It all started with looking at flash recorders. I had just about settled on the fostex FR2-LE but then I came across the Sony PCM D1, Now that I have mentally adjusted to spending $1500 I need to get a dose of reality rather than let my pee pee do the talking.

I'm buying this for a dear friend who is has been producing something that is really worthwhile to humanity. Ancient chanting from a tradition that goes back thousands of years. I have decided that it is my duty to help.

His old micro track is cactus. Now he has a couple of okish mics, I was looking to have XLR but I'm wondering if the internal mics on this might very well be good enough and if they aren't then there is an XLR adapter that goes with it. ($400).

What is appealing about this is that it looks like it will go for 30 years and is simple to use. I'm pretty impressed with the mirror recording where it automatically can splice in a normalised -20dB part that got clipped.

It's important to know that it will mainly be used for voice. It would be great if it could get professional sound and be this portable. This person travels all over the world, due to his students bringing him over.

Anyway, this thing is beautiful and I want to get it, but I've come here to get some sober advice.

Is this overpriced for what it does, could I spend $1500 better. Like maybe $1000 on a recorder and $500 on mics?

any advice appreciated.

You can hear samples of the PCM-D1 and other all-in-one flash recorders here:
http://www.wingfieldaudio.com/portable-recorder-sound-samples.html

Here's a comparison chart for field recorders:
Transom Tools Portable Digital Recorder Comparison


I just went through this internal debate wanting to get back to a way to record basic song demos with a level of simplicity that still sounds professional. I am tired of setting up mic stands and preamps and laptops just to record a 2 track song demo. So I wanted an all in one unit with good internal mics. I decided on the PCM-D50, which is 1/3 the cost of the D1.

The PCM-D50 housing is made of aluminum, not titanium, like the D1, but it feels sturdy and solid, like it also will last a long time out in the field.

"It's important to know that it will mainly be used for voice."

Although I think the internal mics sound better on my acoustic guitar than my SM81s, I am not as impressed with how they sound on my voice. Then again, I was recording in a small, boxy room with only an 8' ceiling, maybe that is what I am hearing. For what it is worth, you can hear how they sound on a really rough, quickly recorded demo here:
Song Demos
All 5 of those were recorded with the D50 about a foot away at desk level, angled up toward my chest.

This is a band recorded live, outside with the D50 and just the internal mics.... sounds really good to me:
The Malah Live at Paris Mountain State Park Ampitheatre

A couple of advantages the PCM-D50 has over the PCM-D1:

*The mics can record at a wide angle setting of 120 as well as the same 90 X/Y setting as the D1
*Reports from users are out there that the D50 can take the Sony flash cards larger than 4 gig. The D-1 does not.
*This thing runs > 20 hours on 4 AA batteries

Reviews:
If You Liked the D1, You’ll Love the D50
Review: Sony PCM-D50 Digital Recorder and ECM-957PRO Mic
Field Test: Sony PCM-D50 Handheld Recorder
Sony PCM-D50
Sony PCM-D50
Golden Delicious: Concert recording with the Sony PCM-D50
Sony PCM D50 Digital Recorder Review.


There are a lot more reviews out there, but I am tired of copying and pasting. I did a LOT of research before buying this thing. If your friend wants an all in one unit with good sounding internal mics, I think this is the way to go. If they don't mind dragging around external mics and cables, they may want to go with the Fostex FR2-LE or better yet, the pricey Sound Devices 702.

There is a lot of advice on flash recorders here:
Tapersection Forums

Look for posts by guysonic. He has done some pretty extensive testing of the both of the Sony units.