Sony M-100MC Microcassette Recorder with Voice Operated Recording | List Price: $69.99
Discount Price: $27.00
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Brand: Sony
Binding: Electronics
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - Unidirectional microphone for lecture recording
- 3 microphone sensitivity modes (lecture/normal/dictation)
- Desktop microphone stand included
- Voice-operated recording
- Clear Voice sound system
A little better than the average recorder [Posted on 2002-01-25]
In the hunt for something to help me with my college studies, I decided to grab this particular microcassette recorder/player to tape my instructors' class lectures. So far, I've found it to be a pretty good study aid. Although the recording quality still isn't as top-notch as I'd hoped it'd be, it's still a bit better than many mid-to-lower-end recorders I've used and tried out. The lecture setting is good if you're in a class where the instructor just gives his spiel, and doesn't field that many student questions. Unfortunately, this setting features a bit more background white noise than the other two modes, so it's best to have this device within a close proximity to the subject doing the lecturing, about seven feet or less. It's also best to have a clear line-of-sight from the microphone to the speaker, without any obstructions in the way. I've found the meeting setting to be the best for classes where student views and participation is encouraged. It doesn't have quite as much background noise as the lecture setting, but it also doesn't quite have the recording range, either. I try to get the player about five feet away or closer from the instructor when I set it to the meeting mode. The dictation setting's perfect for those times I've got a few thoughts and words off the top of my head regarding a product offered on Amazon I'm going to review (like this one, f'rinstance). It's an especially good thing to have when you come up with a thought or idea, and you want to record it before it disappears on you. You know, like when you walk to another room in your house to get a particular thing, but when you get there, you've forgotten the reason why you went there in the first place. This setting offers the least background noise, but unfortunately it also has the shortest recording range, which doesn't make it a very good mode for recording my class instructors' lectures. But for some reason it records my voice a bit deeper than it actually is. I listen to the playback of my spoken thoughts, and I end up sounding a little like Mister Sulu from classic Star Trek. Oh my! PROS:
I've discovered that the playback is a bit clearer sounding if you listen to it through earphones. I would, however, recommend you listen to it through a comfy pair of headphones, rather than the earbud that's included with the machine. You can even listen to whatever you're recording through the player itself as it's taping, and you'll have some idea of what the tape will end up sounding like, background noise and all. Also, don't put the earbud too close to the mike, or you'll cause some uncomfortably high-pitched feedback! I'm always losing the battery covers to my little electronic gadgets, so I was happy to see that the battery cover slides open, and stays attached to the player. The foam wind guard seen in the product picture is an attachment that can be removed or added if needed or desired. I found this add-on a bit funny-looking, and I'm happy to see that it's not permanently mounted to the player. CONS:
I'm not too hip with the cue/review (aka fast-forward/rewind) feature. Both selections are on either end of a three-way slide switch, rather than push-down buttons like the play, record, and stop/eject buttons. Also, when the tape reaches the end (or beginning), the switch doesn't automatically click off; you've got to slide it to `off' yourself. I've also discovered that the voice-only recording feature isn't as sensitive as it should be. It doesn't need the subject to be very loud when it's activated and recording, but a fairly high decibel level is required for the VOR to re-activate and resume taping. Unfortunately, I've found this to be the case with every other minitaper that has this feature, so it's not like this particular model is a unique case. A Con that became sort of a Pro:
I haven't found the fast-playback feature to be all that useful. It plays back my lecture recordings a bit too quickly for me to comprehend what's being said. It does have one good point, though: if you want to fast-forward or rewind your tape a little faster, click the fast-playback switch on (along with the 2.4 cm tape speed setting) and it'll get to the end or beginning a bit sooner than with the rewind/review switch by itself. `Late
Works great!!! [Posted on 2002-08-10]
Best micro recorder I've ever had. And I've one througt a number of them with all the dictating I do in a day.
This is a well made machine, with a good mic.
Not so great as you'd think [Posted on 2002-10-31]
I thought this would be the end-all, be-all solution to my microcassette needs, which include field recordings, music ideas, dictation and lecture. It's not...I tried three models, thinking each time it was just a bad model, but each one had an enourmous amount of flutter on playback, as if everything recorded was being twanged with a whammy bar. Too large and bulky for standard dictation needs as well, you can do better for dication with a smaller one.
Works for a Little While [Posted on 2007-08-02]
I honestly don't know what to think of microcassette recorders. You figure Sony has to produce a good one; after all, it's Sony. Well, not necessarily. I bought one of these because I do occasional taped interviews. It seemed to work well and always got the attention of the people I interviewed. But alas, it lasted for only about three months, then it stopped recording. It soon after stopped playing, as well. No one abused it, dropped it or subjected it to any jolts. It just stopped working...which is a shame because this recorder was convenient and came with that spongy thing around the mic which cut down on wind noise.
This is about the third (and last) Sony I'm going to try. I think I'll try Olympus next.
Nice recorder [Posted on 2008-05-27]
This is a Sony. Need I say any more. You get what you pay for and this is a nice micro-recorder at a nice price.
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