Topic: Newbie looking for a recorder

[jbou]

Hello,
I am new here and want to get into taping. I know I need a couple things, but first I am looking to buy a digital recorder. I have seen some good things about the Sony M10 and have been thinking about that one. Any thoughs on it or recommendations of other recorders would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help!

[fmaderjr]

It's a great machine and very easy to use. As a bonus, if you ever need to use internal mics, the M10's are way better than most digital recorders.

I would go with it.

[stevetoney]

The market is pretty solid when it comes to good quality hand held digital recorders.  The one absolute requirement would be 24bit bit depth, which most all of the newer recorders provide.  One of the best features of the Sony that you're looking at that I've read is that it has incredible run time on a set of batteries.  The quality provided by all of these handheld recorders is quite amazing.  The sound you can expect ranges from acceptable when using on-board mics to amazing when using good quality out-board gear upstream of the recorder.  I'd say to try to forecast the type of rig you'll be building around your recorder, then concentrate on any specific features you'll need to support that (for example, will you need a digital input, which the Sony provides).  In the end though, I think almost all of the recorders in this genre will have most of the same feature set.  I think that you'll be quite happy with whatever you end up with, as long as it's not the low end. 

[su6oxone]

Your best bets in the $300 range are probably the M10 and the Edirol R-09HR.  You can't go wrong with either of them (although I haven't used the M10 personally). 

[jbou]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll go with the M10.

[earmonger]

Another recommendation for the M10. Great display, very good built-in mics, feels very solid 4GB built-in. Google around and you can now find them for $275--and at that price B&H throws in the Sony case (for storage, not field use).

But note: It does NOT have optical/digital in for realtime recording. The line-in jack is analog. (It does of course have a digital USB connector, standard minijack.)

http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/cat-audio/cat-recorders/product-PCMM10%2FB/

You'll want to get outboard mics to eliminate handling noise, though in a non-stealth situation you don't even need them: The PCM-M10 has a socket for mounting on a tripod.