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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: weroflu on September 18, 2012, 01:50:24 PM

Title: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: weroflu on September 18, 2012, 01:50:24 PM
I have to decide whether to get another m10 since mine has sort of died an untimely death - both mic input and line input jacks are not working properly.

can someone give me an idea where the m10 a/d stands as compared to other recorders or computer interfaces. what would be a big step up in a/d and what would be sort of on par?

i'm looking into the lavry ad11, which should be a big jump up in a/d but not sure if it works under linux.  open to ideas including plopping down for another m10, but i'm hesitant if the jacks are so easily broken.


Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: rodeen on September 18, 2012, 02:09:58 PM
Not a very popular device around here but I really like the A/D in my Microtrack.  You can probably pick one up at a pretty reasonable price in the Yard Sale.
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: page on September 18, 2012, 02:34:19 PM
I preferred the Sound Devices ADC when blind tested, but the Sony was close enough that I wouldn't sweat it. It's a capable unit. Whether it's worth stepping up to a usbpre2 or not is a personal/money decision.
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: fmaderjr on September 18, 2012, 05:30:29 PM
Not a very popular device around here but I really like the A/D in my Microtrack.  You can probably pick one up at a pretty reasonable price in the Yard Sale.

The MT24/96 is capable of making excellent recordings, especially when you go line in and avoid the mediocre mic input. Most of the nightmares people had were when using it as a bit bucket.

However most would find it hard to deal with a MT24/96 after using an M10. With the MT you need an external battery pack to record over 2 hours or so (even with a brand new internal battery). A very loud source can sometimes overload the MT because you can't decrease the gain to close to 0 (I avoided this issue by going line in with a CA-9100, which is capable of attenuation). Also it takes a while to figure out how to set the gain on the MT (a bit confusing to say the least) and the MT24/96 does not do seamless file splits.

The MTII inproves on many of these issues, but if you want to record line in from unbalanced mics, unless you have a special cable made you have to set the MTII at it's lowest gain setting and get all your gain from the preamp. Otherwise you'll run into the dreaded "sprinkler noise".
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: H₂O on September 18, 2012, 09:40:44 PM
I would think most modern recorders (release in the last 5-6 years) have pretty good AD's

I like the Korg MR-1 very much - the SD7xx is nice as well - but for it's size, cost and flexibility the M10 is hard to beat (I wish it had balanced inputs though)
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: jlykos on September 18, 2012, 11:56:32 PM
Microtrack A/D is good but holy shit are the preamps bad in that unit.

I don't have the M10, but the A/D in the D50 is outstanding.  I used to run a Marantz 671 and the A/D in that unit was a shade better, but it wasn't worth hauling it + an external battery supply around when the D50 did everything else so well.  The A/D in the M10 is allegedly similar to that in the D50 so I would probably just get another M10 in your situation.
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: fmaderjr on September 19, 2012, 05:14:54 AM
Microtrack A/D is good but holy shit are the preamps bad in that unit.

I guess I got great recordings with mine because I got most of my gain from my CA-9100.
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: Brian G on September 19, 2012, 09:20:50 AM
I love the sound I get with the A/D in the M10. I was reluctant at first, but have been very happy with it. Best $200 i have spent in recording gear.
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: cashandkerouac on September 24, 2012, 12:39:08 PM
another vote for the M10.  unless you absolutely have to have XLR inputs and/or more than 2 channels the M10 is hard to beat for the money.   
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: SmokinJoe on September 24, 2012, 01:35:20 PM
There was (probably still is) an Apogee Mini-me in the yardsale with USB for like $410.  I think most people would say that's a very good A/D.  But as someone else said, I think probably all the new recorders have a pretty good A/D including the M10.
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 27, 2012, 08:28:04 PM
M10 8)
Title: Re: sony m10 a/d vs other recorders and usb computer interfaces
Post by: stober on September 28, 2012, 09:43:25 AM
I run sonosax > mytek stereo 192 > sound device 702 and here lately( since june this year) I've been bringing my m10 to run sonosax > m10  as a back up and to compare the A/D. The mytek def sounds more smoother to me and more pleasing to my ears. There has been a few shows though were they sound very close. For the money the m10 is hard to beat. It sounds great imo. Never used the internal mics for anything so I can't comment on that.