Sony PCM-M10 - Overview and recording tutorial

Amazon link to Sony M10 - www.amazon.com/...
This video is intended for people that I'll mail one of my M10's to (that are doing recording for me), so they can see how it works & how to use it, change a few of the settings if needed, and make recordings to my specifications. These are the starting point settings I use, which work for a wide variety of scenarios. It also includes some recording tips which will apply to using most any of the pocket recorders. While there is no silver bullet, to cover every situation, this is a great starting point.
I go over the most important features of a Sony PCM-M10, and explain some basics about how to get good recordings using it, and avoid some of the shortcomings of the recorder. I hoped it could be shorter, but this is meant to bring a non-sound-professional up to speed, and there are lots of things to cover. Sorry for all the stammering & hurriedness. This was unrehearsed, overdue, and I had to get it out to send as a tutorial. At least I covered most of what I wanted to.

[@r.utrera7891]

For me, it is the best recorder that Sony has manufactured in its category, and unsurpassed by other brands, also in its category. As I say, it is a unique recorder to date. I have had three, because to experiment with other models of that and other brands I have sold them. In the end, recently, I bought it second-hand, of course (it is discontinued), from an Austrian seller. Now I will not get rid of her. Nothing in the market surpasses it.

[@texologysciences5035]

Wow, I was over driving mine. Now that I know that it's actually super sensitive, I followed your suggestion and I'm hearing great sound. I was fooled by the very low volume level at the earbuds. Yes, - everyone please use a tripod and set the object on the table.

[@jastern949]

great tutorial - the exact kinds of tips so often lacking from other videos: how to set levels and so forth. also, good audio quality of recording itself. tip on the camera: the reason the camera's autofocus is focusing on the background is because your rug or tablecloth has so much detail in it. you can remedy this by using a solid white or (better yet) solid black or dark-grey background which the autofocusing mechanism can't grab ahold of -- leaving nothing but the camera (or your hand) to focus on. another way to remedy this is -- if your camcorder supports it -- turn off autofocusing entirely, and focus manually. this second method would also be better supported if you had the recorder on a table or surface, so that it is not shaking so much (as others have said, not in the hand). a third assist may be (depending on your lens) to actually put the sony recorder out further away, and then zoom in. you may find you have greater depth of field using this, which gives more of the recorder staying in focus. otherwise, super-helpful, thank you.

[@ccumc1]

Excellent video. It's not too long. We use this recorder on a short tripod to record our worship service. While it is not perfect, it does a good job. I often need to amplify segments, especially spoken words. It records our musicians well. Thank you for the tips.

[@juliazaher3846]

Thanks so much for an excellent beginning overview of this recorder. I really appreciate it.

[@gailannkimbrough]

thank you!! I use this as a backup recorder in depositions and other proceedings and my recording were coming out so low. Now, I now I had the settings wrong.. thank you!!!

[@queenbeauty6170]

Thank you so much for your video tutorial, I have this PCM-M10 for a few years for singing recordings and always found in a distort noise. I set to level 7 which must have been too high level. I use MP3 not your LPCM 96/24.

[@HekMorales]

Great Video David ... Amazing Information! Looking forward to hear more of your sound design in the next feature! :D

[@53gitaar]

Very good tutorial ! Thanx

[@chevvers]

Excellent vid. Not too wordy

[@ExclusiveLM]

chevvers Yea he didn't over talk like a lot of other videos. The wind cover on the recorder looks like a cross between Don King and Donald Trumps hair. LOL

[@arfurlife]

such a brilliant helpful video. Thankyou so much kind sir!

[@terratec1001]

@ 4m55s The REC on the display is a big giveaway that the unit is recording.

[@dadduorp]

Great video! I bought one of these years ago and honestly, I've probably used it less than 5 times. However, I have to do an oral history interview of a local 98-year old and thought the unit would be perfect for the task. The audio level and sound quality is decent, but I was curious how good the Line Out quality would be (to connect an external speaker), but I didn't find where you covered that.

