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Cactus Deville
Published on 09/04/08 at 07:11
It is enjoying a trip to the United States (and favorable exchange rate) I bought this recorder.
I bought it at the beginning of my vacation, so that I could test the animal for 3 weeks.
I recorded various sounds: music, outdoor and indoor environments street and I must say I was surprised by the quality of decision-sound (only with built-in microphones).
For recordings of music groups, I think you get the best results in directing the microphones at 90 °. A 120 °, the stereo seems too large for this type of recording.
on the other hand, are oriented to the atmosphere at 120 ° and it's really great. The stereo is very broad. I recorded the scenes at a concentration of Harley and the result is stunning. We believe it! The bikes go from right to left means the discussions of people passing, and dynamic range is very extensive ...
Operation is simplicity itself. In 1 quarter of an hour we understand everything.
It is true that this unit (unlike the Zoom H4 or H2) does not offer tons of settings and very little editing capability (you have to do everything at the computer). It only records in wav, but it does so so well! It may still be loading mp3 and use it as an ipod. It can also connect an external microphone via a minijack.
What I like:
it is very easy to use and easy to use.
It is beautiful.
The mics are very good.
It fits in a (large) pocket.
Very good battery life.
The build quality is impeccable. No game in different orders, the action buttons is straightforward.
It is very sturdy thanks to its aluminum shell (I did fall off a bar stool on the floor: the agony!! It does not affect him because he still works as well.).
You set the recording level with a knob on the side of the unit is really great practice and level bars are large and legible on the screen.
The other knob is for the listening volume.
It is heavy enough to hold well in hand.
It is insensitive to handling noise when recording a minimum by attention (which is not the case with h4!).
The ability to orient the microphones at 90 ° or 120 ° and a real bonus depending on the source recording.
The limiter (3 settings) is effective as the low-cut.
It is recognized immediately as an external drive with a mac. There's more's drag / drop the files you want.
The screen is very readable. A button to illuminate it's too dark.
It can record 22.05 kHz/16 bit to 96/24.
You can record to internal memory (4GB) or Memory Stick.
What I like least:
The use of Memory Stick cards. I would have preferred the SD.
Can not record in mono. But hey, it is especially annoying to record a voice.
The inability to rename the 10 files installed in the device and where files are stored (Warning, if you rename a computer since it will not be accepted).
The lack of true XLR and phantom power supply for an external microphone.
Using a windshield ESSENTIAL outdoors. The slightest breeze will saturate the microphones. But I do not think it is specific to this unit.
The use of batteries. Battery type digital camera would have been more convenient. But autonomy is good. I do not know how long I used it during those three weeks, but the light indicates the battery charge in 2 / 3.
In summary, this Sony is perfect for mobile recording of very good quality.
I had no experience of this type of device (other than the Zoom H4 I had the opportunity to use a little) but I am captivated by the PCM D50. Compared to Zoom, I think we're really in an upper register both in build quality (the photo really toc) and the ease of use (H4 seems a real gas plant compared to Sony) that the quality of the microphones.
Of course, the price is not the same. But if you have the opportunity to buy in the United States (it cost me 310 Euros) I think it is a very good deal.
But this is only my opinion ...
Some examples here: http://www.freesound.org/packsViewSingle.php?id=3784&start=15
I bought it at the beginning of my vacation, so that I could test the animal for 3 weeks.
I recorded various sounds: music, outdoor and indoor environments street and I must say I was surprised by the quality of decision-sound (only with built-in microphones).
For recordings of music groups, I think you get the best results in directing the microphones at 90 °. A 120 °, the stereo seems too large for this type of recording.
on the other hand, are oriented to the atmosphere at 120 ° and it's really great. The stereo is very broad. I recorded the scenes at a concentration of Harley and the result is stunning. We believe it! The bikes go from right to left means the discussions of people passing, and dynamic range is very extensive ...
Operation is simplicity itself. In 1 quarter of an hour we understand everything.
It is true that this unit (unlike the Zoom H4 or H2) does not offer tons of settings and very little editing capability (you have to do everything at the computer). It only records in wav, but it does so so well! It may still be loading mp3 and use it as an ipod. It can also connect an external microphone via a minijack.
What I like:
it is very easy to use and easy to use.
It is beautiful.
The mics are very good.
It fits in a (large) pocket.
Very good battery life.
The build quality is impeccable. No game in different orders, the action buttons is straightforward.
It is very sturdy thanks to its aluminum shell (I did fall off a bar stool on the floor: the agony!! It does not affect him because he still works as well.).
You set the recording level with a knob on the side of the unit is really great practice and level bars are large and legible on the screen.
The other knob is for the listening volume.
It is heavy enough to hold well in hand.
It is insensitive to handling noise when recording a minimum by attention (which is not the case with h4!).
The ability to orient the microphones at 90 ° or 120 ° and a real bonus depending on the source recording.
The limiter (3 settings) is effective as the low-cut.
It is recognized immediately as an external drive with a mac. There's more's drag / drop the files you want.
The screen is very readable. A button to illuminate it's too dark.
It can record 22.05 kHz/16 bit to 96/24.
You can record to internal memory (4GB) or Memory Stick.
What I like least:
The use of Memory Stick cards. I would have preferred the SD.
Can not record in mono. But hey, it is especially annoying to record a voice.
The inability to rename the 10 files installed in the device and where files are stored (Warning, if you rename a computer since it will not be accepted).
The lack of true XLR and phantom power supply for an external microphone.
Using a windshield ESSENTIAL outdoors. The slightest breeze will saturate the microphones. But I do not think it is specific to this unit.
The use of batteries. Battery type digital camera would have been more convenient. But autonomy is good. I do not know how long I used it during those three weeks, but the light indicates the battery charge in 2 / 3.
In summary, this Sony is perfect for mobile recording of very good quality.
I had no experience of this type of device (other than the Zoom H4 I had the opportunity to use a little) but I am captivated by the PCM D50. Compared to Zoom, I think we're really in an upper register both in build quality (the photo really toc) and the ease of use (H4 seems a real gas plant compared to Sony) that the quality of the microphones.
Of course, the price is not the same. But if you have the opportunity to buy in the United States (it cost me 310 Euros) I think it is a very good deal.
But this is only my opinion ...
Some examples here: http://www.freesound.org/packsViewSingle.php?id=3784&start=15