Sony Memory Stick Media Digital Voice Recorder with 128MB MS Duo and Adaptor (ICD-BM1B) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I read the reviews on Amazon and checked out the Olympus and other recorders...nothing touches this one for usability.Therein lies some of the problem.I'm a techie and still can'tuse it in the dark when driving. As a master's student, it has proved invaluable in lecture.On the (CONF-Hi) setting, it easily picks up even the whiniest professor's voice at a 15 foot range.The main reason I purchased the ICD-BM1 was it's 5 Dragon award from Dragon Natually Speaking(DNS).I use DNS v7.3 and have found it trained easily and has around 95% accuracy (down a few points from another reviewer) probably because I impatiently read the 1 hr training script in 40 minutes. It's very small and extremely light.The case has two velcro'd places for additional memory sticks.However, since it can use 128mb (not pro)I rarely swap sticks.I use the 128 for class related info and the others for personal life - maybe that's why I rarely swap - I have no personal life.One more thing, it's fabulous with DNS for dictating emails while driving.This allows emailing to family friends that would otherwise not hear from me as often.Great product!!!!

PART TWO - 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE
When first setting up the unit I found the battery door was very difficult to get open - but dismissed it figuring how often would I be replacing batteries? It turns out the door has now become unstable and sits in a slightly open position, popping open at will. When the batteries come out unnoticed, I have to reset the date/time etc.

After contacting Sony I learned that IF they determine it is a manufacturing defect versus user abuse, they will exchange the unit. The problem is... the unit received in exchange will not be new, rather it will be used (refurbished).

A warranty should repair or replace with a new unit - especially manufacturing defects. I'm disappointed in Sony.

Rather than do without the unit only to receive a used unit, I've decided to tape the door shut.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Memory Stick Media Digital Voice Recorder with 128MB MS Duo and Adaptor (ICD-BM1B)

Product Description:
Professional quality sound and high-level functionality are what distinguish the ICD-BM1 Digital Voice Recorder. Sony has designed a powerful, sleek recorder with a seamless aluminum body. Whether you're recording grandma for an audio-genealogy or interviewing a famous celebrity, this device makes super-pro recordings and is built to last.
It features up to 347 minutes of recording time on the supplied 16 MB memory stick and a maximum sampling rate of 44.1 kHz. The memory stick is removable so you can replace it with a larger capacity stick, or simply keep an empty stick handy in case you run out of memory. Once you record something through the mic, the sampling rate allows you to transfer the sounds into a digital format. This recorder features new LPEC codec with improved frequency response to deliver the highest quality sound. Transferring recorded sounds to digital format is an excellent, responsible way to preserve important interviews. Plus, it allows you to upload, download, email, and manipulate your recordings digitally on your computer.
The ICD-BM1 features a slide control switch for quick, responsive recording; a hi/lo mic sensitivity switch for recording in quiet or noisy environments; a built-in microphone and playback speaker; and digital overwrite/cut function for on-the-spot audio editing. All this functionality is powered by two AAA batteries that run for up to 10 hours continuously.
Finally, with the voice email function, you can record spoken email messages and send them later as audio attachments. The included software will help you master this functionality. This recorder is also compatible with Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred Voice-To-Print Software and has USB connectivity for high speed copying of files to a PC.
What's in the Box
Digital voice recorder, 16 MB memory stick, PC download software, earphone, USB cable, and carrying case.

Get 10% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sony Memory Stick Media Digital Voice Recorder with 128MB MS Duo and Adaptor (ICD-BM1B) now ?

Sony ICD-MX20VTP Digital Voice Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this software with the hopes of figuring out a way to use the Dragon voice-to-print software work for transcribing interviews.I knew it couldn't transcribe two voices, but I had read about a workaround where you re-dictate the entire interview in your own voice and then use the voice-to-print software to transcribe it.That turned out to be a pipe dream, at least for me.Even with training the Dragon software is not accurate enough for me to make it worth the time.I will probably find other uses for this software, however.

I am still happy with my purchase.The included sound editing software allows for easy manual transcription because the transcription keys allow you to stop and start the tape (it automatically goes back a few seconds when you restart it) without ever taking your fingers off the keyboard.I am a doctoral student working on my dissertation, so I appreciate the fact that the sound quality of this recorder is so good, and that transcription is (relatively) painless.The fact that the recorder capacity is expandable with standard memory sticks is also helpful.I think that the advantages of this recorder make it worth the difference in price from the lower-end models.I would recommend taking your time to compare the features of each recorder and its included software before making a decision to purchase a cheaper model, especially if you plan to use this for interviews and focus groups and not just as a voice memo pad.

