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

[SClassical]

That would make this box less interesting to the ENG/reporter crowd.  Why would Sony want to do that?

It will satisfy everyone if the mics were detachable (like the MR-1 and MT). And also maybe even better to make it as a $100 accessory. Why would Sony not want to do that?

[WiFiJeff]

Looking at the online manuel, it gets excellent battery life.  They claim 20 hours at 24/96 without monitoring, the D1 got maybe 6 hours at best.  A useable 8 GB memory stick would make this a killer.

Jeff

[danlynch]

looks like there is a 6'wired remote and a dead rats wind screen available as extras.

Anyone know the what the buttons are on the remote? I guess one of them is a REC.

Looks interesting... shame about the mics...don't think anyone here will use them. They could have made it detachable like the MT or the MR-1.

Seems Marantz is in the competition, too with their new portable Marantz PMD620....Don't know if that has digital in - anyone know?

From the preliminary spex, it would appear that the PMD 620 does not have any digital in.

This item, the Sony PCM-D50 seems to only have an optical in, which kind of sucks for us Mini-Me owners. 

[yug du nord]

Curious how you would run Optical in without an outboard AD?

you wouldn't.  as with all S/PDIF inputs, you'd need to do the A/D conversion elsewhere.

I may be wrong... but I would imagine that it has an internal A/D.

[shaggy]

I think what we are starting to see is the next generation of improved all-in-one recorders.  Generally these all-in-ones with the mics are definitely are targeted to a ENG user, BUT SONY gave a little nod to the field recorder with the digi-in, let's hope that they follow thru.  I don't mind the built in mics, they are handy, like others have said, if the need arises to plop it down on a table or pull the old "Statue of Liberty" to capture an event.  Maybe if they made that a modular component, then it would be a killer (not to mention a SONY specialty item, which they love to market with their products).

I want to see some metering for the remote and some transport controls, any photos of the said "Remote Commander" remote?  When paired with a Lemosax or vms02ib, this will be a Schoeps st**thers dream machine .

I actually am glad that SONY is leading the wave on the next gen.  We would have been nowhere without them in the 90's, 80's and 70's.  They always had affordable and highly functional recorders.

[JasonSobel]

Curious how you would run Optical in without an outboard AD?

you wouldn't.  as with all S/PDIF inputs, you'd need to do the A/D conversion elsewhere.

I may be wrong... but I would imagine that it has an internal A/D.

I'm sure this new Sony deck has an internal A/D.  and if it sounds anything like their PCM-D1 recorder, it'll sound very nice.  but his question was about about using the optical input.  By definition, the optical input is an S/PDIF input.  if you are already sending the deck an S/PDIF signal, then you need to do the A/D conversion somewhere else.

[Jamos]

Did the D1 use the "super-bit-mapping", SBM, in its A>D?

Because this is what the D50 specs say it uses.

As far as those little mics, what really would have been killer is if they were detachable, then revealing an XLR jack!  We use some AKG panel mics that are about the size of the mics on the D50, and you plug them directly to an XLR...oh well, you can't have everything...yet.

[yug du nord]

Curious how you would run Optical in without an outboard AD?

you wouldn't.  as with all S/PDIF inputs, you'd need to do the A/D conversion elsewhere.

I may be wrong... but I would imagine that it has an internal A/D.

I'm sure this new Sony deck has an internal A/D.  and if it sounds anything like their PCM-D1 recorder, it'll sound very nice.  but his question was about about using the optical input.  By definition, the optical input is an S/PDIF input.  if you are already sending the deck an S/PDIF signal, then you need to do the A/D conversion somewhere else.

Ahhh......  got ya!!! 

[shaggy]

I'm sure this new Sony deck has an internal A/D.  and if it sounds anything like their PCM-D1 recorder, it'll sound very nice.  but his question was about about using the optical input.  By definition, the optical input is an S/PDIF input.  if you are already sending the deck an S/PDIF signal, then you need to do the A/D conversion somewhere else.

Can you make a fair assesment on how that A>D sounds versus the other 24bit resolution A>Ds?  If it is anything like the previous semi-pro devices, we are in luck.  The M1 and SBM-1 was a mainstay for us and I can see this being the case here too.

Did the D1 use the "super-bit-mapping", SBM, in its A>D?

Because this is what the D50 specs say it uses.

As far as those little mics, what really would have been killer is if they were detachable, then revealing an XLR jack!  We use some AKG panel mics that are about the size of the mics on the D50, and you plug them directly to an XLR...oh well, you can't have everything...yet.

I think the SBM will only be applied for the 16bit WAVs, it is a 24 > 16bit dithering and noise shaping filter.

XLR jacks are basically an impossibility on a device of that size.  Thus you have SONY's clever/stupid marketing in the XLR-1 for your XLR and phantom power needs.  Or you may choose a PS of your choice....without the SONY mark-up.

[WiFiJeff]

I think the SBM will only be applied for the 16bit WAVs, it is a 24 > 16bit dithering and noise shaping filter.

Correct.  The D1 has this option also, selectable on the menu.

Jeff

[WiFiJeff]

Availability?  Distributor estimated three weeks, but this sounds like a guess.  Sound Professionals said they'd have them up for pre-order on their web site tomorrow.

Jeff

[Arni99]

looks like there is a 6'wired remote and a dead rats wind screen available as extras.

Anyone know the what the buttons are on the remote? I guess one of them is a REC.

Looks interesting... shame about the mics...don't think anyone here will use them. They could have made it detachable like the MT or the MR-1.

Seems Marantz is in the competition, too with their new portable Marantz PMD620....Don't know if that has digital in - anyone know?

From the preliminary spex, it would appear that the PMD 620 does not have any digital in.

This item, the Sony PCM-D50 seems to only have an optical in, which kind of sucks for us Mini-Me owners. 

the manual says it has optical in AND optical out.

[danlynch]

looks like there is a 6'wired remote and a dead rats wind screen available as extras.

Anyone know the what the buttons are on the remote? I guess one of them is a REC.

Looks interesting... shame about the mics...don't think anyone here will use them. They could have made it detachable like the MT or the MR-1.

Seems Marantz is in the competition, too with their new portable Marantz PMD620....Don't know if that has digital in - anyone know?

From the preliminary spex, it would appear that the PMD 620 does not have any digital in.

This item, the Sony PCM-D50 seems to only have an optical in, which kind of sucks for us Mini-Me owners. 

the manual says it has optical in AND optical out.

My post was unclear.  The "only" was not about in/out (you are absolutely correct) but that its "only" optical, and not coax.  My reference to the Mini-Me is because its digital out is an s/pdif coax.

Stupid question: is there a coax > optical digital cable?

[JasonSobel]

Stupid question: is there a coax > optical digital cable?

no, not just a cable.  there are small portable, battery powered converter boxes, like the Hosa ODL-276.  but not just a simple cable.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

Stupid question: is there a coax > optical digital cable?

Not that I know of...  I've used a Hosa ODL276 for this conversion.  Its a bit perfect, 9vDC, small box (3"sq.) that should run you about $30...

Terry

PS beat me to it, Jason!