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Frankly I bought this recorder solely for its wonderful limiter circuit. Sony has not provided any wind screen with the recorder so that you will have to buy a pricy Sony wind screen AD-PCM1. That was really impressive. I found PCM-D50 is very ruggedly built with all metal body and reassuring heft. It is unfortunate that PCM-D50 does not offer phantom power source or a XLR jack.
This is more than adequate for my purpose, however the recorder also offers a Memory Stick Pro expansion slot to add more ram is necessary. I have connected a Shure Beta 58A dynamic microphone with the recorder and found the in-built microphone quality is as good as the Shure Beta 58A, so for my application I always use the in-built microphone unless I have to reach very close to the sound source. Pressing the pause button starts and pause the recording, so it is a no brainer to operate.Level control and Limiter: Recording levels is set by looking at a LCD bar graph and adjusting the Recording Level knob. When I have recorded some voice and ambient noise, I was surprised by the super clarity and realism of the recording. I am quite sure this can withstand considerable field abuse like my old Sony Walkman professional. Recording media: All audio gets recorded into inbuilt 4GB memory, which can store 1hr55min sound recorded at 96 KHz 24 bit sampling rate. So while recording, keep it resting on a stationary object or mount on a table top tripod. Sony also sells a wired remote control to further eliminate any noise while pressing buttons to start/stop/pause recording and controlling the recorder from a distance.
Even at the super high gain at pre amp and headphone amp stage, my phones were absolutely quite and I could barely hear any faint white noise. Just copy the files from the recorder to hard disk and edit it in your favorite DAW.Pet peeve: There is no in-built speaker; the only way you can listen to the recordings is by plugging in an earphone, headphone or an external amplifier.Conclusion: PCM-D50 is a wonderful recorder and a must have if you need a high fidelity portable stereo recording device. Usability: The recorder is very simple to operate as it has standard audio recorder symbol buttons. To me the carry case is a must as this is a costly device, which is also too big and heavy to slip in any pocket. In fact the wind noise sensitivity is so high that it is almost impossible to use it without a wind screen over its microphone. If you are good in sewing then you can possibly construct one from a piece of artificial fur from a soft toy.
The amazing part is, this limiter does not produce the typical limiter "pumping" effect. I believe I have good ear for recording fidelity and this recorder is the best if I compare it with my other recorders from Olympus, mAudio and Zoom. Clicking the record button sets the recorder into record pause mode. The microphones are so sensitive that they pick up all handling noise and wind noise. It does have a wrist strap slot, but Sony does to supply that with the recorder too. In-built Microphones and recording quality: The recorder has two very sensitive and accurate microphones which can be arranged into 90 degree, 0 degree or 120 degree configuration to suit your recording needs.
No wonder as Sony wants you to buy an additional XLR adapter. The device gets detected as an external disk drives, and the sound files are located in folders. I have not bought the remote as my application does not need it.External Microphone: The other way to reduce handling noise is to connect an external microphone through its 2mm stereo jack. However I must also say it is not an apple to apple comparison as those recorders are not in the same price range as of Sony PCM-D50. If you want to securely carry it, you need to buy an optional carry case from Sony. I tested it audibly by cranking the recording level and output volume to maximum with no input at line-in. The recording can be downloaded by connecting the recorder with a laptop or PC through a USB cable. My experience with build quality: I have ordered this for recording audio while I am shooting video with my Canon mark II 5D camera.
The recorder boasts a signal to noise ratio 93 dB or more, which is excellent. However, I was surprised to found that Sony has not provided any neck strap attaching provision with this recorder.
The optimal level and clipping levels are indicated by two LEDS, this makes the level adjustments very easy. All you need to do is to make a small furry bag which fits over the microphone protection cage and it will do the trick.
The recorder has a tripod attaching hole at bottom. Once limiter is on, the recorder reduces all transient high volumes to the safe level without producing any clipping.
Bottom line: The best professional audio recorder you can buy in its class and you get what you pay for in terms of recording quality, all metal hefty body which withstands elements, high quality in-built microphones, an awesome limiter, everlasting battery life and lastly but not least, needs no operating manual to use. To handle sound with large variation in volume (high dynamic range), this recorder has an inbuilt limiter circuit, which can be turned on by flipping a switch.
Tripod mount: As I have said before, the in-built microphones of this recorder is very sensitive and picks up all handling noise.
The read rate on the MS-HX4G (which is what I got) is 20MB/s. I bought the device through Amazon/ Beach and was very pleased with the service. I did end up getting the tripod (very very well made), the windscreen, and the 4Gb memory stick. The recording level can be set so you can actually ratchet up the sensitivity of the mic, depending on where you may be sitting. Record the odd class/ to record my thoughts and create podcasts.I am an audiophile (or think I can tell a good recording from a poor one) and wanted to be able to record audio that was comparable to CD quality at the very least.
I was also surprised to find that the PCM-D50 is made in China ( I think one of the other reviewers mentions this) but is beautifully crafted and the finish is what you'd expect from a moderately high end device. I bought this to: 1. You can also activate the -20db tandem recording feature that will effectively help in case there are huge changes in the recording level.will essentially level things out instead of distorting the recording (obviously within a 20db range). Having said that I found the PCM D-50 able to produce recordings better than many of the CDs I have, QUITE EFFORTLESSLY.
2. My purchase came with sound forge LE. Not with this baby. I use an Adobe product called Audition and the sound clips work seamlessly with it.
