solder connections directly
onto the battery. Do not deform,
modify or disassemble the battery.

It may cause fire, burns or injuries fromleaking, overheating or ruptures.

f WARNING

6
Safety precautionss Do not use the voice recorder or
use it only as directed in airplanes,
hospitals or other locations
where use of electronic devices isrestricted.
s When carrying the voice recorderby its strap, take care to prevent it
becoming caught on other items.

s Do not touch or hold the battery
with wet hands.
It may cause electric shock or
malfunctions.

s Do not use a battery with ascratched or damaged case.
It may cause ruptures or overheating.

s Keep the battery out of the reachof infants and children.
The battery could be swallowed by infants
and children. If swallowed, go to doctor
immediately.

EN
37

Safety precautionss Do not submerge the battery infreshwater or saltwater, or allow its
terminals to become wet.
s Discontinue use of the battery
if it develops a problem suchas leaking, discoloration ordeformation.
s Battery fluid on clothing or skin
may damage the skin, so rinse thebattery fluid off right away withtap water or other clean water.

f CAUTION

6
Safety precautions
EN
38

s Do not throw the battery around,or subject it to strong shocks.
s Do not use a battery with a torn
casing seal (insulating covering).
s Always remove the battery whenthe voice recorder will not be used
for an long period.
s Remove the battery from the voicerecorder as soon as the battery
becomes unusable. It may cause
leakage.

Operating precautions• Do not leave the voice recorder in hot orhumid locations such as in direct sunlightinside a vehicle, or on a beach during
summer.
• Do not store the voice recorder in humid
or dusty locations.
• If the voice recorder becomes wet or
damp, wipe off the moisture right awaywith a dry cloth. Contact with salt water
should be particularly avoided.
• Do not place the voice recorder on top ofor near a TV, refrigerator or other electricalappliance.
• Prevent sand or mud from getting on thevoice recorder. It may cause product not tobe repairable.
• Do not subject the voice recorder tointense vibrations or shocks.
• Do not use the voice recorder in humid
locations.
• Placing a magnetic card (such as a bankcash card) near the speaker or earphones
may cause errors in the data stored on themagnetic card.
• Noise may be heard when the voicerecorder is placed near an electric lampline, fluorescent light or a mobile phone
during recording or playback.

Safety precautions<Data loss precautions>• Recorded content in the internal memory
may be destroyed or lost due to reasons
such as operating errors, device failure or
repair.
• Also, when content is saved in the internal
memory for long period of time or is used
repeatedly, operations such as writing to,reading from, or erasing of contents may
not be possible.
• Making a backup of important recorded
information and saving it on a PC’s
hard disk or other recording media is
recommended.
• Note that we will not be held liable fordamages or lost earnings resulting fromrecorded data damage or loss, regardlessof the nature or cause thereof.

6
Safety precautions<Recorded file precautions>• Note that we will not be held liable forrecorded files being erased or becoming
unplayable due to voice recorder orcomputer failure.
• Recording of copyrighted material ispermitted when the recording is for yourpersonal use only. Any other type of use
without the permission of the copyrightowner is prohibited by copyright law.

<Voice recorder disposal precautions>• Even when formatting (☞ P.26) orerasing (☞ P.24) are performed, only
the file management information of theinternal memory is updated and therecorded data is not completely erased.
When disposing of the voice recorder,
be sure to destroy it, format and record
silence until the recording time runs
out, or perform a similar operation inorder to prevent the leakage of personal
information.

EN
39

Specifications
4 External dimensions

General items
4 Recording/Playback formats
WMA format
WMA 32 kbps

44.1 kHzWMA 16 kbps

22.05 kHzWMA 5 kbps*

8 kHz* VN-541PC model only

4 Maximum working output
200 mW (8 Ω speaker)

4 Maximum output voltage
Recorder: â 150 mV(according to EN 50332-2)

4 Recording media*

Specifications

Internal NAND flash memory: 4 GB
* Some recording media memory
capacity is used as a managementarea, so the actual usable capacity
will always be slightly less than thedisplayed capacity.

4 Speaker
Built-in 20 mm diameter round dynamic
speaker

4 Microphone jack
3.5 mm diameter; Impedance: 2 kΩ

4 Earphones jack
3.5 mm diameter; Impedance: 8 Ω
minimum

4 Power source
Two AAA dry cell batteries (model LR03)

EN
40

4 Weight
67 g (including battery)

4 Sampling frequency

6

108 × 37.5 × 20 mm(Not including largest projection)

4 Operating temperature
0 to 42°C (32 to 107.6°F)

Frequency response
4 During recording
MEMO

200 Hz to 7 kHz

TALK

200 Hz to 13 kHz

MUSIC

40 Hz to 13 kHz

LP*

200 Hz to 3 kHz* VN-541PC model only

4 During playback
20 Hz to 20 kHz(The upper and lower limit values of thefrequency response depend on eachrecording format.)

Specifications
Battery life

Recording time

The figures below are guideline values.

4 When recording with built-in
microphone
TALK

52 hours (approx.)MUSIC

52 hours (approx.)

MEMO

52 hours (approx.)LP*

60 hours (approx.)* VN-541PC model only

4 During audio file playback
During speaker playback
21 hours (approx.)
21 hours (approx.)

MEMO

22 hours (approx.)LP*

23 hours (approx.)

During earphone playback
TALK

45 hours (approx.)MUSIC

45 hours (approx.)

MEMO

46 hours (approx.)LP*

46 hours (approx.)* VN-541PC model only

TALK/MUSIC(WMA 32 kbps)

251 hours (approx.)

MEMO(WMA 16 kbps)

495 hours (approx.)

LP*(WMA 5 kbps)

1570 hours (approx.)* VN-541PC model only
NOTE
• Actually available recording times may
be shorter than the figures shown
here when making short recordings
repeatedly (Equipment displays ofavailable/elapsed recording times
should be considered guideline values).

Maximum recording time per file6
Specifications

TALK
MUSIC

The figures below are guideline values.

Regardless of the amount of remaining
memory, the maximum recording time perfile is restricted to the following values.
WMA 32 kbps

26 hours, 40 minutes (approx.)

WMA 16 kbps

53 hours, 40 minutes (approx.)

NOTE

WMA 5 kbps* 148 hours, 40 minutes (approx.)• The battery life figures shown here
were determined using our test
method. Actual battery life figures willvary greatly according to the battery
used and usage conditions (Changing
the playback speed or using the Noise
Cancel function may affect the batterylife).

* VN-541PC model only
Note that voice recorder specifications
and appearance are subject to change
without prior notice for performance
improvements or other upgrading.

EN
41

date of issue 2016.12.

https://om-digitalsolutions.com/

2023

BS226600