[@DavidFarmerSound]

Sorry I didn't cover using it as a playback device. That's not something I've used this unit for. This video was originally for people I was hiring to record things for me. I'd send them the recorder, they'd record things and send me back the recorder. This was just an easy way to send them instructions and not have to repeat myself every time. :) I'm still bummed these are no longer in production. They were great little workhorses. As long as the material isn't too transient or punchy, the auto-level works really well. Best of luck with your history interview!

[@dogwalk3]

@@DavidFarmerSoundi'm glad to see you're still monitoring the video. it was one of the few sources of information for this device. i had been able to find a NIB one & have been loving it in conjunction with Clippy omni mics. having also used to Sony PCM-A10, which is most people's suggestion these days for "handheld," i've preferred the M10 for both the lower noise preamps & also the button interface - it's a small thing, but the hardware gain knob, volume rocker, additional physical buttons on the front, & especially the battery life has me preferring this one everytime. thank you for your effort on this, even if it was found by many more people than you originally intended!

[@DavidFarmerSound]

@@dogwalk3 Love to hear this! Yes this video reached far more people than it was ever intended for. :). It was essentially an instruction for a handful of people I was hiring to do some recordings for me. :D. I wish they were still being made. The battery life, low handling and wind noise, all made it a favorite of mine despite the onboard mics having a relatively narrow stereo image.

[@DavidFarmerSound]

@Tand0oriCh1cken - The M10 is the cleanest of any of the handhelds I've used. Preamp hiss is substantially lower than any of the Zoom's and is low enough not to "require" de-noising. The M10 is also very good at ignoring handling noise, unlike the Zooms. So the bottom line is the Sony M10 requires less "fixing" than some of the other recorders. But when I do clean the recordings up I use Izotope's RX2.

[@mohamedbellohdukuray4333]

Thanks for this it was indeed useful tip

[@MereMonkeyMusic]

Great Video David!!

[@DavidFarmerSound]

MP3 is a compressed (lossy) format, and for my purposes, I prefer an uncompressed WAVE file. If someone wants to record in MP3 mode for their own use, certainly that's their call.

[@DavidFarmerSound]

I don't use the line input, but I assume it's -10db so your recording source will have to match.

[@matijabg]

very useful tutorial! thanks for sharing, David! I was wondering if you'd consider putting some actual recordings made with M10? Also, how do you find built-in mic and preamp quality noise-wise? Thank you very much! Matt

[@Redoubt9000]

Excellent video ;)

[@CodeMonkeyi]

with the windscreen on it looks like a bro with a fro :P

[@eskeskeskeres]

Thanks for nice pcm10 introduction. Question: if you download music (MP3/wma which has not been recorder with PCM10) from PC, and playing via PCM10, VU meter can work? Thank you.

[@bolivar1789]

Hello David! This was very helpful. Thanks a lot! If it isn't too late to ask: which level of recording would you recommend for just voice and guitar? Thank you in advance!

[@elebecepe]

Hi, I was looking for a portable digital recorder for live classical music (I´m a soprano) that is also affordable. I'm a beginner and after doing some research I narrowed down the list to these diveces: Tascam DR05/07/40, Roland R05, Sony PCM M10, Zoom H4n/H5. Which one would you recommend? Thanks!

[@jlchen0513]

HI! It's very nice of u to make this video!! I learned a lot from it!!But I have a question that.I am a pianist studying in the academia, and i always need to play the piano ON THE STAGE,so it's rly hard for me to put the recorder between the piano 1-2 feet.... Before that i always put this recorder in the audience,and it rly sounds like a piece of shit XD And i stopped using it! Do u have some recommend settings which can solve this situation:)? I rly need yr help,and i hope u can answer me as soon as possible,because after 4 days i will have a concert,and i rly want to make a record for it:) thanks!

[@AntoniosPapantoniou]

I'm not sure I understand your no3 note... how exactly the 5 sec recording of background noise can be helpful in post for the computer ? can you please explain that ? thanks

[@DavidFarmerSound]

Many noise-reducing softwares like Izotope's RX, do best when they can "learn" a section of sound that is only the background noise that you want to remove. Recording a bit of "noise-only" is a good practice for this. Too many times I've found when I don't do this I'm hunting for a part of the recording that is pure background noise and can't find one that is long and clear enough for the software to "learn". There are also adaptive noise--reducers too (Izotope's RX has this mode as well) that automatically look for constant audio that it will determine is noise. These generally work pretty well but having that section of noise-only is a good practice IMO.

