Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB

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Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB, Main
Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB, Main
Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB, Main
Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB, Main
Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB, Main Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB, Main Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB, Main Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder With USB, Main
Use the Sony PCMD50's built-in condensers or your own mic for quality recording on-the-go. With it's intuitive layout, high-fidelity sound and rugged build, the PCMD50 is suited to handle all of your portable recording needs.

Whether you're looking to get a song idea down, document an on-the-street interview, capture a live performance, or sample environmental sounds for film work, a quality field recorder is the key to portable, accurate audio recording. . . but with so many on the market, how do you know which portable digital recorder is right for you? Sound quality is important, but you're not looking to learn a complicated new piece of gear, nor do you have thousands of dollars to spend on a mobile studio. As the perfect combination of affordability, accessibility, and high-fidelity audio, the Sony PCM-D50 will exceed your expectations in any situation. Since its introduction, the PCM-D50 has been the choice of discerning hobbyists and demanding professionals alike, and it's not hard to see why.

Unbeatable Sound Quality

Whether you use the D50's exquisite built-in condensers or plug in your own external microphone, you're going to be amazed by the sound quality on this compact unit. The PCM-D50 records in stable, reliable, linear PCM Wave format, up to resolutions of 24-bit/96kHz. This better-than-CD-quality fidelity pairs with ultra-low-noise mic preamps to accurately capture even the most subtle of soundscapes. While you can hook any professional stereo microphone up to the Sony PCM-D50, the unit's built-in microphones are themselves quite astonishing. The electret-condenser diaphragms are capable of the same detail as phantom-powered, studio-quality microphones, yet because they are… read more self-powered (electrets use a quasi-permanently charged element) they draw no additional battery power. The mics swivel between 90 degrees for close miking (e.g. acoustic guitar, piano, foley work, etc.) and 120 degrees for wide stereo-images (perfect for, e.g. choirs, concerts, environmental ambience, one-on-one interviews, and more). Beautifully tuned compression-limiting settings let you capture a wide-dynamic range of sources without ever sounding artificial or forcing you to ride the volume input.

Jump Right In To Recording

While the PCM-D50 offers utterly professional sound quality, its intuitive layout makes it easy to understand for even the most inexperienced user. All the most common controls are assigned their own dedicated button, so you'll spend minimal time navigating through layer after layer of menus to make common adjustments. Play, rewind, pause, stop, and fast-forward are easily accessible, of course, but so is the limiter on/off button, the low-pass on/off button, headphone volume, display backlight and more. Track split has its own button so that you can easily start a new audio file without interrupting recording. Perhaps the nicest feature of all is a large, robust, input volume knob. This invaluable addition allows for quick and accurate mic gain adjustments, and is positioned by your thumb for easy one-handed operation. Instant access to input gain trim lets you quickly compensate for sudden changes in volume that the unit's built-in compressors and limiters don't catch up with in time. Most digital field recorders save their audio data to compact flash cards. While this option exists with the Sony PCM-D50 (it accepts high-transfer-rate Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo cards), it's the only recorder in its class that boasts an internal hard drive. Four gigs of super-stable flash memory--up to six hours of CD-quality, stereo audio--are built right in to the recorder. Audio transfer to your computer is simple with the Sony's USB jack, and since the PCM-D50 records in the near-universal WAV format, you won't need any additional software to convert files for use in audio editing programs.

Built For Demanding Field Work

Stable, reliable built-in memory is only one of the features that makes the Sony PCM-D50 ready for rugged field work. The aluminum chassis is built like a portable tank, with low-profile buttons that don't fear the inevitable bumps, drops, and jolts that happen every day in real-world conditions. The sensitive microphones are protected by a beefy roll-cage bar, and while the unit feels like a serious piece of equipment in your hand, it's still compact enough to fit into a jacket pocket. The PCM-D50 ships with four AA batteries. The advantage of being able to use replaceable cells in the field, as opposed to other units' rechargeable and often unremovable batteries, is obvious. Instead of having to wait for your recorder to power up while your interview subject gets more and more impatient, or that rare flock of migratory birds decides to fly off, you can simply throw in a fresh set and be back up and recording, instantly. Of course, the PCM-D50 can also be powered via its included AC adaptor when grid power is available.

