[mcp6453[_2_]]

I purchased the Sony PCM-M10 a couple of years ago, but I've never really used
it - until now. The record level on the external mic jack is very low. With the
record level control set to Auto and with an Audio-Technica AT8031 as the
source, at normal speaking level, the audio peaks at about -24 dB. It works fine
on manual record. It's as if the AGC is not calibrated. Are there any software
settings? The sensitivity control for the mic is set to High.

[mcp6453[_2_]]

XLR pins 1 and 3 ground, pin 2 hot.

On 3/21/2012 10:54 PM, soundhaspriority wrote:
How are you adapting this balanced mike to the unbalanced input of the PCM-M10?

Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511

"mcp6453" wrote in message
...
I purchased the Sony PCM-M10 a couple of years ago, but I've never really used
it - until now. The record level on the external mic jack is very low. With the
record level control set to Auto and with an Audio-Technica AT8031 as the
source, at normal speaking level, the audio peaks at about -24 dB. It works fine
on manual record. It's as if the AGC is not calibrated. Are there any software
settings? The sensitivity control for the mic is set to High.

[mcp6453[_2_]]

Thanks, Bob.

On 3/22/2012 3:05 AM, Soundhaspriority wrote:
OK, that's good. I've checked the manuals for both the PCM-D10, and the PCM-D50,
which I have. I do not see an AGC feature in the D10 manual; it has what they
call a limiter, but which is really a fairly complex compressor/limiter.

The D50 has settings for attack time, while the D10 compressor/limiter is fixed.
Neither has a threshold adjustment. These recorders serve the prosumer and
low-end professional markets. Compatibility with these different markets
requires some tradeoff. Some folks take these recorders to rock concerts and
other venues with loud and unexpected levels. When a limiter is in the hands of
a judicious professional user, protecting the last 6dB from transient overs is a
useful feature. For the careless rocker, it is not. In order to avoid
compressing the rocker's entire concert into a single brick wall, compression
has to start at a lower level. I think this is what you are seeing. If you were
to take the recorder to a rock concert, the peak would probably appear to hover
somewhat closer to 0, perhaps -12dB.

The AT8031 may also make a contribution, with a harmlessly lower output level
than common true condenser mikes, not enough to drive the D10 into the knee of
the compressor. But you really don't want it to go there anyway. If the D10 is
linear at -24dB, that's where you want to operate; s/n is a lesser consideration.

Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511


"mcp6453" wrote in message
...
XLR pins 1 and 3 ground, pin 2 hot.

On 3/21/2012 10:54 PM, soundhaspriority wrote:
How are you adapting this balanced mike to the unbalanced input of the PCM-M10?

Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511

"mcp6453" wrote in message
...
I purchased the Sony PCM-M10 a couple of years ago, but I've never really used
it - until now. The record level on the external mic jack is very low. With the
record level control set to Auto and with an Audio-Technica AT8031 as the
source, at normal speaking level, the audio peaks at about -24 dB. It works
fine
on manual record. It's as if the AGC is not calibrated. Are there any software
settings? The sensitivity control for the mic is set to High.

[Mike Rivers]

On 3/21/2012 7:54 PM, mcp6453 wrote:
I purchased the Sony PCM-M10 a couple of years ago, but I've never really used
it - until now. The record level on the external mic jack is very low. With the
record level control set to Auto and with an Audio-Technica AT8031 as the
source, at normal speaking level, the audio peaks at about -24 dB.

Turn off the limiter and don't sweat the low level. That's
not too low for "normal speaking." The external mic input
isn't too bad on that recorder, and the best part about it
is that unlike the early Zoom and TASCAM recorders, you can
turn the level DOWN for loud sources without clipping the
mic preamp.



--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

[mcp6453[_2_]]

On 3/22/2012 9:32 AM, Mike Rivers wrote:
On 3/21/2012 7:54 PM, mcp6453 wrote:
I purchased the Sony PCM-M10 a couple of years ago, but I've never really used
it - until now. The record level on the external mic jack is very low. With the
record level control set to Auto and with an Audio-Technica AT8031 as the
source, at normal speaking level, the audio peaks at about -24 dB.

Turn off the limiter and don't sweat the low level. That's not too low for
"normal speaking." The external mic input isn't too bad on that recorder, and
the best part about it is that unlike the early Zoom and TASCAM recorders, you
can turn the level DOWN for loud sources without clipping the mic preamp.

I'm thinking about buying a recorder with XLR inputs and the ability to record
mono. (The PCM-M10 only records stereo.) The SoundDevices 702 is too expensive.
That's between the two? PMD660? PMD670?

[hank alrich]

mcp6453 wrote:

I'm thinking about buying a recorder with XLR inputs and the ability to record
mono.

For what purpose?

--
shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/
http://www.youtube.com/walkinaymusic
http://www.sonicbids.com/HankandShaidri

[hank alrich]

Jeff Henig wrote:

hank alrich wrote:
mcp6453 wrote:

I'm thinking about buying a recorder with XLR inputs and the ability to
record mono.

For what purpose?

Nature sounds to put mxsmanic out of his hobby.

(rimshot)

Whack!

--
shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/
http://www.youtube.com/walkinaymusic
http://www.sonicbids.com/HankandShaidri

[mcp6453[_2_]]

On 3/22/2012 12:20 PM, hank alrich wrote:
mcp6453 wrote:

I'm thinking about buying a recorder with XLR inputs and the ability to record
mono.

For what purpose?


As a general purpose recorder, primarily to record voice, such as dialog for video.

[mcp6453[_2_]]

On 3/22/2012 1:36 PM, Soundhaspriority wrote:

"mcp6453" wrote in message
...
On 3/22/2012 9:32 AM, Mike Rivers wrote:
On 3/21/2012 7:54 PM, mcp6453 wrote:
I purchased the Sony PCM-M10 a couple of years ago, but I've never really used
it - until now. The record level on the external mic jack is very low. With the
record level control set to Auto and with an Audio-Technica AT8031 as the
source, at normal speaking level, the audio peaks at about -24 dB.

Turn off the limiter and don't sweat the low level. That's not too low for
"normal speaking." The external mic input isn't too bad on that recorder, and
the best part about it is that unlike the early Zoom and TASCAM recorders, you
can turn the level DOWN for loud sources without clipping the mic preamp.

I'm thinking about buying a recorder with XLR inputs and the ability to record
mono. (The PCM-M10 only records stereo.) The SoundDevices 702 is too expensive.
That's between the two? PMD660? PMD670?

Get some opinions on the quality of the Marantz mic preamps. In spite of the
limitations of the Sony, the pres are considered remarkably good for the price.
I have some memory that at least a few years ago, the Marantz pres weren't that
good.

Bonus question: Is there any way to cause the PCM-M10 to record in mono to
increase its recording time? I don't think so.

[Mike Rivers]

On 3/28/2012 2:54 PM, mcp6453 wrote:

Bonus question: Is there any way to cause the PCM-M10 to record in mono to
increase its recording time? I don't think so.

Most of these things don't, but I'm pretty sure I saw that
on one of the recorders I reviewed. I can't remember if it
was the Sony PCM-M10 though it's a likely candidate.



--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff