Can it convert DS2 files?

No. DS2, the newer format of Olympus / OM System and Philips recorders, is encrypted by its makers, and only their software can read it. Open it in ODMS or SpeechExec and export it as WAV or MP3 there, or set the recorder to record DSS or MP3 in future.

MP3 for sending: a minute of dictation is about a third of a megabyte, and every transcription service and typist can play it. WAV if the recording is going into audio editing software that wants uncompressed sound; it is several times bigger and no clearer, because DSS was already compressed.

Is the dictation uploaded?

No. The recordings are read and converted by your browser on your computer and never sent anywhere, which matters for medical and legal dictation.

Stays on your computer How this works

Free DSS to MP3 converter

Turn Olympus, OM System and Philips DSS dictation recordings into MP3 or WAV files that play on any computer or phone and go straight to a typist or a transcription service. Nothing is uploaded.

Drag & drop .dss files here, or browse

.dss from Olympus, OM System and Philips recorders · several at once · nothing is uploaded

About this DSS to MP3 converter

DSS (Digital Speech Standard) is the format of Olympus, OM System and Philips digital dictation recorders, used for years by doctors, lawyers and anyone who dictates letters. Windows, Macs and phones do not play it, so a recording sent to a typist, a transcription service or a colleague often cannot be opened; the usual way round is the dictation software that came with the recorder, or a converter to install.

This page converts DSS recordings into MP3 or WAV in your browser, both Standard Play and Long Play, and shows the author and recording date the recorder stored. It uses FFmpeg, the open-source media library, built for this site with just what these conversions need; its source is published at /source/ffmpeg/. It is free to use, with no account and no upload limit, and it runs entirely in your browser: nothing is uploaded, and once you have used it, it keeps working offline.

What you can do

Convert DSS dictation from Olympus, OM System and Philips recorders to MP3 or WAV
Convert both kinds of DSS: Standard Play (SP) and Long Play (LP)
Play each recording here before saving it
See the author and the recording date stored in the file
Convert a whole day's dictation at once and save it all together

How to convert a DSS file to MP3

Copy the .dss files from the recorder (it shows up as a drive when plugged in) or from your email.
Drag them onto this page, or choose them, and pick MP3 or WAV.
Play any recording to check it, then use Save, or Save all.

Questions

Can it convert DS2 files?: No. DS2, the newer format of Olympus / OM System and Philips recorders, is encrypted by its makers, and only their software can read it. Open it in ODMS or SpeechExec and export it as WAV or MP3 there, or set the recorder to record DSS or MP3 in future.
MP3 or WAV?: MP3 for sending: a minute of dictation is about a third of a megabyte, and every transcription service and typist can play it. WAV if the recording is going into audio editing software that wants uncompressed sound; it is several times bigger and no clearer, because DSS was already compressed.
Is the dictation uploaded?: No. The recordings are read and converted by your browser on your computer and never sent anywhere, which matters for medical and legal dictation.

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