[@AntoniosPapantoniou]

@@DavidFarmerSound thank you very much, didn't know about it

[@jeffluke7622]

Thanks for the helpful tutorial. I have used this recorder for a few years and it still delights! I would like to use it for podcast interviews without handing the device back and forth. I think putting the mic between two people would include room sound and not pick up the fullness of voices. Is there a way to feed two mics into this device? Alternatively, can you suggest another portable recorder with low preamp hiss that will accept two external mics like a Sennheiser or a Shure cardioid mic? Thanks David.

[@wonggongwong6224]

sorry why rec times show countdown？

[@timisgod13]

Hi David - thanks for the great video. I was wondering if there are any other recorders that are a similar size and quality as this one seems to have been discontinued.

[@DavidFarmerSound]

Most other recorders use cardioid mics. One of the reasons the M10 is so successful IMO is its OMNI mics, which set it apart from the rest. Also its exceptional battery life and low handling noise also add to the reason its still my favorite pocket recorder. I haven't seen anything yet that will replace it the way I use it. There are still plenty available, (at least in July 2016). It will be a bummer to see this one disappear. I have a couple in reserve for when we can no longer get them.

[@timisgod13]

+DavidFarmerSound thanks for replying David. Yeah it does seem to be a shame that these are a bit harder to get hold of now at least in the UK. I'll have to try and snag one second hand.

[@bhavyakukkar]

He says : "I can't recommend this thing on high sensitivity" Virtual Riot : "Let's turn the microphone sensitivity all the way up"

[@DavidFarmerSound]

Sorry but I don't use the line in, so I can't begin to make a suggestion there.

[@KandiKlover]

Send me one too please.

[@yoginada1034]

Hi David. Any suggestions of a platform and or method to edit recording (especially distortion / hiss - from mic?). Thanks.

[@DavidFarmerSound]

www.izotope.com/en/products/rx.html

[@Lpminutes]

Is it possible to have playback of what you are recording simultaneously? I would like to add efects real time using ableton or a similar software. Thanks in advance

[@DavidFarmerSound]

+Lpminutes You can monitor whats present at the input when recording, over the headphone/line out.

[@Lpminutes]

By monitoring you mean "hearing"?

[@joe-jt9ld]

I hope you are around to still answer some questions, I want to buy this recorder to record loud concerts, Could I use this by itself and still get a decent recording? What would the best settings be for a loud rock concert? 48/24? Any other tips if I did get this to record a loud show? Thanks for this video and any extra advice you can give.

[@DavidFarmerSound]

+joe I don't know what the SPL limit on this recorder actually is, but this ought be as good as any portable recorder for that type of thing. The auto-level on it is actually pretty good and doesn't pump like so many auto-level recorders do. But auto-level on this doesn't handle any large transient changes, like wood snaps or gunshots. But for something continuously loud like a concert I'd consider putting it on auto-level, or Manual and LOW sensitivity, and the dial set to 2 to start. Then watch the meters and make sure its not overloading, and crank the dial down to 1 if you need to.

[@thefinisher09]

If i want record nature sounds like very quiet sounds like crickets at night in the summer will it be good for that? I dont care about talking into it and sharing my thoughts

[@DavidFarmerSound]

+mike kohhch Yes it will work for ambient quiet sounds, but if you're looking for pro-quality, then it will be a bit on the noisy side of usable. But for this price range its one of the better recorders I've found. To get a cleaner recording, the prices go up quite a bit with both mics and recorders. I've certainly used ambient tracks recorded with these in films, but I'll usually do a bit of clean up with the tools in Izotope's RX to get the noise levels down.

[@thefinisher09]

+DavidFarmerSound cool thanks for the reply

[@aaronncollier96]

Hi, I recently bought this recorder and I have a question about it that I haven't been able to find an answer to. The record button on mine doesn't click like the other buttons do, but it still works. Is this normal or is mine possibly broken?

[@me1ne]

***** I would think that there is no click on the record button to avoid recording exactly that.

[@KYoung2]

is this a good recorder for college lectures?