In price/performance measures, the Sony PCM-D50 can't be beat. It's got features that any pro needs, a self-explanatory control layout that novices will be thankful for, and an amazing sound that everyone will appreciate. read less

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 866-766-9272
Manual

Sony PCMD50 96kHz/24bit PCM Recorder

Loaded with top of the line features ranging from 24Bit/96kHz sample rate, standard WAV file recording format for use with numerous DAW applications, 4GB Built-in Memory for up to 6 hours of recording time at 16Bit/44.1kHz. The sleek and intuitive design makes navigation a breeze and the small and lightweight size allows for the ultimate in portability. If you're looking for a high-quality, great sounding, easy to use portable digital recorder for almost every use you can throw at it, look no further.

Features

- 96kHz/24bit Linear PCM Recording: Records in standard WAV file format
- 4GB Built-in Memory: Records up to 6 Hrs @ 44.1KHz 16 bit
- Signal-to-Noise: Line in to Line out : 93 dB or above (1kHz IHF-A)
- Built-in Two- Position Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone:
- Offers selection for X-Y or Wide Stereo positions
- Output Sensitivity: -35.0dB/Pa 1kHz (Typical)
- Maximum Input: 130dB SPL
- Noise Level: 20.0dBSPL(A) (Typical)
- LCD Digital Peak Metering: Plus nominal and overload level Indicators
- Versatile Recording Functions: Dual Digital Limiter, Super Bit Mapping, Pre-recording Buffer, A-B Repeat
- Operates on 4 x AA Alkaline Batteries: Providing 14 hours of record operation @ 44.1kHz 16 bit
- Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo Slot: Up to 4GB additional memory expandability
- MP3 Playback and "Digital Pitch Control": DPC (fast/slow playback)
- PC/Mac Compatible: Simple drag & drop file transfer via High-speed USB connection
- SPDIF Digital Input and Output: Optical I/O (IEC 958)

Supplied Accessories
- AC Adapter
- 4 x AA Alkaline batteries
- USB Cable
- Operation manual

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (18 ratings)
Submitted July 29, 2011 by a customer from mac.com

"You need to own one of these."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
The only other reason that I would search for another product would be for more track capability. This is by far my favorite 2 track hand held recorder to date, and I've been a successful professional for more than 25 years.

Sound
This is the best sounding hand held recorder that I've worked with, and I've owned quite a few. I've recorded live bands, sound effects, demos, and a world of other elements without ever having a negative experience. I do recommend purchasing the wind screen for exterior work, because the microphones are very sensitive to wind noise.

Features
One of the best features is the intelligent limiter. It allows you to record at a premium level without worrying at all about distortion. This device records a second signal simultaneous to the user setting, but at 20db below, then automatically boosts the second signal to maximum gain before clipping, when it detects clipping in the main signal. I'm a sound effects editor/ sound designer, and this feature has saved my bacon all the time. Another extremely useful feature is the 5 second pre-record buffer which loads when you push the record button, but not the play button. I use this all the time, when I'm waiting to record Thunder, cars, birds, and whatever else is unpredictable. The built in hard drive has been all the record space that I've ever needed. I can record more than 4 hours of 24bit 48Khz material without the need for an external card.… read more

Ease of Use
In the same hand, you can adjust your record level, as well as your phone levels without interfering with your recording. The dials are open on the top and bottom, so this was a well thought out design. Once you've setup your preferences in the menus, which are very intuitive, this is as simple as it gets for operation.

Quality
This is a durable professional quality recorder. It looks and feels strong, and is extremely well designed for the professional or amateur on the move.

Value
Unbeatable.

Manufacturer Support
You'll never need it, unless it goes swimming or gets dropped out of your car. This recorder has been bullet proof for me.

The Wow Factor
I don't lust for any equipment, but this recorder has been in my kit for 2 years, and I take it with me wherever I go.

Musical Background:
Supervising Sound Editor, Former Professional Musician, Former Recording Engineer

Musical Style:
Blues, Jazz, R&B, Rock read less
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