Sony ICD-UX71 Digital Voice Recorder with 1GB Flash Memory

I have no idea why there are so few reviews for this one as it's a really great machine and I am a pretty fussy customer too.

I picked it up in Singapore a couple of months ago and it's just what I want something that records very high quality sound and can be plugged straight into the PC's USB port without requiring any cable or software. And it records in MP3 format! I need to give recordings of sessions to clients, so they must be MP3 without requiring time-consuming conversion (like my last Sony recorder) and quality is very desirable too.

Of course this might not be perfect for everyone. First, the high-quality files get pretty big, but if you want high quality (i.e. the top 192kbps setting), that goes with the territory. The 128k setting is 2nd best quality and still perfect for voice so I will use that and save some memory as I only bought the 1Gig version. Down to 48kbps and 32kbps and then 8kbps I guess if you need to record the stated 287 hours maximum of sound.

The menus are a little fiddly and delete is not convenient at all, having said that you can delete easily from your PC when it's plugged in. Some software for manipulating files would have been great, but I'm happy with a machine that isn't giving me headaches.

Oh yes the manual seems to say that with the model with 1 gig of memory, you can get a maximum of 11 hours at top quality recording and 17 hours with the 128kbps quality. More than enough for me, though remember you can pay more for the versions with 2 Gigs and I think 4 gigs.

In short an excellent product! Only downside the clunky menus, but in the end I only use the recording options and then drag all the files on the PC. So it's great for that.

Final tip: Using the "Hold" button seems to conserve battery life too.

First of all, this has great sound in a tiny package for a good price. Clear as a bell stereo sound, when played back on the computer. So for sound I'd give it 5 stars.

The frustrating aspects include a microscopic display that for these 50 something eyes, require reading glasses. Confusing menus.

But most of all, a tiny and tinny speaker makes this impossible to use except to download recordings to the computer. I used my old Panasonic digital voice recorder to keep track of ideas and things to do, and would replay them in my car, while walking, etc. The Sony has such low tinny volume that I doubt I will be able to do this. I know it is small, but my iPhone has such a better speaker!

Anyway, if you plan on only recording and downloading to the computer then this might be ideal, and you can't really beat the price for stereo high quality mp3 recording.

If you use it on the fly, then buy something else.

Five stars for sound, but only 3 stars overall.

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I am using the sony ICD-UX71 to record solo piano and vocal solo with piano accomp. for review and analysis of the performed pieces. It records well, is easy to use, and is small and light weight. I've been using it fairly frequently in the last two weeks and the battery is still good. Easy transfer of files from the recorder to my pc. Recordings do have a slight static sound, like you would hear from playing a tape, when the piano was playing softly. I bought a condenser stereo mic and it doesn't seem to make a difference. Overall, very happy with the quality of the recorder.

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I mainly bought this item to capture inspiration when it pass . I am a woodwind player ( flute, sax ) and compose many tunes as I practice each days. This unit record live music pretty well. I used to put it flat on a coffee table in the living room but faced upside down because it haves two (more) mics holes in the back . I also place it on a towel (my flute's polishing towel for example). This simple technique gives a warmer sound for the reflected room reverberations and give the direct sound a brighter feel in contrast.

The direct input for electronic recording of any sources is good also. when you listen to the recording process you hear all kinds of litle ''tickling glitchs'' but don't be effraid because they aren't present at all in the finished file. I think that these glitchs are actually limiter or compressor calculation that scale the amplitude as the signal pass through . The compression and limiting is way far smoother in this unit then with icd_bx700

Finally when it is time to write down the musical score of these files, the AB repeat button is a welcome addition. it is easy to activate, deactivate, change the gap time or location. It is even possible to use the ''time strech'' playback function to catch fast notes. This function is clear and pretty usable even at -20% wich is not always the case for computer base software that do the same function. This unit do this on the fly!!! I think that for this effect only (dpc speed control) or time stretch in audio eng. , the ICD-ux71 worth his price and that every musician should have one for hard passage practice and improvement. ...yes you could us this fuction with any mp3 downloaded via the computer link. You reduce the speed, you target the passage, and loop it on the go.

I have bought the Sony ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone to get a better overall frequency response. It deliver ! It is even too much sensitive at the lowest sensitivity setting ! . For a flute recording , I must be at 12 feets for a good recording without clipping. I could not record band or brass instruments with the Sony ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone ! or maybe yes but at 20 feets,... I guess!

for my usage , and in consideration of the price ,i'll throw five stars on it.

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I purchased this recorder for use in interview research. It has performed beyond my expectations. The sound quality with the built-in microphones is astounding, and I have had no problem with microphone sensitivity in one-on-one conversations. (To date, I have not used the recorder in a group interview nor in large rooms, so cannot comment on those uses.) The recorder is extremely light weight and small, so bringing it to interviews is very easy, and having this recorder with you at all times would be no burden. Transferring the interview audio files to my Mac is a snap, and they play in iTunes with no problem. They can easily be sent off electronically for transcription.

The only drawback to this recorder, indeed, is that it is extremely small. It may be difficult to use for someone with large hands, and the display window is very small indeed. Consequently, the information displayed--and there is a lot of information on the display--is in tiny type and is difficult to read. Luckily, little of this information is needed during actual recording.

Nevertheless, within these limitations imposed by the size of the recorder, its performance is amazing, and I believe it is worthy of the five stars.