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Re: [gear] Sony announces PCM-D50 field recorder, $600

Subject: Re: [gear] Sony announces PCM-D50 field recorder, $600
From: "Bruce" natureguyusa
Date: Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:28 am ((PDT))
Thanks Oryoki,

This new sony unit looks nice. Except for the lack of phantom power 
and XLR input (a $500 option), Sony stick media, and 16-bit 
performance, the display looks nice, battery life is good. I thought 
at first it had a SPDIF input to bypass all their less than stellar 
internal microphones and A/D converter, but I am not sure by the way 
they descibed it in the manual. Can anyone figure out if it has SPDIF 
input/output? With all these new portable recorders coming out, I am 
surprised more of them don't offer a SPDIF, digital input.

Bruce Rutkoski
Natureguy Studio


--- In  "oryoki2000" <> 
wrote:
>
> On 1 October, Sony's Broadcast and Business unit announced a new 
field
> recorder, the PCM-D50.  MSRP is $600.  Delivery is supposed to start
> in November. For details see the Sony BBSC web page here:
> http://tinyurl.com/2kqyhv
> 
> The PCM-D50 shares many design elements of Sony's highly-regarded
> PCM-D1 flash recorder.  Features shared between the two machines 
include 
> --electronics with almost identical specs
> --WAV files captured at up to 24/96 
> --4GB flash memory built in
> -- also records to Sony's Memory Stick Pro removable flash cards 
(4GB
> maximum today) 
> --twin microphone capsules built into the top end of the recorder 
> --jacks for external mic and line in, analog out, digital optical 
out, USB
> 
> The D50 costs $1,400 less (!!) than the D1, so you might expect a 
few
> features to be missing.
> --D50 lacks the D1's analog vu-meters
> --D50 lacks the D1's titanium case
> ...and that's about it!
> 
> The D50 offers several valuable improvements over the D1:
> --D50 is 6 oz lighter
> --D50 runs 12 hours on 4 AA vs D1's 5 hours
> --D50 has digital optical input
> --D50 has 5 second pre-roll buffer, D1 has none
> --D50 is 20% shorter and 33% lighter than the D1
> --D50 has MP3 playback
> 
> The D50's dimensions are  6.1" tall 2 7/8" wide, 1 5/16" thick (154 
x
> 72 x 33 mm)  That's too big to be considered pocket-size.  The size 
is
> noticeably smaller than the Marantz PMD660, and very similar to the
> Zoom H4 recorder.   Weight with battery is 12.9 oz (366 g) 
> 
> Considering these specifications, the Sony PCM-D50 looks like strong
> competition for the $600 Fostex FR-2LE. The D50 is smaller and
> lighter, has better battery life, and should have stellar audio
> performance.  
> 
> I have high hopes for Sony's new model!
> 
> --oryoki
>






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