Topic: Sony PCM-M10 (Part 6)

[willndmb]

I've been thinking about getting a PCM-M10.
My main use would be with a lapel microphone (probably the AT atr3350) and not the built in ones.
I researched a lot (in the beggining I was thinkin about the H4n haha), but there were 2 questions I couldn't answer:

- Will the pre amps on the PCM m10 work on the atr 3350 ( with 3.5 mm jack) or they only work on the built in microphones?
- Will the recording improve if I get the PCM m10 or, for example, a dr-07 mkii? I mean, since the microphone isn't that good, wouldn't the recorder make little difference in the quality? Os would it be smarter to buy better mics and a not so good recorder?

That's actually 3 questions haha.
Thanks in advance.

yes the pre comes into play using external mic
i personally think the m10 sounds best of the handhelds, but that is personal pref
mics are considered the most important part of the chain but really it depends on how much of an upgrade vs cost to see if it is worth it, imo anyway

[F.O.Bean]

i would DEF go w the m10. and buy some church audio ca14s{cards and omnis} and a battery box/preamp and sit back and listen to killer recordings for right around $500 total for everything. there are ca14 cards and a church audio 9200 preamp for $250. add the sony m10 for $250 and there you go, killer rig for around $500 little ones. trust me you will be happy going down that route

[le.puppet]

Thanks a lot willndmb and F.O.Bean.
I will buy the pcm m10, do some research and later upgrade the mics.
Never heard of church audio, I'll probably go to the mic section of this forum to learn a little more.
Again, thanks.

[F.O.Bean]

Thanks a lot willndmb and F.O.Bean.
I will buy the pcm m10, do some research and later upgrade the mics.
Never heard of church audio, I'll probably go to the mic section of this forum to learn a little more.
Again, thanks.

Yes, also, check the retail section. Church Audio is having a November sale so now is the time to buy

[willndmb]

To be clear, the pre wouldn't come into play if you had an external box such as the one bean suggest
(set the m10 on 4)

[vwmule]

So I tragically discovered the loose connector problem with the M-10 tonight, recording Neil Young.

Seems the plug from CA battery box was not fully in and the internal mics* kicked in. Major letdown as it was a killer show and I was in a good spot and generally can't stand stealth. Is there a way to disable internals? I didn't know anything was wrong because I could see the levels were fine. The recorder was in a jacket pocket. Def learned a lesson about taping down the cable. The M-10 connection is a design flaw.

* Read here that if external mic cable not fully engaged, then internal is default. And the recording has that sound. But is it possible that CA-14 mics were just not delivering the full dynamic range? They were plugged in somewhat, like past the first band on the connector. The recording of Patti Smith, who played before Neil, was 100 times better.

[ArchivalAudio]

^^^ bummer, sorry that sucks!

Why would you not use the line in...
I run my m-10 from my little box line in and set to source of line in and have never had an issue...

[audBall]

My M10 is great and has worked flawlessly for the last two years. But ever since I purchased it, I've had this feeling like "it's not if but when" one of the connectors will go out. Kinda like the old JB3 1/8" optical input issue many of us eventually succumbed t0.

Forgive me for not following the thread close enough, but has anyone successfully repaired a connector on their M10? 

[vwmule]

Good question. I rarely record  and was reading the board earlier in the day and decided to try mic in based on reported user experiences. Went line in for Springsteen in September and found levels lacking (was using the CA battery box). But should have known that Neil would be loud.

Bottom line lesson remains: Make sure you secure, with tape if necessary, any connection to the M-10.

[dyneq]

Agree about the connection...I have now gotten pretty good at telling when it's not fully inserted (is that what she said? ). When it's not all the way in, you can press it inward some more and you should feel a positive click as it locks in fully. Close your eyes as you insert and you can hopefully feel what I'm talking about.

All that said, it would be really nice if there was a slick way to 'set it and forget it'. There is another thread about using an old-school airplane jack (with 2 mono plugs) to keep the connector more stable here:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=158776.0

John

[Myco]

I've been thinking about getting a PCM-M10.
My main use would be with a lapel microphone (probably the AT atr3350) and not the built in ones.
I researched a lot (in the beggining I was thinkin about the H4n haha), but there were 2 questions I couldn't answer:

- Will the pre amps on the PCM m10 work on the atr 3350 ( with 3.5 mm jack) or they only work on the built in microphones?
- Will the recording improve if I get the PCM m10 or, for example, a dr-07 mkii? I mean, since the microphone isn't that good, wouldn't the recorder make little difference in the quality? Os would it be smarter to buy better mics and a not so good recorder?

That's actually 3 questions haha.

Thanks in advance.

Your microphones will have the biggest effect on the final product. Your pre-amp/battery box will be next in the chain that will effect the sound. Your deck has a slight influence in the final sound in the analog>digital conversion stage. Think of the whole chain as a funnel, the large part of the funnel being the microphones, then it gets narrower as it funnels through the pre-amp, then into the deck finally.

[darktrain]

Have never had a issue with a connection(knocks on wood) in 3 years now with the M10, and 95% of that is "less than open" , just a fantastic unit, my favorite function is the locking function but still adjust the levels, also have never had a issue with the level knob either.

[yousef]

I'm not sure if there is an input jack issue as such or if there just a problem with making sure that the jack is fully inserted.

I had this happen to me once, early on, with a cheap lead. Clocked the odd levels during the support so checked everything over in the gents and found the minijack lead not quite fully inserted. No problems since, even with that same lead.

I think if you take care to plug in properly, this problem should effectively resolve itself. After all, it's a 3.5mm connection, it's hardly secure under the best circumstances and I wonder if the slightly stiffer action that seems to be causing these problems might actually work in its favour if the lead is subjected to the occasional tug during use.

[F.O.Bean]

My m10s have been nothing but SOLID concerning the input jacks. But then again, I use HQ jacks

[eman]

Ahhh.... I had two recordings come out like crap- my comments had been that it sounded like the mics were in my pocket. I now get that the mics were- IN MY POCKET (or in my bag on the floor)- and this was a mini-plug seating issue. Well, that beats the alternative that my MK41's are crazy temperamental.