Topic: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces

[weroflu]

I have to decide whether to get another m10 since mine has sort of died an untimely death - both mic input and line input jacks are not working properly.

can someone give me an idea where the m10 a/d stands as compared to other recorders or computer interfaces. what would be a big step up in a/d and what would be sort of on par?

i'm looking into the lavry ad11, which should be a big jump up in a/d but not sure if it works under linux.  open to ideas including plopping down for another m10, but i'm hesitant if the jacks are so easily broken.

[rodeen]

Not a very popular device around here but I really like the A/D in my Microtrack.  You can probably pick one up at a pretty reasonable price in the Yard Sale.

[page]

I preferred the Sound Devices ADC when blind tested, but the Sony was close enough that I wouldn't sweat it. It's a capable unit. Whether it's worth stepping up to a usbpre2 or not is a personal/money decision.

[fmaderjr]

Not a very popular device around here but I really like the A/D in my Microtrack.  You can probably pick one up at a pretty reasonable price in the Yard Sale.

The MT24/96 is capable of making excellent recordings, especially when you go line in and avoid the mediocre mic input. Most of the nightmares people had were when using it as a bit bucket.

However most would find it hard to deal with a MT24/96 after using an M10. With the MT you need an external battery pack to record over 2 hours or so (even with a brand new internal battery). A very loud source can sometimes overload the MT because you can't decrease the gain to close to 0 (I avoided this issue by going line in with a CA-9100, which is capable of attenuation). Also it takes a while to figure out how to set the gain on the MT (a bit confusing to say the least) and the MT24/96 does not do seamless file splits.

The MTII inproves on many of these issues, but if you want to record line in from unbalanced mics, unless you have a special cable made you have to set the MTII at it's lowest gain setting and get all your gain from the preamp. Otherwise you'll run into the dreaded "sprinkler noise".

[H₂O]

I would think most modern recorders (release in the last 5-6 years) have pretty good AD's

I like the Korg MR-1 very much - the SD7xx is nice as well - but for it's size, cost and flexibility the M10 is hard to beat (I wish it had balanced inputs though)

[jlykos]

Microtrack A/D is good but holy shit are the preamps bad in that unit.

I don't have the M10, but the A/D in the D50 is outstanding.  I used to run a Marantz 671 and the A/D in that unit was a shade better, but it wasn't worth hauling it + an external battery supply around when the D50 did everything else so well.  The A/D in the M10 is allegedly similar to that in the D50 so I would probably just get another M10 in your situation.

[fmaderjr]

Microtrack A/D is good but holy shit are the preamps bad in that unit.

I guess I got great recordings with mine because I got most of my gain from my CA-9100.

[Brian G]

I love the sound I get with the A/D in the M10. I was reluctant at first, but have been very happy with it. Best $200 i have spent in recording gear.

[cashandkerouac]

another vote for the M10.  unless you absolutely have to have XLR inputs and/or more than 2 channels the M10 is hard to beat for the money.   

[SmokinJoe]

There was (probably still is) an Apogee Mini-me in the yardsale with USB for like $410.  I think most people would say that's a very good A/D.  But as someone else said, I think probably all the new recorders have a pretty good A/D including the M10.

[F.O.Bean]

M10

[stober]

I run sonosax > mytek stereo 192 > sound device 702 and here lately( since june this year) I've been bringing my m10 to run sonosax > m10  as a back up and to compare the A/D. The mytek def sounds more smoother to me and more pleasing to my ears. There has been a few shows though were they sound very close. For the money the m10 is hard to beat. It sounds great imo. Never used the internal mics for anything so I can't comment on that.