Sony's PCM-D1 $2000 digital field recorder

We've recently been blacklisted from legal bootleg service Furthur Net due to the low-quality Phish concert recordings we've been uploading, so we were delighted to see that Sony has released a new $2000 portable digital recorder that may earn us a spot back in the fold. The PCM-D1 is a retro-looking field recorder that can capture audio at 96 KHz/24-bit quality on either the 4GB of built-in memory or any size MemoryStick Pro card. Since one microphone is totally amateur-hour, the Sony model sports two angled, high-sensitivity condenser mics along with a five-line LCD for displaying recording and playback info, and two analog level meters. Unfortunately for our Furthur Net status, the PCM-D1 won't be available until December, so we're forced to feature our second-rate recordings on MP3.com for the time being.

[Via Music Thing]

[Timmy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Well, this recorder from M audio looks like it easily beats the Sony in the specs department, except for the mics of course. But for a quarter of the cost it's not a bad deal at all and it looks much better. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Timmy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Forgot the linky.....

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrack2496-main.html

[Peter Kirn @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Specs aren't the whole story . . . you can bet this is $2,000 for a reason audio quality-wise. And the M-Audio recorder, while very cool, certainly doesn't have a 4 GB internal drive. I'd go for a bigger box that does SMPTE sync for video, though -- doesn't appear to be even word clock on this one.

[Motoxo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Is it me or does that look like a tricorder?

[snowbag @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

A 6GB microdrive for the m-audio microtrack is only about $250 at newegg. Still less than half the price.

Oh yeah: fifth!!

[Rusty Shackleford @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Yes, yes, analog meters fine, swivel microphones nice touch, but what we really want to know, does it have any VACUUM TUBES in it?

[Doctord @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Yes, the M-Recorder is cool, and from Avid, you know it will be decent. However, there are others out there even cooler. Two of note are the Edirol R1 -- http://www.edirol.com/products/info/r1.html -- it sounds absolutely fabulous and uses ANY size CF card. It's only about $450. The other is the Edirol R4, about $1600 -- http://www.edirol.com/products/info/r4.html -- a professional-grade portable recorder thatwill run for about 6 hours on batteries and has 4 xlr mic inputs and a 60 GB HARD DRIVE. The problem with the Sony of course is you have to use their memory sticks AND I bet you won't be able to do simple drop and drag copying of files.

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Sad thing is... even with this thing you're going to have a hard time recording a Phish concert in good quality due to a lack of Phish.

[Tyba @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

yeah, no more Phish =(

if you're really lookin for some shows i'll B+P you some tasty SBD's

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

I love the titanium case and the analog dials. But I wonder who this is targeted at? It's too expensive for NPR. My Marantz recorder is a quarter of the cost and far more capable. Most NPR reporters are issued minidisc recorders and some still even use tape because most shows can't afford even a fraction of what this costs. Also, does it have XLR inputs? No pro is going to use internal mics. Sony should dump their memory stick. It's about as bad of an idea as dumping mp3 for Atrac.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

#1 M-Audio Microtrack "Looks much better"
I guess so, if you're into that 'cheapo Taiwanese DAP from three years ago' look.

[John Molina @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

It's a beautiful piece of equipment, but it would have been nice to have a 20/40/60/80GB drive instead of a measly 4GB for the $2000. But let's pump up the Memory Stick PRO instead. Haha. Sony is evil, but I love it.

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Tyba - what does "B+P you some tasty SBD's" mean? Sorry, I'm still young and learning :)

[dave @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

B+P -> blanks (cds) + postage
SBD -> soundboard recording (recording device plugged into soundboard/mixer used during concert)

[johT @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Yes, I think that,s just what I,m looking for. I would like to have pro pocketrecorder to collect sounds. I hope that it is sensitive enough to collect forexamble low level ambience sounds. but I,ll wait for the specs, before buy.
ONLY THING THAT SUCKS, IS THAT MEMORYSTICK. I have 10 GB of CF cards.