[@DavidFarmerSound]

+KYoung2 Yes it would do well for college lectures. The only drawback would be that the microphones are omnidirectional so they'll pick up sound from all around. This might make the "room" sound more prominent and if you're sitting far away from the sound source, and in a reverberant room, the dialog will be a little harder to understand. Another choice, that has more directional microphones is the Zoom H1. Its half the price, a little noisier overall, but has directional microphones so you can isolate the lecturer a bit better. Here is a link to the Zoom H1 on Amazon - www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QKBVYK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003QKBVYK&linkCode=as2&tag=hushaboo-20&linkId=DCMV2JXYRUL2CXEH

[@MrBeastknows]

Hopefully this isn't too late to ask a question, this is fine to hook up a shotgun mic+boom pole to to get good audio? Would I need anything else to connect the recorder to or would this be perfect?

[@DavidFarmerSound]

+Shane Benjamson If the shotgun mic has the right connections (stereo mini plugs) then this "could" work, but you'd want to confirm the mic you're using works with this recorder. If you're looking at a mic that has XLR connections then you'd need a preamp to go between the mic and this recorder. And in that case you'd want to make sure the preamp has the right outputs connections to work with this as well. The bottom line is thats not what this recorder is intended for. But it does have stereo mini mic and line inputs so if you do the homework on all the gear being used it can be done. I've been on the lookout for a shotgun mic that is a decent quality that would connect to this easily and never found one. If you find one I'd be curious to know which one.

[@MrBeastknows]

+DavidFarmerSound This is great! Thank you so much, this helped a lot. I'm extremely new to sound recording and also broke, so I'll probably be skipping the M10, then. However, I'm a little confused. Do I just need a preamp to record into, or does the preamp simply just reduce noise and make better audio and I need to record into an actual recorder? Or does the M10 not come with preamps built into it, or do any recorders actually come with preamps built into it? Again, thanks a lot for the quick reply (and sorry for my slow reply lol).

[@DavidFarmerSound]

+Shane Benjamson There is a huge array of equipment with various price points and quality of course. And there are pro and consumer grade components. The M10 is a consumer grade all-in-one recorder with its own built-in mics and preamps for those mics. Higher grade recorders like a Sound Devices 722 have built-in pro preamps as well as the recorder, but no mics. The gear you need to complete a setup depends on what gear you want to start with. Your question asked if you could hook up a shotgun to the M10, and the answer is it depends on what shotgun you choose. If it is a Sennheiser 416 you need a preamp to power the mic and send signal into the M10 AND make sure the output of the preamp matches the inputs the M10 has. There are websites and forums dedicated entirely to recording and the gear, so there is a lot to think about and no simple short answers. :) Having said that the M10 is a very good bang-for-the-buck recorder used on its own, but it is not good for every recording situation.

[@MrBeastknows]

+DavidFarmerSound Great! Thanks a lot for the very detailed answer it helped a lot.

[@musicforindies]

great video thanks for sharing this! Folks visiting this video should check out Davids other videos or check him out imdb.com - this guy is a hollywood legend in sound.

[@haroldland2119]

I'm sorry I wanted to watch this but your continual jiggling of the Sony gave me motion sickness. maybe mount it on the tripod screw next time ?

[@jamesburns3619]

0

[@syedalishanzaidi1]

I am sorry, but like Harold, my head was swimming from the constant movement of the recorder in your hand. Your input was useful, but could you not put the recorder flat on a table, focus your iphone camera on the recorder in a fixed position, and use only the tip of a pencil to point to or press the buttons so we could look at the recorder without your thumb and fingers obstructing the view. It amazes me that so many videos are made these days where people do not seem to understand that recording cameras need to be steady and fixed without movement on the object. Phone cameras swim and move from angle to angle and it is excruciatingly bad. You also said you were going to send these recorders fully charged etc. What does that mean? who are you? Are you the sole seller of these recorders or what? People need to know when they are watching this video. You also did not specify what memory card was being used, and what its capacity was. And why use internal memory which only gave a recording time of 3 odd hours, when the card was supposed to give us a lot more recording time? I don't know if I will buy this recorder after watching your video. I hope I can see you responding to these comments of mine.