I noticed Beach had an 8Gb (Sony memory stick but not HG Duo) stick that does supposedly work but I decided to go with strictly what was in the manual. 3. A recording studio.in the palm of your hand. I found picking the memory stick confusing because if you look at the manual it is quite specific about what will and won't work and the only memory stick that works (ostensibly) is the 4Gb HG Duo type from Sony. I used to record classes in college and I could barely tell what the heck was being discussed and it sounded like it was on another planet. Alternatively, once you have the D-50, you can create incredibly high-resolution (DVD quality) sound clips of your own. The device also comes with a power adaptor with a very long power cord that I really appreciate so I don't have to be up against a plug point if I need to record my own voice.
As a novice in the field this is going to be a very superficial review of this very remarkable instrument. I am therefore unsure if the larger sticks will work in the D-50. Record interviews with older folk of the long ago and far away. It does require online activation and comes with some useful sound effects, if you are going to be adding soundtracks to videos and the like. I also tried to record some audio (music playing through a TEAC system) and speak at the same time (essentially layering analog sounds) into the D-50.
It sounds incredible; equivalent to layering it digitally in Audition (XP Professional).I have recorded some 12 hours of audio so this review is limited to the "test drive" but I would recommend it strongly if you want archival quality recording to last you through the ages. The sound clips are transferred from the D-50 through a USB connection. supplement the sound on the DVX100B camcorder.
I would have a hard time explaining the physics of analog to digital conversion, comparing 32 bit with amplitude and the sampling rate in Khz. The accessories came from B&HPhoto. This is sound editing software from Sony (they bought another company out I think).
Listening to President Kennedy's inaugural speech the other day I was struck by how far we have come in 45 odd years. Wow. I also ended up taking it into a class I am attending and was amazed at the quality.
The batteries last a while (probably ~8-12 hours non-stop) depending on how often you keep fussing with the instrument.
The sound is great and easy to transfer to a computer for editing and storage. With the built in stereo microphones it is as easy as placing the unit a few feet away and hitting the record button. I purchased the Sony PCM-D50 linear Audio Recorder and have used it for a few weeks now. I would recommend this item to musicians who want to record themselves during practice sessions or during performances. A big plus is the use of AA batteries (when you are not using the power supply) as they are always easy to find.
I have had this unit for about 18 months and it has performed excellent. It is easy to learn how to operate and produces outstanding sound quality.
It's not for someone who wants to run separate mics on the drums, bass, and piano or add reverb and numerous other effects. There's nothing plastic or cheap about this machine, and I love some of its "old-fashioned" deployment of controls that have a single function. There was a time when Sony blew me away with its mini-disc Walkman. In fact, if I have one major disappointment it's the lack of an automatic volume control, a feature I've come to take for granted since it's common on much less expensive machines. I don't need a portable recording studio with capabilities of recording MP3s, of mixing 4 tracks, or a machine with a tiny touchpad in place of knobs and switches. Unlike the Sony, it has features like MP3 as well as.WAV formatting, file conversion, normalizing, and functions usually found only on computer software programs for recording and editing audio. Sony comes closest in keeping the average person's-- and musician's--needs in mind yet giving him all of the quality desired by anyone who isn't a record producer.I assumed that high-quality external mics would be essential with a unit like this, but the onboard ones on this Sony are, to my ears, practically of commercial CD quality.
As a musician, music lover, music critic, I need, simply, a reliable, dedicated machine with no frills, no thick manuals containing the promise that "the possibilities are limitless." (I've got just one lifetime. In the category of bells and whistles, the only feature that might qualify is the 5-second pre-record monitor (which seems to excite some reviewers far more than it does me--I just don't see the big advantage). If you perform music and simultaneously record yourself, it can be a hassle monitoring levels so that they remain in the -12db level.When all is said and done, what sets the Sony apart is the quality of its two onboard microphones, the accessibility of the controls, and above all the professional quality of the sound--not enhanced but so faithful that it's fair to say the recorder literally hears what the listener hears. And unlike my Zoom H2, the Sony was seen immediately by my iMac using OSX.5 (Leopard). And often I can't distinguish its sound quality from the Sony. This reduced-priced model of their top-of-the-line machine, which costs 3-4 times more, continues the same tradition that once did Sony proud in the field of cutting-edge audio reproduction from miniature technology. (The Zoom H2 still serves me well as a handy back-up, and some of the "extras" that come as standard equipment with the Zoom--e.g. It even contains a metronome and tuner.
a hand grip and a tripod--occasionally are useful with the Sony).A word on behalf of the Zoom H2, which is still #1 in Amazon sales (I may be so immodest as to suggest with no small help from my spotlighted review, which Amazon recently decided to demote to the date of composition): Admittedly the 4 mics border on "gimmickry," but's it's an unbeatable value as currently priced--weightless and small, a perfect "stealth" recorder or back-up. Even the promotional literature of the new Zoom H4n is enough to scare me away). And I don't need more than 4-5 hours of WAV file room.
Rather than creating another trendy gizmo, Sony has designed a no-nonsense "hi def audio" recorder that is, above all else, "solid." Certainly, the company could have included lesser-quality recording formats, reverb effects, 4-track recording, a speaker, extra mics, but they chose to go with what is most essential--and to do it right.In sum, the Sony is a hefty yet compact, personal machine with dedicated, clearly-labeled controls (a welcome change from tiny touch pads and deeply buried menu settings). If the user can get past the "toylike" feel of the device and learn to live with its tiny touchpad, it's a machine that someone on a budget need have no regrets about. And it's proven indestructible.
I'm graduating from my Zoom H2 and moving up to the Sony, no doubt my last recorder. Because it's so practical, direct, intuitive and simple, this is a machine I'm likely to use--and take more seriously than a small, light unit with gratuitous gadgetry combined with excessive miniaturization. Now if Sony would only do something about that ridiculous $50 "hat" / windscreen that's offered as an option.
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