Sony PCM-D1

I bought this device (found in France) on an American site (reliable) three months ago. I must say that my disappointment was great, the measurement of rave reviews from journalists who have obviously never thought about the use of this type of recorder.

Personally, I use it to record classical concerts and opera live (but someone who would make the audio report probably would feel the same concerns).

On the positive side, the built-in microphones are excellent quality for this use and the rendering is remarkable in these conditions, which are far from that recording in a studio. Memory is more than enough: 6 hours in CD quality (44 kHz) compared to 2 h for the same quality with a DAT tape. Operation is intuitive. The files are easily saved in a computer to be burned later.

However, contrary to what I understood in reading some think it is absolutely impossible to touch any knob does not come without a sound recording interfere: not therefore change the recording level to use the "divide" (which is used to create beaches on the fly), turn on the light to see the level of the meters, etc..

One solution: "test" the room during a performance: from 3 months, so I record twice, with my old DAT on the one hand, with my beautiful but stupid PCM D1 on the other.

Last drawback: price, high to buy and use. For when we did not have much time to save, or traveling, or simple prudence, must buy some spare memory cards. Then you have to spend time back on a medium compatible with a stereo base (or buy a chain that manages and plays wav files from a hard drive).

A nice tool which I awarded a failing grade because qu'inadapté that I think is its primary purpose: to record on the fly.

The device is however very convenient with an external microphone (jack: that is to say a discreet microphone!).

Updated May 2007: The device is now described on the website of Sony France (site business): however, there is still no distributor who proposes.

I use a D1 pcm for 2 months and every day, bought on a trusted site in Canada ...

micro very good, and easily adaptable, I use it in addition to a couple Shoeps ms / nagra v, and even if it is not like the pcm d1 defends really well ... environments for unexpected or fleeting in stores, metro, lift etc ...

and as a recorder coupled preamp with SX or MixPre m2 of sound device it is not far from a Nagra V for half the price and 1 / 4 weight (less than 1kg) ...

well as on all the microphones are very sensitive, and we touch the body of the microphone that makes noise (though the recorder is also the body of the microphone for the pcm d1 but note that there is no cable ...) and again we learn to use it, after a week I change the volume easily and quietly when needed. just leave your finger

my only regret is that the device does not power plug as the tcd-d8 (Sony DAT) It would have served for one of my small electret microphones. (Omission corrected on dailleurs pcm d50 as the life of batteries)

2 volumes of left and right channels can be changed separately, VU meters pleasant and very reactive (super convenient) a limiter Excellent flexible and difficult to Dectect (you really have to push to hear ...)

the quality / price is right, if we consider the very good built-in microphone and the quality of the recorder.

Attention is also sound Japanese (hyper detailed, cold, 30Hz to 30Kz) for the warmer sound use other microphones with preamps as SX m2, m3i, sound devices etc ...

16h recording time with 3 sets of 4 rechargeable 2600 mA
With experience, you do again this choice? ...
as I bought at half price so ... otherwise the pcm d50 ... to have tested the other recorders on the market for small preamps, the pro and semi pro format ... the new dcd d8 what ...