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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: jhfinn on January 06, 2014, 10:47:41 AM

Title: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: jhfinn on January 06, 2014, 10:47:41 AM
Hey now,

I was at a show this summer and a fellow taper showed me a modified sony m10 that had xlr inputs.....yes XLR ;D It was a really impressive mod. The xlr cables exited where one of the built in microphones were. So essentially you lose your built in mics inorder to have xlr inputs.
Has anyone else seen this? Wish I took a picture of it. Better yet anyone here capable of doing a mod like this?
Regards,
Jim
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: larrysellers on January 06, 2014, 10:49:18 AM
I think Nick made at least 1 of these. His username here is schoepsnbox.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: jhfinn on January 06, 2014, 10:56:29 AM
Correct...Jeff Travitz was using the m10 and it was loaned to him by Nick. I don't know if Nick is willing to offer this as a service or not. I sent him a pm about it a couple months ago and no response.
I think Nick made at least 1 of these. His username here is schoepsnbox.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: Jonmac on January 06, 2014, 11:08:28 AM
Hey now,

I was at a show this summer and a fellow taper showed me a modified sony m10 that had xlr inputs.....yes XLR ;D It was a really impressive mod. The xlr cables exited where one of the built in microphones were. So essentially you lose your built in mics inorder to have xlr inputs.
Has anyone else seen this? Wish I took a picture of it. Better yet anyone here capable of doing a mod like this?
Regards,
Jim

I would have thought it would be easier to make or buy an XLR adapter cable to plug into the mic input socket.




Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: Ultfris101 on January 06, 2014, 02:32:48 PM
So I guess the main benefit is that you have a locking connector to the M10? I assume it's not balanced and no P48.

Kind of seems like a project somebody might undertake if they had some extra time on their hands...

Now I'm really curious to see pictures. What did the gear chain look like?

Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: johnmuge on January 06, 2014, 03:24:27 PM
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=160902.msg2059474#msg2059474
        Here are some pictures of this.  Awesome !!!!
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: 2manyrocks on January 06, 2014, 04:09:34 PM
FWIW, I messed around with building a battery box per the other TS threads, put XLRs in the box and lined it up to screw to the back of the M10.

It's not really pocket portable once you do this unless you have some really big pockets. 
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 07, 2014, 12:02:41 AM
There is also the sOny XLR1
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: aaronji on January 07, 2014, 05:50:09 AM
^^^  The XLR1 has been discontinued and was in the neighborhood of $500 when it was available (maybe $450?).  So difficult to find and pricey, especially for what it does.  You can get a tinybox for 2/3 the cost and have a pre-amp too...
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: Ultfris101 on January 07, 2014, 09:30:00 AM
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=160902.msg2059474#msg2059474
        Here are some pictures of this.  Awesome !!!!

Thanks! I missed this somehow.

I use a right angle connector and a piece of gaff tape to keep the connection solid. A locked XLR I wouldn't complain about when I could afford the space.

how about TA5 or TA6 kind of  like a tinybox with adapter cables so you didn't have them on there the whole time? hmmm

In any case, this is cool to have done.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: yates7592 on January 07, 2014, 11:17:47 AM
^^^  The XLR1 has been discontinued and was in the neighborhood of $500 when it was available (maybe $450?).  So difficult to find and pricey, especially for what it does.  You can get a tinybox for 2/3 the cost and have a pre-amp too...

Yes, you are correct, the XLR-1 did seem expensive for what it does, i.e. power only. However, when you consider it more closely with respect to the M10 (and of course D1 and D50, and now also D100) it actually starts to make some sense. It has a number of positives, including physical attachment to the back of all 4 Sony PCM recorders for easy stealth operation, relatively small form factor (obviously not 'Tinybox small', but smaller than quite a few P48 preamps/power packs), balanced and locking inputs, P48 phantom power that lasts forever on 4xAA batteries (I've tested mine with my Beyer CK930's for 12 hours+ without the LED flashing, I just stopped the test at 12 hrs through sheer boredom), correct unbalancing of output, and last but not least, very clean super-quiet signal. Here's a link on the main M10 thread recently:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=160902.msg2072628#msg2072628
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: aaronji on January 08, 2014, 06:28:25 PM
Yes, you are correct, the XLR-1 did seem expensive for what it does, i.e. power only. However, when you consider it more closely with respect to the M10 (and of course D1 and D50, and now also D100) it actually starts to make some sense. It has a number of positives, including physical attachment to the back of all 4 Sony PCM recorders for easy stealth operation, relatively small form factor (obviously not 'Tinybox small', but smaller than quite a few P48 preamps/power packs), balanced and locking inputs, P48 phantom power that lasts forever on 4xAA batteries (I've tested mine with my Beyer CK930's for 12 hours+ without the LED flashing, I just stopped the test at 12 hrs through sheer boredom), correct unbalancing of output, and last but not least, very clean super-quiet signal. Here's a link on the main M10 thread recently:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=160902.msg2072628#msg2072628

If it works for you, that's all that matters!  There are just other options that are either cheaper (and more easily available), have a better feature set, or both.  I am pretty sure all XLR inputs will be balanced, and I am also pretty sure SD or Naiant (etc.) know how to correctly unbalance their outputs.  Those others are also very quiet and get good battery life.  If it were me, I'd rather have a full-featured tinybox for ~$300 and a box of rubber bands to attach the two devices!
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: mountaintaper on January 26, 2014, 11:50:37 PM
Hey now,

I was at a show this summer and a fellow taper showed me a modified sony m10 that had xlr inputs.....yes XLR ;D It was a really impressive mod. The xlr cables exited where one of the built in microphones were. So essentially you lose your built in mics inorder to have xlr inputs.
Has anyone else seen this? Wish I took a picture of it. Better yet anyone here capable of doing a mod like this?
Regards,
Jim

I would have thought it would be easier to make or buy an XLR adapter cable to plug into the mic input socket.

actually it was my M10 travitz was using at Peach fest.  Main reason for the mod was the mini inputs suck and keep breaking on these little decks, so I had nick modify my M10 with the XLR inputs (on the line input, i don't use the mic input for anything on this turd)
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 with xlr inputs?
Post by: schoepsnbox on January 27, 2014, 12:58:38 AM
Correct...Jeff Travitz was using the m10 and it was loaned to him by Nick. I don't know if Nick is willing to offer this as a service or not. I sent him a pm about it a couple months ago and no response.
I think Nick made at least 1 of these. His username here is schoepsnbox.


Must have missed your message..pm sent!