Topic: Sony PCM-M10 (Part 7)

[earmonger]

[quote}
...the "Format" menu item decidedly does not select the format I'm recording to...)
[/quote]

REC SETTING, the first thing that comes up when you push the Menu button, selects the bitrate and file type.

[adrianf74]

fyi 4 is "unity"

Where does this research come from?  When the M10 came out, several tests indicated no unity setting was needed

Several of us have tested it and found that it's somewhere between 4.0 and 4.5 to be exact.  GuySonic also did a bunch of tests on this when the recorder came out.

So, yes, unity is that.   And unity is helpful if you don't want to use any gain from the deck itself (for a consumer product, the M10's internals are VERY quiet).  If you're using a preamp. the idea has always been to set unity on your recorder and ride the gain on the preamp.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

So, yes, unity is that.   And unity is helpful if you don't want to use any gain from the deck itself (for a consumer product, the M10's internals are VERY quiet).  If you're using a preamp. the idea has always been to set unity on your recorder and ride the gain on the preamp.

That's all good, but which setting sounds best?

Perhaps more important, at which settings do we notice a deterioration of audio quality?  Whether that is something that can be readily measured, or whether it is subjective.

I persistently reported here that the R09 distorted at settings below 8.  Some argued with me about it. It seemed to take quite a while until it was accepted as something to be strongly avoided.  The distortion was a crunching on intense bass.  It probably isn't something that could be easily measured by normal tests.

I was getting out to a lot of shows back then. And I frequently ran the r09, 722 or Microtrack in parallel. That made it easier to chase down differences in performance.

It is something I am curious about with the m10.

[yates7592]

I think Guysonic looked at this as part of his testing and found that the M10 sound does not degrade in the way that you described for the R09 until the level dial is down to about 1.5-ish.

[Ekib]

Recently my PCM M10 during a concert starts recording that typical cellphone interference whenever I receive a SMS ( text message ) during recording .
Is this picked up by the PCM M10 , or by the microphone itself ( in my case a core sound stealtly card ) ?
I never had this problem until recently , and I also switched a phone brand ( so it can't be the phone itself ) .

Anything I can do against this ( and I don't mean shutting the phone off ) . ?
Thanks !

[twoodruff]

I am experiencing trouble with my m10. I run mk41s>naiant LB with lemo connectors>m10 via rca to mini. In the left channel there is a hum which only registers as a hum, not over the music in that channel. Any suggestions? All other items in the chain have been eliminated as possible issues, it has to be the m10. Suggestions?

[yates7592]

Recently my PCM M10 during a concert starts recording that typical cellphone interference whenever I receive a SMS ( text message ) during recording .
Is this picked up by the PCM M10 , or by the microphone itself ( in my case a core sound stealtly card ) ?
I never had this problem until recently , and I also switched a phone brand ( so it can't be the phone itself ) .

Anything I can do against this ( and I don't mean shutting the phone off ) . ?
Thanks !

Just curious. Why wouldn't you want to switch your phone off while you're recording?

[H₂O]

Recently my PCM M10 during a concert starts recording that typical cellphone interference whenever I receive a SMS ( text message ) during recording .
Is this picked up by the PCM M10 , or by the microphone itself ( in my case a core sound stealtly card ) ?
I never had this problem until recently , and I also switched a phone brand ( so it can't be the phone itself ) .

Anything I can do against this ( and I don't mean shutting the phone off ) . ?
Thanks !

This is actually not an uncommon problem - search the site - it's your mic cables - since the are unbalanced and probably have thinner shielding the are acting like an antenna and picking up the EMI from your phone

Maybe there is a subtitle grounding issue making it worse with the cabling so you could try and send the mics off for a check up but there is no guarantee this will fix it

The standard solution I have read about is either moving the cell phone as far away from the cables as possible or turning off the cell phone

If you want to get extreme You could try wrapping the phone in a conductive foil
I guess

[yates7592]

Controlling your own phone is the easy bit, it's other people's phones that are usually the problem, like the serial texter stood next to you throughout the entire show.

[Ekib]

Thanks for the replies.
I have never had problems with other cell phones standing nearby .
I'll try to keep it much further away . See it that helps.
I didn't know it is the mic cables that causes the problem . I thought it may be a problem on the PCM M10.

[Ekib]

What would be the best way testing how long the batteries last ? Obviously I can't record 8 hours in a concert situation and test .
I use rechargable batteries . I am wondering if they last shorter in a concert situation , especially due to higher temperatures.

The reason I ask I used to have GP recyko batteries . The ones I had were 2050 mAh , the new ones are 2000 mAh . I thought that little bit less wouldn't matter .
But it really does . After only 3 hours the battery indicates it is  1 out of 5  while the 2050 mAh lasted much longer. The 2050 mAh still records about 8 hours .
But it gives me a funny feeling the indicator telling it is almost empty , while it isn't .

Anyone else using rechargeables here ?

[darby]

Anyone else using rechargeables here ?

since I got my first M10 years ago
I leave them in for several shows or if I take a break, I'll put in fresh ones
I use Imedion and Eneloop low discharge "AA"s

[adrianf74]

What darby just said.  I use the Eneloop XX's as found below but I know the Imedion's are pretty decent too (the Imedion's weren't easily found when I needed to buy some new rechargeables).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766725-REG/Sanyo_XX_Powered_by_Eneloop.html

[rigpimp]

I think that I did a test with the Eneloop AA's when I first got the M10 and it recorded for about 15 hours if I recall correctly.  What I do not recall was if it died first or the Tinybox died first.  Something is telling me that it might have been the Tinybox.

If you have a Costco near you they sell blister packs of Eneloop batteries regularly for $20.

[earmonger]

My PCM-M10 is packed away at the moment but I'm pretty sure that somewhere in the Settings menus there is a choice between standard and rechargeable batteries. That might give you more accurate readings about the level of charging.

Much as I want to save the planet, I have to say I gave up on rechargeables with the PCM-M10. I still use them in my CD player, etc.--which is also where alkalines go when the PCM-M10 registers under 1/4 bars.  But if I am going to be out recording, alkalines last so much longer.