If you are sure that you would never use the Dragon voice-to-print software, you can save a little money and purchase the Sony ICD-MX20, which is identical to this recorder but does not include the Dragon software.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICD-MX20VTP Digital Voice Recorder

Product Description:
Professional quality sound and high-level functionality are what distinguish the ICD-MX20VTP Digital Voice Recorder. Whether you're recording grandma for an audio-genealogy or interviewing a famous celebrity, Sony has designed a device that makes super-pro recordings and is built to last.
It features up to 11.5 hours of recording time on the built-in32 MB offlash/memory--plus the option of using Memory Stick. Duo or Pro Duo media (ranging from 32MB1 up to 512MB2 ).This dual memory records dictation on the built-in Flash memory or the small, compact, high capacity memory stick. The memory sticks are removable and allow recorded cards to be readily replaced for additional recording.
Sony has equipped this device with several features that will make you feel like you have your own recording assistant. The memory stick offers the ability to organize message folders by type, offering the ultimate in efficiency and versatility. You can store messages in up to 300 folders, helping you keep recordings organized and easily accessible. The advanced digital voice operated recording (VOR) feature actually stops recording during silent pauses, saving valuable recording time. Then, thanks to the digital buffer, this intelligent machine begins recording again without missing a single syllable. Plus, the ICD-MX20VTP has a full function LCD display, showing the number of recorded messages, recording length, date, time, and a remaining battery power indicator.
The ICD-MX20VTP features a slide control switch for quick, responsive recording; built-in stereo and directional mic functions for recording in different environments; and a playback speaker. All this functionality is powered by two AAA batteries that should run for up to 10 hours continuously.
With the voice email function, you can record spoken email messages and send them later as audio attachments. The included PC download software will help you master this functionality. And with the Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred Voice-To-Print Software, you can easily convert your recordings into text. Finally, the digital recorder comes equipped with USB connectivity for high speed copying of files to a PC.
What's in the Box
ICD-MX20VTP digital voice recorderwith 32 MB of built-inmemory, DragonNaturally Speaking Preferred Voice to Print Software, PC download software, earphone, USB cable, two AAA batteries, and carrying case.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sony ICD-MX20VTP Digital Voice Recorder now ?

Sony ICD-BM1VTP Digital Voice Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This recorder has good sound quality.However, it comes with version 7 of Dragon Naturally Speaking, instead of version 8, which has been on sale for over a year now.The new version is much more accurate; the old version produces a lot more errors, and correcting them is tedious and time-consuming.I would wait until Sony starts packaging the unit with the current software.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICD-BM1VTP Digital Voice Recorder

Product Description:
Professional quality sound and high-level functionality are what distinguish the ICD-BM1 Digital Voice Recorder. It features up to 347 minutes of recording time on the supplied 16 MB Memory Stick and a maximum sampling rate of 44.1kHz. The ICD-BM1 has slide control switch operation, voice e-mail function, Hi/Lo mic sensitivity, built-in microphone and playback speaker, priority setting and digital overwrite/cut function. It includes Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred Voice-To-Print Software, and has USB connectivity for high speed copying of files to a PC.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sony ICD-BM1VTP Digital Voice Recorder now ?

Sony ICD-SX700D 1GB Digital Voice Recorder and MP3 Player with Voice Operated Recording + Accessory Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If it didn't cost $180, I would throw it against the wall to see how many pieces it would make.Fine recorder, but when attached to the computer, the USB kept disconnecting and reconnecting every two or three seconds.Prior Sony digital recorder was great but this USB instability is bad.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICD-SX700D 1GB Digital Voice Recorder and MP3 Player with Voice Operated Recording + Accessory Kit

Product Description:
Dictate all day. Featuring Dragon NaturallySpeaking® Voice to Print Speech Recognition software, the ICD-SX700D digital voice recorder is the perfect office assistant. You can easily translate all of your recordings from voice to print with a few clicks of a button. This voice recorder has 1GB of built-in flash memory which allows you to record up to 372 hours of voice or up to 8 hours of MP3 recording in LPEC mode. Voice operated playback, correct dictation in playback, and a large stereo microphone round out the features.

KIT INCLUDES:
* OLYMPUS ME-12 MICROPHONE.
* 4 'AAA' RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES W/ CHARGER.
* BATTERY CASE.

