Has anyone compared these recorders, and can offer an opinion of the
relatives strengths and drawbacks of each? I'm shortly going to buy one or
the other, and I'd like to get an informed opinion.

Thanks,

Norm Strong

[Mike Rivers]

On Oct 27, 1:08 pm, wrote:
Has anyone compared these recorders, and can offer an opinion of the
relatives strengths and drawbacks of each?

The H2 fits in my pocket better. I can't see buying either of them if
you're interested in making high quality recordings, and I can't see
buying an H4 unless you really want to use it as a 4-track recorder. I
didn't have both of them at the same time, so I didn't compare the
built-in mics on the same source, but both do a fair job. The H4 has
the advantage of XLR connectors and phantom power should you want to
use external mics, but if I cared enough about the session to use
external mics, I'd probably want to use a less plastic recorder as
well.

Buy the H2. Or you could wait for the MicroTrak2 and see what that
offers. Or a Sony PCM-D50.

[Edi Zubovic]

On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:19:53 -0700, Mike Rivers
wrote:

On Oct 27, 1:08 pm, wrote:
Has anyone compared these recorders, and can offer an opinion of the
relatives strengths and drawbacks of each?

The H2 fits in my pocket better. I can't see buying either of them if
you're interested in making high quality recordings, and I can't see
buying an H4 unless you really want to use it as a 4-track recorder. I
didn't have both of them at the same time, so I didn't compare the
built-in mics on the same source, but both do a fair job. The H4 has
the advantage of XLR connectors and phantom power should you want to
use external mics, but if I cared enough about the session to use
external mics, I'd probably want to use a less plastic recorder as
well.

Buy the H2. Or you could wait for the MicroTrak2 and see what that
offers. Or a Sony PCM-D50.

-- If the Sony PCM-D50 sounds similar to the PCM-D1, this would be a
right choice. It seems that the PCM-D1 was too expensive -- even for
Sony to make. So they made a nice move and they are offering this more
affordable and lighter unit. I don't know internal differences but
this one has some nice add-ons which are interesting to journalists
more than a field recordists, albeit the latter would be also happy
with. So far, I've seen that, compared to the Sony PCM-D1, this
PCM-D50 is lighter as it lacks on analogue meters. Also the
microphones are somewhat smaller but they can be flipped out for a
wider stereo. In that case, microphones are no more crossed but they
are true L - R. An internal switch does it automatically.

What I have further noticed is interesting for journalists:
prerecording with a 5 sec buffer. While in stand-by, pressing Record
or Pause adds stored previous 5 seconds to the just started recording.
It has also a split-on-the-fly Divide button, like the PCM-D1 (and
this is active also in the playback mode). Such a split joins
seamlessly later in a PC editing program.

While the PCM-D1 has a tandem input potentiometer, the PCM-D50 has a
single one -- as far I could see. The earphone potentiometer looks the
same. The PCM-D50 has somewhat lower headphone output, what can be
even a good thing and here's why. The PCM-D1 has an output of some 30
mW+. If you use Sony earbuds -- neatly stuffed in the ears --, the
impedance is matched at 16 Ohms. Now, you are standing beside a
drummer, as your PCM-D1 is hooked into the band's little console
nearby and you have a desire to hear what's going on with the
recording and that drummer is _very_ loud. You crank up the earphone
volume... your ears would cry if they could.

The PCM-D50 also has a digital input (the PCM-D1 has only digital
out). The device most probably prohibits digital transfer of
copyrighted material, though -- if it's flagged as such. I think,
there are some possibilities for musicians, namely changing tempo
while retaining a pitch etc. There is also a sync feature (which I
have yet to comprehend in depth).

The recorder can playback mp3 files too but I think it can't record
them. It's also not necessary as it has, like the PCM-D1, 4 GB
(internal) + 4 GB (MStick Pro) capacity. 4 AA batteries are required
for both models. I have a spare battery compartment and thus, if I
ever will have to, I could swap the batteries very quick. However, one
must take into account some seconds for the memory to be read after
switching on. This time doubles if you have a 4 GB Memory Stick Pro
installed. With more powerful rechargeable batteries, one does not
have to worry at all, though, if abt. 2 hours of recording are
planned. However, it's always good to fully charge the batteries prior
recording, notwhitstanding their current state, due to their
self-discharging.

There are some add-ons such a simple remote control (you still can't
remotely control/monitor input of course) and they are selling the
tripod and a Rycote-like windscreen (that one was mandatory)
separately. The XLR-1, a P48/XLR microphone adapter, can be used with
the PCM-D50 too, but at some 500 USD, it's priced only $50 less than
the recorder itself. However, the XLR-1 a good and quality device
nonetheless. It deepends of the microphones, whether you will decide
to use it -- the PCM-D1 internal microphones are darn good albeit a
little weird set up. Generally, it's better to go "into" the sound
field, ie. closer to performers, than stay in a triangle or similar.
It would be interesting to compare the microphones and preamplifiers
of the both Sony recorders.

Sony says the device is built from aluminium and thus it's robust
enough, and the production costs are lower since the PCM-D1 had a body
of a magnesium alloy known from some Minidisc models, titanium lids
with the most durable imprints I've ever seen (titanium nitride coat)
-- you can not wipe these off by no means -- and those analogue
instruments have tempered crystal glasses similar to Seiko and Casio
watches etc etc... This adds on luxury, and Sony made a wise move to
drop these with the new model. I hope that the internal parts are of
similar quality too. {But, that said, I just _love_ these gadget
features I must confess}.

There are surely more features to mention as to the PCM-D50.
Nevertheless, I think that this recorder is a promising one.

Edi Zubovic, Crikvenica, Croatia

[Mike Rivers]

On Oct 27, 5:04 pm, Edi Zubovic edi.zubovic[rem
wrote:

-- If the Sony PCM-D50 sounds similar to the PCM-D1, this would be a
right choice. It seems that the PCM-D1 was too expensive -- even for
Sony to make. So they made a nice move and they are offering this more
affordable and lighter unit. I don't know internal differences

They're still making the D1. What they tell me is that the mics and
preamps are a bit lower in quality on the D50 than the D1, but
otherwise, the guts are pretty much alike, though the user interface
is a little different (no mechanical VU meters for one thing).

What I have further noticed is interesting for journalists:
prerecording with a 5 sec buffer.

Actually, the Zoom H2 does that. I can't remember about the H4.

The PCM-D50 also has a digital input (the PCM-D1 has only digital
out). The device most probably prohibits digital transfer of
copyrighted material, though -- if it's flagged as such.

I hadn't thought to ask about that. I thought that copy inhibit was a
thing of the past, but then this IS Sony. But the digital input makes
it possible to tie it to a high quality mic preamp with A/D converter.
Not too many have TOSLink optical outputs (that's what the D50 digital
input is, as I recall). The Core Sound Mic2496 has recently been
updated and it'll run on a battery.

The PCM-D50 $500 on the street in the US.

[Tobiah]

The MicroTrak2 still doesn't have a user swappable battery. If the
improvements they made in other areas are as good as they say, it's tragic.
When an external battery pack is added, the weight/bulk advantage compared
to the competition vanishes.

Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511



The battery is almost certainly a lithium polymer pack. The cells are available
in all sorts of sizes. They have a standard voltage per cell. One only has
to match or exceed the max discharge current per cell, and find a package that fits
in the original unit. There is also a trick to soldering the cells into a
circuit that google knows all about.

I agree however about non user-serviceable batteries however. What a joke.

Tobiah

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