Topic: Any thoughts on the Transcend T.sonic series of recorders??

[u2depot]

I'm looking to get something smaller than the jb3 or h120 for recording... (and wife would kill me if I spent a lot of $$$ on a device). I saw the T.sonic series at the Transcend website, which records to WAV format. Anyone have any thoughts on these devices one way or another? looks like the WAV is in adpcm format... 

http://www.transcendusa.com/

[willndmb]

does it record anything other then voice? maybe the radio
looks to me like it just has a internal mic for voice recording, kinda hard to tell though as all the pictures are the same side but there is no mention of any recording other then voice in the specs

[u2depot]

you can use it to record the FM feed as well... Found more info on them at tigerdirect.com

[bugg100]

No mention of user gain setting, meaning auto levels.  That wold be big con to using this device as a recorder in the field.

Joe

[sunjan]

No mention of user gain setting, meaning auto levels.  That would be big con to using this device as a recorder in the field.

True.
What's even worse, it records in 2 channel mono WAV (32kHz max quality). See page 23 in the manual:
http://www.transcendusa.com/Support/DLCenter/Manual/TSXGMP820_EN12.pdf

Sorry, but you'd be compromizing too much by going this way.

With your requirements...
1. Smaller than H120
2. Cheap (under 100 bucks)
... I can only think of one thing that records in full stereo PCM: a Hi-MD recorder!

With a bit of sniping, you can pick them up on ebay for $80-100, depending on where you live. Some recent examples:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290209060714
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120225342559

Some models are dud (no mic/line inputs!) so make sure you select the right one when shopping for Hi-MD:
http://www.minidisc.org/part_Hi-MD_Sony.html

But when it comes to the form factor, the difference between Hi-MD and H120 is not huge. Think twice if you really need it, you'll barely save an inch sizewise.

/J