Sony Ships PCM-D1 Field Recorder

Jan 19, 2006

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Introduced just this past fall, Sony's new PCM-D1 portable recorder has quickly become popular among audio pros, recognized as much for its distinctive styling as for its exceptional sound recording quality.

The recorder, which began shipping in December, is designed to produce digital stereo recordings that are completely faithful to the original master. The PCM-D1 is capable of re-creating even the most subtle performance nuances, and can be used for high-quality recording in an array of applications including live sound, house of worship and theatrical performance, as well as by journalists in the field.

"The PCM-D1 is a significant advance in high-quality field recording technology," said Paul Foschino, senior manager for professional audio in Sony Electronics' Broadcast and Production Systems Division. "Beyond its technical design, the unit is equally distinguished by an unmistakable 'cool factor.' And to help minimize resonance, the casing is formed from pure 1mm thick pressed titanium that's harder than alumite-treated aluminum, making its physical presence as distinctive as its sound quality."

The field recorder is equipped with a matched pair of exceptionally sensitive built-in condenser microphones, and a high-performance mic preamp from Analog Devices.

The PCM-D1 features 24-bit/96 KHz recording capability, 4GB internal flash memory, Memory Stick Pro™ slot, which, with the optional media, provides high-speed storage and a built-in USB 2.0 port for Macintosh® and Windows®/PC operating systems.

Key PCM-D1 recorder features include:

• Built-in condenser microphones in an X - Y configuration with low self-noise, high sensitivity and nearly 30 kHz frequency response
• .WAV recording file format capability
• Analog level meters with LED peak overload indicators
• LCD display with comprehensive recorder status indication and menu selection
• Four AA nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries and charger (supplied, battery life at 96 kHz of approximately 4.0 hours with rechargeable AA batteries)
• Signal processing functions including SBM, limiter and 200Hz high pass filter
• Weight 18.5 ounces (with batteries)

The Sony PCM-D1 recorder is available now at a suggested list price of $1999.95.

For more information, visit their web site at www.sony.com.