Get 29% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sony ICD-SX700D 1GB Digital Voice Recorder and MP3 Player with Voice Operated Recording + Accessory Kit now ?

Sony ICDSX46 - 128MB Digital Voice Recorder w/ MP3 Playback Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently needed a voice recorder for my job...so I did an extensive research and decided to buy either Olympus DS-2 or Sony ICD-SX25.

I went to Circuit City to check out the two recorders and found ICD-SX46!I did not know Sony just released the ICD-SX46 when I went to Circuit City.ICD-SX46 has more memory (128MB) than Olympus DS-2 and ICD-SX25 combined.

Olympus DS-2 was way too big (approximately same size and a flip phone that is opened) to be in your pocket and made mostly out of plastic while SX46 is made of aluminum and slimmer in design.I decided to buy the sx46 because of its design and memory capacity.

Well, so far I love this recorder.The recording is very clear and even clearer if you use a headphone to listen to your recordings.The small speaker is also good, but the volume has to be almost all the way up to hear the recordings that had been far away from the microphone.

The aluminum body of this recorder feels sturdy and well made.Even the battery covering of this recorder is attach to the body so that you would never loose it.The record button is on the side so you can easly push it without dropping the recorder.

The buttons are also made out of aluminum and they don't feel cheap.And did I mentioned? the recorder is really light even with the two AAA batteries.

The LCD screen is also big enough to read, but does not have any back lights...so if you use it at night..make sure you got enough lighting to see the lcd screen.

You can also turn off the "BEEP" sounds which you hear whenever you push a button.You can also turn of the LED lights on the top of the recorder that lights up whenever you record or play the machine...so that you can save more energy.

This machine says it plays MP3 files..so I tried it but the software that came with the recorder made me convert the MP3 into that sony file thing (I'm not sure what you call it).But the music sound pretty nice even with that little speaker.However I would not use this machine as a MP3 player because it is not meant for such task...it is all about recording.

There is fast/forward button on this recorder...if you push and hold the forward button..it would fast forward until you let go of the button.

The recorder does not have on/off button because according to the manual..it would not consume too much battery power even though lcd is on whole day....however you can use the "HOLD" switch on the back of the recorder as the off/on button...the lcd would go blank and no matter how much you push the record button, it would not record untill you toggle the hold button.I like this feature.

The software that comes with this recorder is pretty much basic...I didn't really get to use the editing tools so I have no idea how they work....sorry about that.However you can change your setting of the recorder with the software instead of doing it right on the recorder...I think that is pretty cool.

By the way, the product comes with a soft cloth case, USB cable, 2 AAA Alkaine batteries and a CD.

So far I am glad I got this recorder.Good job, SONY.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICDSX46 - 128MB Digital Voice Recorder w/ MP3 Playback

Product Description:
128MB Digital Voice Recorder w/ MP3 Playback

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sony ICDSX46 - 128MB Digital Voice Recorder w/ MP3 Playback now ?

Sony ICD-MX20DR9 32MB Flash-Based Digital Voice Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It does everything well.The built-in microphone is very good quality.I also bought a 4 GB memory stick because the default memory is barely enough for a good quality two-hour recording.

I would have given it a five-star rating if it weren't for the fact that both the hardware and software (Digital Voice Editor 3.0) are not compatible with Windows Vista.They work fine with XP.

I hope that Sony would allow for upgrades of the software and hardware to Vista.It would go a long way toward building customer brand loyalty.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICD-MX20DR9 32MB Flash-Based Digital Voice Recorder

Product Description:
Sony is aiming to make it easier to remember all of those little details with a new line of digital voice recorders designed for, consumers, professionals, and academics.The Sony ICD-MX20DR9 Digital Voice Recorder is compact and easy to carry where ever your travels may take with you--from the office to an assignment off the beaten path.
Some key features of the ICD-SX57 include:

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred Voice to Print Software: to easily convert your recorded files into text.
Hybrid Storage: 32MB Flash³/Memory Stick PRO Duo Media Slot^4: records dictation on built-in Flash Memory or compact, high capacity Memory Stick media, and allows recorded cards for easy distributed for processing; different Memory Sticks in capacities ranging from 32MB to 512MB can be inserted into the unit for different applications⁴
New STLP Stereo Recording Mode: Up to 2 Hours 45 Minutes² Recording Time: Offering a longer recording time while maintaining 2-channel recording.
Over 300 Personalized Folders: on each Memory Stick media provides the ability to organize message folders by type, such as Sales Letters, Customer Service Replies, Memos, Action Items, Personal, and more, offering the ultimate in Efficiency and versatility.
Built-in Stereo and Directional Microphones: for extra convenience, eliminates the need for an external microphone.
USB 2.0¹ Compatible: via USB Port on a PC.
Digital Voice Up and VOR (Voice Operated Recording) Functions: stops the recording during silent pauses, saving valuable recording time, then begins recording again without missing a single syllable thanks to the Digital Buffer.
Recording Monitor Function: Allows the user to listen to the recording level by using headphones while the unit is recording.

