Sony PCM-M10 handheld digital recorder

I have been sound recording for over 20 years and feel that it's only in the last couple of years that the digital flash memory recorders, popularised by the (pretty good) Zoom H2, given the pro-end of the market a run for their money.

The problem with most recorders of this size / range is not just the quality of the mics, but the noisefloor of the preamps. Basically, how loud is the machine when nothing is being spoken or during quiet pieces of music?

The Zoom H2 promised so much, and it is still the best value for money for recoding band practice. It had the best auto level function on any wee recorder. But it had many menus, suffered from noise in all of it's external inputs and basically made me do lots of tiresome post production after using it for book readings, podcasts and so on. The H2 was thick-sounding and a little too warm sounding.

This has all changed. For another £100 or so, the difference on this Sony unit is incredible. It uses the same preamps as its more expensive pro models the PCM D50 (£500) and the hugely expensive D1 (about £2k in the UK). The in built EQ is more suited to voices and is full of more detail than it's cheaper ZOOM cousin. If you buy a good windsock for it, it performs well out of doors, something that is incredibly difficult with the ZOOM.

All I ever wanted was a chunky wheel for setting the level, not time wasting menus that can't be accessed whilst recording. Here, too loud? just turn it down. It's internal 4GB of memory and 30 hours+ of recording time on a couple of AAs means this unit is the new more efficient kid on the block.

I absolutely adore using it. It's so intuitive, and it's tiny, maybe too small!

Tip for using - don't use the automatic gain settings on this unit. Instead, set a healthy level and turn on the limiter. The limiter is of excellent quality. It sounds great at either it's max setting of 24 bit 44.1 Khz or even at the mp3 settings, something the Zoom H2 was very poor at (mp3 compression). The Zoom auto level is better than the Sony, but the Sony outclasses everything else on the zoom, apart from the 4 channel recording on the Zoom which is just a simple 2 channel here. But you know what? The quality just makes you fall in love with the PCM M10!

PROS - absolutely excellent quality for the price, easy to use. The line in and mic inputs are of outstanding quality, much much better than any unit in it's class and I've tested dozens. Recalls the heady days of my Sony DAT. Sound input wheel is child's play and easy to use in the dark. Massive display. No need to read the manual much. Works brilliantly on a Mac too. Nice punchy levels. Nice big buttons. I think this is the best recorder in it's class. Even without XLR inputs which can be adapted to, with a good lead. Worked well with my rode NT3 mic.

CONS - The mics are a little too omnidirectional - but cope well with closely miked voice also. You definitely need a wind muff (shop around for one / improvise). Like other recorders is slightly fragile, not as bad as the ZOOM but you need to be gentle with those inputs! Needs careful and gentle handling. But then again most recorders in this class do, and at least the Sony is partly aluminium. It's default EQ is not very bass driven, but you can up it in the unit menu. Personally, I prefer detail to too much low end, but if you want a thicker sound, you may need to tweak a little.

This recorder has a lot if features, which comes in handy for the traveller: Compact size, driven by ordinary AA batteries or AA rechargeables, long battery life (at present the best of all the pocket recorders), built in mikes flush with the surface = less danger of damage and easy to pocket. It seems to be rugged. I have good experiences with the durability of other Sony gear, for example an ICF-SW7600 radio, which still works perfectly after 20 years of travel and use.

In addition to sound recording, I use the M10 as a convenient MP3 player, so I have one less gizmo to carry. It doesn't have an EQ, but the output sound is fully acceptable as it is. The output power drives my full size AKG K240 headphones without problems. The M10 will connect to almost anything. With its USB plus line in and line out jacks,it hooks up with the PC, with the stereo, with the kitchen radio, with external PC speakers, with PA systems etc.

It records directly to WAV or MP3, so it's also excellent for digitalizing vinyl recordings, recording radio broadcasts etc. for an IPod.

When coupled to a PC, the unit is a simple external drive, making file work easy. You can edit the files on the M10 from your PC.

The button layout has put off some people, but I find the button concept easier than navigating through menus for every task, and the buttons work very intuitively for me. Some have found the menus awkward, but I could use them with ease from day one without looking in the manual (two things real men don't do: Read manuals and make backups :-) ).

I haven't tested the sound quality compared to other recorders, but it's absolutely fine for me - and the pro reviewers finds it more than OK too.

The MR-1 does have a built in speaker, but it's mono and its max volume is so low that it's useful for nothing else than making sure a sound has been recorded at all. For anything else, headphones or hooking up to some kind of external speakers is necessary. But many pocket recorders don't have speakers at all.

There are some things this unit won't do:

It doesn't have XLR input and no 45V Phantom Power, but that would have made the unit more bulky, and one of the very virtues of this unit is the small size and the rounded and smooth shape. If XLR is a must, check out say the Zoom H4N. The Tascam DR-100 also has XLR, but it's battery life is too short for my taste.

It can't do multitrack or sound-on-sound, doesn't have guitar effects and amp simulations, has no guitar tuner and no metronome, so it may not be the recorder for the musician who wants a pocket studio or practice tool. Here the Zoom H4N, the Boss Micro-BR (mulititrack) or the Krog SR-1 (S-O-S) may be a better choice. Myself, I play guitar and I use a now discontinued Boss BR-860 recorder for home practice (much the same as the Boss Micro-BR, just far bigger).

And oh, the M10 doesn't have a FM radio. There is one in my cell phone - I have never used it.

But someone on the move who wants to record sounds around him whereever he goes and wants to hear his favorite music everywhere without carrying around more than one unit will have a hard time finding a more convenient recorder. It simply handles good. When I use mine, it gives me the same comfortable feel as a pair of well worn slippers.

Buyer Beware!

If you are considering purchasing this item. Ensure that its not via 'Plus Digital UK' They shipped a U.S import version which only carries a 90 day warranty valid in the United States only and it came with a U.S power adaptor.
Needless to say I sent mine straight back to Amazon for a refund.