Sony's Visual Recorder sits in a class by itself. After purchasing and using it, I am surprised someone else hasn't thought of this idea and marketed it. The recorder is small enough to fit in your pocket, can be operated with one hand, and it well crafted.
I purchased it for two reasons. One, the rechargable battery, either by a USB port or the included AC charger. Total charge time from a dead state is 2.5 hours. (Battery life is rated at 10.5 hours to 14.5 hours, depending on recording settings. Not shabby at all.) What was nice is the shutdown feature once the battery is fully charged, protecting the unit from becoming hot. My other reason of purchase is the 256 MB of built in flash memory. (If you can talk and create the 1000 total messages this unit can store within its 256 MB of memory, you have way too much to say.) The quality and features Sony has placed within the unit is a nice plus, and is something a concerned consumer should come to expect. (Unfortunately, no, Sony isn't paying me to patronize them.)
Once charged, I was ready to put the unit thru its paces. The internal clock and date can be set manually, or automatically when the unit is connected to a PC or laptop. The unit looks like an electric razor, due to the hood which extends and reveals the 1.2 inch LCD screen. It didn't take long to become comfortable with the controls. The recorder has a HOLD feature, that prevents the user from accidently pressing a button and destroying information.
Pressing REC, I made a test recording and played it back. The sound reproduction was good, and enhanced with the Digital Voice Up switch, that amplifies the low level and inaudible sounds to an optimal level. The rocker switch on the side that controls volume provides a very decent sound when increased. Playback can be heard from the built in speakers. Attaching a set of headphones and listening to the recording - WOW! My simple voice recording was meaty and full and rich. The internal software can hold as many as 10 folders, each folder containing up to 99 messages each. Recording time is anywhere from 11.5 hours to 95.5 hours, depending on recording setting (stereo or mono, standard play or long extended play)
The unit includes a 1.3 MP camera lens, with a fixed f4 stop. The pictures turned out clear and crisp. Nice if you have a cell phone company that nickel and dimes their customers every chance they get. Like mine. (Can you hear me now??) The camera will capture regular photos as well as close upshots. Pictures have the option of 1280 x 960 per picture image, (recording a total of 1340 images) or 640 x 480 per pixel image (recording a total of 4090 images.)
What sets this recorder apart from the rest is the ability to take a picture and add recorded commentary to it, either simultaneously, or post recording and playback.
The user of a unit such as this is hampered only by your imagination. House hunting? Meetings? Shopping for a new car? Take pictures and add comments for later study. Car accident because some nozzle hit your car? Snap pictures of the scene and add your opinions. (I could have used this years ago when a moron backed up through a toll booth and hit my 10 day old brand spanking new car. I hadn't even received the payment book yet.)
Sony includes a CD with Voice and Visual software, which enables the user to download the sound files and pictures to a PC for further editing and processing. Which brings up my only gripe, and the reason I hesitate to give Sony 5 stars.
The recorder software can only be used on Windows 98 SE and above, not Apple/Mac. They missed a whole market share on this one. Owning an Apple Powerbook, I was able to attach the unit to my laptop and drill down to the folder and view and copy the JPEG's. But the recordings are in a proprietary format, so I can't download them or listen to them without the unit itself. Second gripe: Sony only created five folders on the unit, which has a capability of 10 folders total. Why only five? Pay the overtime and create the other five. Creating the extra folders on an Apple unit will not create them visibly on the recorder, even though you can see them on the laptop.
In order to create the other five folders, I had to visit a retail store, armed with a story about researching a Windows laptop for a friend, making sure he could use his recorder for medical transcription before making a purchase. All I needed was Jean Reno suspending me a foot off the floor, lest I touch the pressure sensitive pads or reaise the temperature of the room a single degree, setting off the store's alarms and alerting the NSA of my subterfuge.
I was able to install the software, attach the recorder with the USB cable, and create the other five folders, while fending off salespersons, repeating I was only browsing. One salesman actually looked over my shoulder at the install screen while I was waiting for a lengthy .DLL to load, and walked away. When finished, I had to endure a sales pitch about one of the laptops I pretended to be interested in. Ever have to listen to a salesperson blather on about computers, imparting various flapdoodle while you nod your head and try not to blurt out the 15 years of experience you have developing software for these things? Just shove the bamboo shoots under my fingernails and get it over with!
By all means, if you want a quality unit, this is a great purchase. This was the only unit I could find that has a rechargable battery and a good sized internal flash memory. And the built in camera/voice record function. Be reminded it can be used without ever touching the software, but requires a Windows 98SE system or above to install and use the included applications. One day, Sony will get the message and get off their proprietary ivory tower.
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Sony ICDCX50 Digital Voice RecorderProduct Description: Capture sound and images together. Sony's ICD-CX50 visual voice recorder is an ingenious little device that combines a 256MB flash memory digital voice recorder with a 1.2-megapixel camera. You can record audio and capture images simultaneously, and the information will be saved into a synchronized file. Document an auto claim. Record meetings and lectures. Complete a home inspection. There are more real life applications than you can dream up. A great work tool for claims adjusters, realtors and building inspectors, but also incredibly useful for students, homeowners and travelers. Features a 1.2 inch color LCD, rechargeable battery and 4X digital zoom.
Buy cheap Sony ICDCX50 Digital Voice Recorder now
This camera is easy to use, takes great pictures and is very easy to carry with you at all times.The battery holds out longer that my Minolta batteries.