<sup>1. Not all products with USB 2.0 connectors may communicate with each other due to chipset variations.
2. Approximate recording times. Battery life will vary based upon usage conditions.
3. User available memory= 32,243,712 bytes (preliminary), a portion of which is used for data management functions, with default 5 folders setting. Total available space will be reduced as the number of folders increases.
4. Available storage capacity of Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo Media may vary. A portion of the memory is used for data management functions. Actual available memory is: 32MB=30MB, 64MB=61MB, 128MB=123MB, 256MB=220MB, 512MB=460MB, 1GB=940MB, 2GB=1.85GB, and 4GB=3.66GB
5. Actual user availble memory is approx. A portion is used for data management.</sup>

Get 35% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sony ICD-MX20DR9 32MB Flash-Based Digital Voice Recorder now ?

Philips LFH0667/00 Digital Voice Tracer 0662 with Dragon Naturally Speaking v. 10 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Not Windows 7 compatible. The philips website has what they call a fix for this.After download a ridiculously large file and installing it, the program and the DVT are still not compatible.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Philips LFH0667/00 Digital Voice Tracer 0662 with Dragon Naturally Speaking v. 10

Product Description:
As a global professional in the dictation market, Philips is proud to present the LFH0667/00 bundle with Dragon Naturally Speaking DVR edition v. 10. Automatic voice to text capabilities. Featuring 2 GB flash memory, the Philips Digital Voice Tracer 667 records up to 284 hours in six common MP3 mono file formats (SHQ, HQ, SP, LP, SLP, PCM) and is 5 star Dragon certified for up to 99% automatic speech to text accuracy. Dictate documents on the move; when back in the office/classroom simply let Dragon automatically type out your dictations. Files are organized within four folders (99 files / folder) for easy retrieval and can be downloaded from the Digital Voice Tracer to PC via high speed USB 2.0. Also functions as a USB mass storage device, MP3/WMA music player and customizable equalizer. Features clean buttons for ease of use and the largest display in the market to view all relevant information at a glance. The adjustable microphone sensitivity is perfect for both foreground and background recording and the large front speaker (30 mm) reproduces stunning quality playback. The voice activated recording feature, when enabled, automatically records only when sound is detected, and the index mark feature lets you mark a particular point in a recording or playback for easy retrieval. Other convenient features include the ability to insert the date/time within recording and the timer recording feature programs recordings in advance. File split/auto divide feature splits recordings into separate files making them much easier to find, edit and archive. The alarm feature schedules voice alarms to remind you of important meetings or events.Other features include visual record level monitor slow and fast playback, LED record/playback, battery, and end of memory indicators.Includes an external lapel microphone, stereo earphones, neck strap, USB cable, two "AAA" rechargeable batteries and user manual.

Get 20% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Philips LFH0667/00 Digital Voice Tracer 0662 with Dragon Naturally Speaking v. 10 now ?

Sony ICD-MX20 Memory Stick Pro Duo Digital Voice Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this unit because Nuance, the publishers of Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 gave it higher marks than the Olympus DS-2 I already own. My review of Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 appears elsewhwere. Suffice it to say that the software is superb with nearly 100% accurate voice recognition. My dream has been to be able transcribe dictation from a recorder to a finished document.

The Olympus DS-2 is an excellent recorder at a very reasonable price. It's performance with Dragon Naturally Speaking 8, the previous version, left a lot to be desired. With the new version 9, performance is better, but still far from perfect.

Thus I was brought to decide on testing the Sony ICD-MX20, a unit that costs more than twice as much as the Olympus DS-2. My primary interest in the unit is in being able to dictate and then transcribe automatically. I will not be using it to record lectures and meetings or the like, although I did a couple of experiments to see how the unit would work in such environments.

The ICD-MX20 is shorter and slimmer than the DS-2, but slightly heavier. The finish of the ICD-MX20 is very slick; slick in the sense of being smooth and slippery. I am seriously concerned with my ability to hold the unit securely. The surface is so slick that it may be difficult.

