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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: shadowfax1007 on October 18, 2019, 09:52:01 AM
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I'm currently in Tokyo and I've come across a used PCM-M10 at a decent price.
I currently have an Olympus LS10 that has been my primary recording device for years. I recently also got an Olympus LS12 for a few dollars due to an Amazon pricing error but I'm yet to use it.
My question is, is the PCM-M10 an upgrade based on my current gear, or would I be getting much of the same? I only ask as I see the PCM-M10 often referred to and highly regarded. They are difficult to find in my country so trying to decide if I should get one.
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If you're talking internal mics, I say the LS-10 is better for most circumstances. Folks like the M10 for a mic in/line in device as supposedly the A/D converter is one of the best at that price point.
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The M10 A/D converter is indeed excellent, but the main advantage of it is the battery life: I can easily get 20-30 hours out of a single pair of cheap AAs. Not having to worry about running out of power so long as I leave the house with even a single bar of charge is a huge upside for me, but YMMV.
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The M10 A/D converter is indeed excellent, but the main advantage of it is the battery life: I can easily get 20-30 hours out of a single pair of cheap AAs. Not having to worry about running out of power so long as I leave the house with even a single bar of charge is a huge upside for me, but YMMV.
Seconded. We've gotten more than 30 hours out of a pair of AA's.
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I used to have an LS10. It's the most ergonomically well-designed pocket recorder I've ever used, and feels built to last.
However, it does have a non-defeatable bass roll-off (starts at around 150Hz and drops about 6dB per octave from there). That's why I got rid of mine, because I'd rather record full range audio and make any modifications in post.
I don't know if the LS12 rolls off or not, but if that matters to you, the M10 would be an upgrade (especially since your signature says you use cardioids).
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Incredible. I had zero idea the ls10 had roll off.
I alternate between cards and omnis.
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With omnis, the roll-off could be an asset depending on personal tastes in music and recording location.
If the M10 is a decent price, just grab it and experiment with combinations of your mics, recorders and locations. Wait until you try everything and then sell what you don’t need.
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Just an observation worth keeping in mind: The Japanese M10 has button labels printed in Japanese characters. That may not matter to you, but will affect the resale value outside JP.
I don't know what you mean by decent price, but I rarely see them offered for less than 18,000 JPY and that is for very used copies, and in the range 50,000-90,000 for NOS.
At either price point, there are current offerings I find more attractive - although modern alternatives does not share the tactile solid feel of the M10 (the LS10 is equally solid).