Topic: Sony's new $600 recorder PCM-D50

[mrsoul]

I think the Medium Zing bag will work. 
It's dimension:  Exterior Dimensions
   4.0 x 6.5 x 1.5" (10 x 16.7 x 3.7 cm) (WxDxH)

Large:
 Exterior Dimensions
   4.5 x 8.25 x 1.5" (11.5 x 20 x 3.7 cm) (WxDxH)

D50 is @3 x 6 x 1.25 inches (WxDxH)

Thanks again for the info and the photos!  Ordering mine tonight from B&H.

[udo]

 
I wonder if the medium Zingo bag would fit?  That's the large right? 

Yes its the large. I don't know about the medium one. I actually put in my I-pod headphones as well, and a self made windscreen, and now I am glad i picked the bigger one.

[udo]

Ordering mine tonight from B&H.

Yes, you might better go for the medium one. I got this as well, and its the best accessory yet, if folds totally flat and just 7 bucks ...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272488-REG/Sunpak_620787_Mini_Flat_Tripod.html

[spyder9]

Hi, All

I am WifiJeff's friend who has been having problems with the Dig input - I tried it with a very high end A/D, and it would not lock at 96/24. I have a call to the SONY Pro Division - will report on what they say....

Joe P.

Try knockin' that puppy back to 48/24 and report back.  I bet you get somethin'.   

[Arni99]

could someone please measure the mic-input plugin-power-voltage output?
is it 5V or less?
thx a lot .

[Jamos]

If you've been thinking about buying one of these, this could save you some cash:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,95005.0.html

 

[mrsoul]

I went out today to Best Buy and used some of those gift certificates.  Got a Gorillapod.  I wasn't sure if it would hold the PCM-D50 but it does and amazingly well!  Check out the shots attached.  Here's the Gorillapod site for more info. 

Now, I just need to work on a windscreen...  funny thing, I probably won't be using the internal mics all that much but the gorillapod is cool.

In the digital input testing world, I dug out my old Turtle Beach Riveria card and slapped into the family computer.  It gives out an optical 48 or 41 signal at 16bit (up to 24bit).  As I toggled the card between 48 and 41, the D50 recognized the difference.  I know that doesn't help much on the 96/24 questions but just testing out the optical input for my own curiosity.  The manual also states if the signal is unstable, it will only record 16 bit and my card states it will send out up to 24 bit signal depth, so not sure if it was unstable or just not sending out 24bit.  Then again, I was only playing a 16 bit track.  Need to play a 24 bit track and try it again.

Back to football on TV....

[udo]

Just returned from a chamber music student concert, where the guy who as supposed to record it semi-professional did not show up (or was not informed or something). I pulled out the sony and the mini tripod and recorded the show on its internal microphones.
Following observations:
- the microphones are not well matched (a few db off), can be fixed in post, though
- they are quieter then I thought - the humming of the light bulbs in the venue was much more present then the pink noise of the mics
- the wheel-style input volume adjustment is a real plus! much more comfortable then pressing some buttons noisily to fix the volume (also I had the chance two times to very slowly adjust the volume during a recording)
- the limiter is excellent, so are the green light / red light input lights that gave me a good idea of where the levels are/should be while sitting a 2 feet away from the recorder.
- rather unusual: hitting the pause button did not start a new track but simply paused in the track

I just listened to the recording and have to say it turned out quite ok (I do not feel ok about posting the recording, should have asked the players before...)
Again - under better conditions I would have the mixpre, my studio projects etc, but I was glad to see, that the machine can actually used by itself in a sort of better then nothing situation. 

Overall: I am glad I got this little "snap-shot" camera, now I have to wait until I get my mixpre and the microphones back to see if it works well with them as well ...

[SClassical]

Even if you don't have an AD converter you can test it out in a simple way. If your PC/Mac have an optical out just set your D-50 to 24/96 and record something. Then transfer the file to your computer. Play it back as 24/96 from your computer. Try and record the playback via an optical cable (from PC/Mac to D-50).

I'm still waiting for my D-50 to arrive so i cannot test anything yet.

Can someone do the above to confirm to us that it can/cannot accept a 24/96 signal via the optical input? You don't need anything fancy just a computer with optical out and a D50. Thanks!

[udo]

sorry, I have no optical cable ....

[Jppiano]

So far, I have not been able to get the unit to accept 96/24. It WILL output 96/24, though.....

Joe P.

[SClassical]

sorry, I have no optical cable ....

Thanks...the manual (page 28) clearly states :

DIGITAL RECORDING SIGNALS AND RECORDER SUPPORTS:

Linear PCM 44.1/48/96 kHz digital signals are supported.

When the sample quantifying bit number is 16 bit or less, it is recorded at a 16 bit rate. Otherwise it is recorded at 24 bits.

So I'm sure it's a fault of Sony...maybe a future firmware will fix it.

[mrsoul]

My cheap Turtle Beach will only send out 44.1 or 48.  But, I did order the Digital I/O module to go with my Soundblaster 4 on my work computer here in the home office.  So, I can't test above 48k right now.  That Creative I/O module will give and take optical and coaxial signals up to 96k, so it will be nice to have it for later use any ways...

Creative digital I/O expansion module

[motobill]

Isn't another solution to the testing dilemna...
1. Burn 96/24 to DVD from your computer,
2. Go optical out from DVD player into d50?

[motobill]

Doorman just handed me the package from Music123...you know what's inside