The ICD-MX20 controls are well laid out. The mini-joystick works surprisingly well after a few minutes of practice. Swirtching between functions, such as setting the microphone sensitivity, is cumbersome howevr. All of the switches on the sides can be manipulated with one hand and a flip of the unit is required to maneuver the Hold switch on the back. The LCD display is clear and doesn't present too much information at one time.

The unit uses 2 AA batteries and my first impression is that battery life is poor. Sony says " 8 hours" at highest quality recording - and it appears they mean simply 8 hours if the unit is powered on. That's not a lot: better use that Hold switch.

Finally to sound quality, the one thing that motivated me to buy such an expensive unit. It's superb. The MX-20 microphones can be set to mono or stereo. I used only the mono mode since my primary interest is dictation. The microphones are very sensitive. Hold the mic too close to your mouth and even a low voice will result in pops. But once you load your voice file onto the computer, Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 --- without training --- does a credible job of accurate transcription. The sound quality is excellent, clearly superior to that of the Olympus DS-2.

Using a headset, as recommended by Dragon, the sound quality is absolutely outstanding. This unit could be used in professional settings for reporting or creating podcasts. Put on a headset while you're driving (being aware of local laws, of course) and you can transform drive time into dictation time --- and simply transcribe the files automatically in Dragon. Very cool.

As a conference recorder, the ICD-MX20 shows promise. I used it to record the audio of a television talk show as I walked furtherand further away from the set. The Voice Up function of the unit, which amplifies distant voices, really works.

The Sony documentation accompanying the unit is poor. The English translation is awful, showing all the earmarks of being translated from Japanese by someone who doesn't speak English well. All the information you will need is there, but it is a struggle to wrestle the meaning from the mangled syntax, grammar and occasionally strange use of language. Sony also persists in printing the documentation as a single broadside sheet which is very difficult to handle. The documentation for the included utility software is worse. It is very sparse in terms of detail, but fortunately the user interface of the software is very intuitive.

Overall, the ICD-MX20 is impressive. Sound quality absolutely deserves a 5. Design and construction overall merit a 4, the toggle and its functions being a bit too cumbersome. But the slick and smooth texture of the unit which makes handling a bit anxiety-provoking brings my overall rating down to a 3. Documentation is a 2. In all, I'd give the unit a 4. But for its prime purpose in my case, of recording audio that Dragon Naturall y Speaking 9 can automatically transcribe, my rating is a solid 5.

Jerry

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICD-MX20 Memory Stick Pro Duo Digital Voice Recorder

Product Description:
Professional quality sound and high-level functionality are what distinguish the ICD-MX20 Memory Stick Pro Duo Digital Voice Recorder. Sony has designed a powerful, sleek recorder with a seamless aluminum body. The slim-style design is only one-half inch thick, with "record" and "pause" controls located on the side of the unit for easy operation. This tiny device fits neatly into a shirt pocket. Record grandma for an audio-genealogy or interview a famous celebrity -- whether you're recording for personal or professional reasons, you'll be extremely pleased.
The built-in 32 MB flash memory uses a high-capacity IC chip. This technology allows you to record over old messages again and again with distortion-free clarity. The standout feature on the ICD-MX20 is the hybrid storage. It gives you the option of using the built-in flash memory or utilizing Memory Stick Duo or Pro Duo media cards, providing virtually unlimited capacity. This is a great feature if you're at a long conference, and don't have time to download your files to a computer. Just put in a new Memory Stick media card, and keep recording. Each card can hold over 300 personalized folders, which makes organizing your audio a simple process.
The ICD-MX20 allows you to record at different quality levels. The high-quality, two-channel STLP recording mode allows up to 165 minutes of recording. This is perfect for recording interviews that you may want to reproduce in digital format. If you're just taking personal audio notes, switch the voice recorder to LP mode and take full advantage of over 11 hours of lower quality recording.
The advanced digital voice operated recording (VOR) feature actually stops recording during silent pauses, saving valuable recording time. Thanks to the digital buffer, this intelligent machine begins recording again without missing a single syllable. The digital recorder also comes equipped with USB connectivity for high speed copying of files to a PC.
What's in the Box
ICD-MX20 voice recorder, PC download software, 2 AAA batteries, USB cable, carrying case, and stereo earphones.

Get 37% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sony ICD-MX20 Memory Stick Pro Duo Digital Voice Recorder now ?