Podcast Audio and Podcast Gear is HERE! …New Media Gear

Hand-held digital audio recorders are a hot commodity. There used to be a very distinctive line drawn between professional and consumer audio recorders. Pro recorders were found only at broadcast supply houses and consumer recorders could be found at your local department store or the retail electronics store on the corner.

One of the newer contenders that blurs the line between pro and personal is Sonys PCM-D50. Offering up to 96kHz/24-bit recording resolution, 4GB of internal memory (add more using the Memory Stick port) both digital and analog in/out along with physical switches for major functions, the PCM-D50 will appeal to those looking to up the ante in prosumer recording in the under $500 (street price) category.

This recorder is physically bigger than the other hand held units in its price class. The fit and finish is excellent with buttons having a clean tactile feel. Sporting a very solid outside, nothing about the PCM-D50 feels ‘plastic’ or creaks. The nicely caged electret mics are easily adjustable from an X-Y pattern to forward facing or any combination in an arc. The expensive ($49 list) optional windsock looks quite professional in the world of quick-form foam filters. A small tray slides out of the bottom allowing convenient refilling of 4 AA batteries, then snaps nicely back in the unit. Included is an AC-DC adapter as well.

The backlight-on-demand LCD display is oversized with easy to read peak reading meters, large time elapsed/remaining and recording mode indication. You can also easily read the filename and memory remaining at a glance. Dual LEDs right below the mics light up at -12db and -1 for a quick record level indication.

Sony happily included a nice oversized recording level knob on the right and a separate physical listening (headphone) adjustment on the left. This is an important detail for adjusting levels during recording without having to stop and access menus. A dual frequency selectable low-cut filter is switchable as well as the limiter. The standard mini-USB connection allows the D50 to become a mass storage device for most Windows and Mac OS platforms. A Memory Stick Pro Duo HG slot allows you to supplement the internal 4GB of storage.

For input and output, you can select 1/8 inch stereo analog or (optical) digital. Line or mic level are hard switchable with a 20db pad available for mic input. Plug In phantom power is turned on or off via menu. You can have the D50 auto-start recording upon receiving a proper digital stream as well as mounting it on a tripod, like a camera. Plug in the (optional) wired remote for hands-off access as well. Utilizing digital inputs does sometimes encumber certain features and also allows for the all too familiar MiniDisc-like DRM copyright aware firmware to activate. Analog, of course, is wide open.

A nice touch is the included Sony Audio Studio LE software on CD, allowing basic file manipulation.

Recording either WAV or MP3 formats is a breeze thanks to the brief, but well written manual. Compress MP3’s to 320kbps, although I liked going linear WAV with the roomy 4GB at a modest 44.1kHz/16-bit rate. Recording quality is excellent as I would expect from Sony. The built-in mics will work nicely for general purpose, but an external mic or input source is needed for serious use.

Competition is fierce and there are other hand held models out there for less than half the price. The Sony does, however, rise nicely to the challenge and fills a niche in the market for those that want a bit more without entering the realm of the 4-figure (USD) market. For those with a little extra room in their budget and an appreciation for the pro touches, the PCM-D50 is a worthy contender.

Inside the box, you’ll find the recorder, analog input or output cable, AC adapter, USB cable and Sonys Audio Studio LE CD.

Best,
MarkJensen & Laura

List: $599.95
Street: $499.00

Sony and the Sony logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and company references are the property of their respective owners.

Filed under: Podcasts