News: AES: Sony Debuts PCM-D1 Portable Recorder

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Sony's new PCM-D1 portable recorder was created for high-quality mobile 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's level of quality is matched only by its extraordinary 'cool' factor," said Paul Foschino, senior manager for professional audio in Sony Electronics' Broadcast and Production Systems Division. "The body of this portable recorder is fashioned from pure 1mm thick pressed titanium that's several times harder than alumite-treated aluminum. "

The new recorder is lightweight, free of all drive mechanisms, equipped with extraordinarily sensitive, built-in condenser microphones, and designed with circuits that process stereo sound with virtually no extraneous noise.

The PCM-D1 features 96K-24 bit recording capability, 4GB internal flash memory, removable Memory Stick Pro high-speed storage and a built-in USB 2.0 port for Macintosh and Windows/PC operating systems.

Additional key features of the PCM-D1 recorder 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 expected to be available in December at a suggested list price of $2000.