[mojo2]

Sony's new PCM-D1 portable recorder was created for high-quality mobile recording in an array of applications including live sound, house of worship and theatrical performance, as well as by journalists in the field.

"The PCM-D1's level of quality is matched only by its extraordinary 'cool' factor," said Paul Foschino, senior manager for professional audio in Sony Electronics' Broadcast and Production Systems Division. "The body of this portable recorder is fashioned from pure 1mm thick pressed titanium that's several times harder than alumite-treated aluminum. "

The new recorder is lightweight, free of all drive mechanisms, equipped with extraordinarily sensitive, built-in condenser microphones, and designed with circuits that process stereo sound with virtually no extraneous noise.

The PCM-D1 features 96K-24 bit recording capability, 4GB internal flash memory, removable Memory Stick Pro high-speed storage and a built-in USB 2.0 port for Macintosh and Windows/PC operating systems.

Additional key features of the PCM-D1 recorder include:

Built-in condenser microphones in an X - Y configuration with low self-noise, high sensitivity and nearly 30 kHz frequency response
.WAV recording file format capability
Analog level meters with LED peak overload indicators
LCD display with comprehensive recorder status indication and menu selection
Four AA nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries and charger (supplied, battery life at 96 kHz of approximately 4.0 hours with rechargeable AA batteries)
Signal processing functions including SBM, limiter and 200Hz high pass filter
Weight 18.5 ounces (with batteries)
The Sony PCM-D1 recorder is expected to be available in December at a suggested list price of $2000.

For more information, visit their web site at www.sony.com/professional.

FILENAME: /var/www/im0/htdocs/119AES/Content/Sony/PR/XML/PCM-D1

http://aes.harmony-central.com/119AE...PR/PCM-D1.html

Idiotic
Strengths: Microphones
Weaknesses: Battery setup

Summary: The Sony PCM-D1 is at first glance a terrific machine. The microphone design and sound quality are exceptional; the ballistic VU meter are a good addition, since digital LCD meters don't quite suffice in critical applications.

But as a professional broadcaster/producer for over 30 years, I find it necessary to turn the thumbs down on the PCM-D1 and recommend that my network not consider it for wider use. Here's the reason:

The power setup on the Sony is four NiMH penlights installed in a battery carrier that is slipped into the battery compartment. The problem is its design, which makes it difficult for an adult hand of normal dexterity to switch batteries in less than 40-60 seconds, depending on exterior temperature and other factors. A second battery holder, that could be reloaded while recording, then slipped in during a short break in the action, would reduce this time to a couple of seconds.

Therefore, a professional machine in this price range should come with two, but the Sony doesn't.

I explained that to my reseller who immediately saw the problem and took an order for two of them, at $15.99 each. A few days later they called back and reported that they had arrived, but they didn't look like they would fit the PCM-D1 and asked me to mail them a picture of the actual battery holder. They also said that Sony appeared to have some difficulty identifying the part number.

Several days later they reported that the part number had been determined but Sony doesn't stock them. They could be obtained, however, given some time, and the price is $130 each. I was floored. This is for a pice of plastic with two simple contact points. It measures 2.25"X2.50"X5/8".

What Sony is doing here is akin to selling cars with three wheels, then charging a fortune when the customer finds that a fourth wheel is an essential element in his driving pleasure.

I find this thoughtless on Sony's part and it makes this otherwise OK machine an underqualified tool for demanding field work. Possibly they think that if you can afford a couple of thousand, you can afford another couple of hundred to enrich Sony's bottom line. The counterpoint by most pros, I suspect, is that if you charge a couple of thousand bucks for a tool, you'd better make it fully operational.

I feel had and may well dump this machine on some other sap who’s looking for a steep discount and is more after looks than functionality.

Once again I find myself having bought an expensive Sony product, only to find that they have delivered a half-baked concept.

My fellow pros: Only buy this machine if you realize and acccept that the current street price isn't really $1849.95. It's $1979.95, if you plan to use it professionally in the field.

I find this so irritating that I take little joy in owning this gizmo.

Geirr Aakhus

K24 Radio

New York

http://www.pricegrabber.com/rating_g...t_id=16649364/

[Landos Mustache]

Cool design.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Cool design.

Yeah. If I could spare $2000 I'd buy one just cause it looks cool.

[starman]

mojo you should just change your nick to "Press Release Junkie".

[Dakar]

Tricorderiffic.

[analogika]

I very much doubt it will sell. It's FAR too inflexible for on-location recording of anything but a very limited set of circumstances (e.g. atmo recordings). Even in those very limited circumstances, I pretty much doubt that anybody would want to use built-in condensor mics.

Most people interested in mobile recording and able to spend $2000 will already have a laptop-based mobile recording rig, which will offer them MUCH greater versatility WRT to microphones, inputs, and capacity, despite the additional bulk.

[Peter]

looks stunning.

