Happy New Year!
I'm new to this forum after having found it a few days ago when searching for an effective way to transfer "legacy" recordings (non Hi-MD) over to my computer rather than the time-wasting and quality degrading way of re-recording its ouput in realtime on the computer (or to pay $$$ for a new Sony MZ-RH1 Hi-MD recorder which will allow for digital transfers via Sony's SonicStage software).
I need something that just works instead of limiting my creativity, so a solid state recorder seems to be the thing for me, and so far the PCM-M10 seems to be the one to go for.
I'll be using it to record environmental/nature sounds, speech (interviews, lectures, my baby's first words etc.) for the most part.
I do however have some questions which I didn't find answers to earlier in the thread:
1) Voice activated recording:
The 5 second pre-record memory buffer will be most welcome for a variety of situations (like waiting for my kid to say something), but does the recorder also have a voice activated recording feature? That would fully "automate" a situation like that. I know that some other recorders have this function (Zoom H2 and H4n as far as I can remember), but none that have both.
2) Memory card types:
Why are people complaining about the use of Memory Stick Micro (M2) and Micro SD cards?
Are they inferior and unreliable compared to other types of memory cards, or is it just because people are afraid of losing them because of their minute size?
Since you can choose between two card types with the PCM-M10, should I go for a Memory Stick Micro or a Micro SD card?
3) Data transfer speed:
I read somewhere that transferring recordings to a computer takes ages. Is this true? Remember, audio transfers is what prompted me to put MiniDisc recorders behind me.
I was hoping a solid state audio recorder would be something like a digital camera (where transfers are really quick).
Does it make a difference (speed-wise) if I connect the PCM-M10 to the computer via USB or put its memory card into a USB 2.0 card-reader?
4) Firmware:
Is it possible to upgrade its firmware, in case Sony comes up with improvements or new features?
I see others have asked about this before, but nothing other than estimated guesses came up as replies.
5) Macintosh support:
I've been burnt by this in the past; Sony, as a manufacturer of PCs running Windows, haven't done much to support Mac users (more so to keep us away). The PCM-M10 is said to work with Macs as well as PCs, and I suppose that's just because the recorder happens to act as a "mass storage" unit via USB, right?
Will I run into any unpleasant (or pleasant!) surprises being a Mac user?
By the way, does it come with any Mac software at all? Sound Forge which is supplied with it certainly won't work on Macs.
6) "Pro" and "consumer" versions:
I read about the
"pro" version (PCM-H10P) earlier in the thread and elsewhere, but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere. I did notice that it says "
regional press release", being Asia/Pacific, so perhaps it's not a worldwide thing.
Anyway, a matt black recorder (pro) is much more desirable than the glossy black (consumer) version. Does anyone know if they've done anything about the painted silver on its sides which several people have complained about here, making it look "cheap"? Does the "pro" version come like that as well? And what about the price difference and availability?