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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