[maxhodges]

Outstanding
Strengths: top-quality portable field recorder with ultra sensitive, noiseless microphones
Weaknessess: price

I own a Sony PCM-D1, and I think it's a very outstanding device. Don't be fooled by the feedback here:

Idiotic
Strengths: Microphones
Weaknesses: Battery setup

The power setup on the Sony is four NiMH penlights installed in a battery carrier that is slipped into the battery compartment. The problem is its design, which makes it difficult for an adult hand of normal dexterity to switch batteries in less than 40-60 seconds,

I'm an adult (33 years old) with what I consider to be "normal dexterity", but I can change the batteries in 15 seconds without really trying that hard.

Here is a video I created to show what is involved:
http://www.whiterabbitpress.com/downloads/pcm.mov

First the battery life is up to 5 hours with supplied batteries. The supplied batteries are 2300 mAh. I bought some rechargable Sanyo batteries for backup which are 2700 mAh. Tell me, what do you record for 5 hours that you don't have 20-30 seconds for a break? Idiotic for sure.

His ONLY criticism was the battery swap time, and the cost of a second battery holder, but then he writes:

I feel had and may well dump this machine on some other sap who’s looking for a steep discount and is more after looks than functionality.

So, he'd rather "dump" it for a steep discount than buy the backup battery holder which would solve his only complaint? Doesn't make sense does it?

The unit also has a input for DC power, so I bet someone makes some kind of portable, external battery powered supply that you could plug-it into if you needed that. I know that make things like that for laptop computers.

I run a small book publishing company here in Tokyo, and I've used this recorder for a Tokyo audio tour I'm producing which mixed narration with found sound and music. I've used it for spoken work recordings, recordings of lectures, field recordings, street interviews, sound effects (train, ambulance, rain, footsteps, ice clink, video game centers, ocean), live acoustic guitar and vocals, and violin recordings.

It's really an incredible machine in terms of fidelity. The microphones are EXTREMELY sentitive and without noise. (it has no moving parts, so it can't pickup it's own internal machinations). Turn up the sensitivity and it's like an audio microscope, able to pick up sounds you didn't know existed. I recorded my cats eating crunchy food, and when you listen with head phones it sounds like some panting monster is gnawing on your skull. Point it at your mouth and you can hear your tongue roll across your teeth. Really amazing and fun tool.

Operation-wise the logic was well-considered. You can turn the back light and UV meter lights on or off (i.e. I recorded in a dramatic performance theatre, and was thankful that I could turn off the lights, which would be very visible to those around me. You can record a line-in while monitoring it using the line-out (i.e. you can insert the PCM-D1 in-line between a souce on it's way to a mixing board for example).

Comes with a carrying case, a nice quality mini-tripod, a quality wrist strap, rechargable batteries and even a compact battery charger.

I'm planning to see if I can get it setup with the Reflexion Filter. I'll post my results later.

Cheers,
Max Hodges
Publisher
White Rabbit Press
White Rabbit Press - The World's Favoriate Japanese Kanji Flashcards

[mitchell_pgh]

Your video only proved it probably would take about 40 seconds for a normal user. Naturally you could do it in 16 when you have the batteries all set and ready to go. I'm guessing they are talking about pulling them out of your pocket... etc.

Either way, it's not that big of a deal. Even if it took 3 minutes... that's really somewhat insignificant all things considered.

[maxhodges]

you have the batteries all set and ready to go

yeah, i had the backup batteries ready to insert. Is that cheating? I don't think you'd power down the unit and remove the batteries, and then dig around in your gear bag for the second set if you're trying to do it in a hurry.

You'd have your second set already out on the table or floor...especially if getting the battery swap time down to a minimum is critical for some recording project.

But yes, if really doesn't matter. If you're recording something for 5 hours, and you have no time for a 1 minute break...then plug it in to a power supply. if you need to hold it and walk around the whole time, when are you gonna pee? it's just a really silly argument aganist this wonderful machine. Would probably only be a problem for a tiny fraction of the users only a time fraction of the time.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by maxhodges

yeah, i had the backup batteries ready to insert. Is that cheating? I don't think you'd power down the unit and remove the batteries, and then dig around in your gear bag for the second set if you're trying to do it in a hurry.

You'd have your second set already out on the table or floor...especially if getting the battery swap time down to a minimum is critical for some recording project.

But yes, if really doesn't matter. If you're recording something for 5 hours, and you have no time for a 1 minute break...then plug it in to a power supply. if you need to hold it and walk around the whole time, when are you gonna pee? it's just a really silly argument aganist this wonderful machine. Would probably only be a problem for a tiny fraction of the users only a time fraction of the time.

I never said you were cheating... I'm just saying that the reviewer was probably looking more at "normal use" type situation and not a speed test.

I would be upset if my local garage said that they could change the oil of my car in 10 minutes... and when it took 25 they say "well, we timed it once and we were able to do it in 10."

[maxhodges]

I would be upset if my local garage said that they could change the oil of my car in 10 minutes... and when it took 25 they say "well, we timed it once and we were able to do it in 10."

Indeed, the opposite has happend, which is equally outrageous. He's claming it takes 200-300% longer than it really takes.

The Sony literature doesn't promise anything regarding battery swap time.

Less than 20 seconds is normal for me.

Took 12 seconds in my speed test (insert two batteries at a time into the holder using both hands, instead of one at a time)--allowing me to swap batteries 3-5 times in the 40-60 seconds he's claiming it takes.

ok, this is totally silly now. moving on...