Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

I like having ability to USB charge rechargeable batteries.
I wish there were a recorder that on occasions could also be powered by an AC adapter, but I don't think they exist.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

My wife uses the 412 for spot recording. She is an entertainer and wants to be able to catch tunes she hears, as well as practice new numbers. The fidelity and ease of use make this machine very special, a real bargain with no major compromises. The pitch control which maintains the key is a big plus.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

GREAT FEATURES, BETTER THAN THE ICD-UX512I wanted a digital voice recorder primarily to record meetings in a room about 10 feet wide and 50 feet long, with the main people who would be speaking approximately in the middle of the room, and the recorder placed one quarter of the way along the long side wall.Based on specifications and reviews, I narrowed the choice down to two Sony Devices, the ICD-UX512 and the ICD-AX412. At first I thought the 512 would be better because of its higher model number and somewhat higher price. However, the 412 has features that I think are important, and that were eliminated or changed in the 512, making the 412 the more desirable device.The 412 has a front speaker rather than a rear speaker, so when the device is set down, or being held, the speaker is not blocked.The 412 has a built-in stand, rather than a built-in USB connector. I would rather have the stand and use a cable to connect to a USB port. In addition to the cable supplied with the recorder, I already had several of them from cameras and cell phones.The physical form of the 412 seemed much more pleasing and logical than the 512. Although the 512 has a "more modern looking" circular front control, I think that the placement of the buttons, switches and indicators, as well as the placement of the microphones, are much better in the 412. The large PLAY button has its own built in bright green arrowhead shaped LED, and the large RECORD button has its own built in bright red circular shaped LED. These are much preferred over the tiny "operations indicator" on the 512. In addition, the battery and memory card compartments seemed sturdier and less prone to unwanted openings than those of the 512.The 412 has two AAA batteries rather than one, leading to a speaker power output specification of 300 mw rather than 90 mw. My thinking was that the playback would be somewhat louder. The output volume level, however, turned out to be a major disappointment. I expected much better.Also, on the somewhat negative side, despite the claim in some literature, the 412 does not have a backlit display, which would be a consideration for those using the device in dimly lit rooms. The 512 also displays more information at one time than the 412 does, such as more current file information and remaining recording time, features that were not that important to me. (Pressing the DISP-MENU button on the 412 does allow the display to switch between this information, if desired.) The recording time is so long on these devices, at least 22 hours even at the maximum bit rate and without the expandable memory card, that I never expect to get anywhere close to zero time left.I am avoiding using the supplied software until I feel a need for it, which may never happen. Using the supplied cable, it is easy to copy the recorded files to my computer without using the additional software. Once copied, I rename the files in my computer so that they are more descriptive of what was recorded. The copied MP3 files can then be emailed for others to listen to, such as people who missed a meeting or who are interested in what happened at a meeting. Most computers do not need additional software to play MP3 files. I did, however, run into a problem with file size. When using the presets in the "Meeting Scene" recording mode, the files generated are ridiculously large. Changing the recording bit rate from 192 kbps to the minimum 8 kbps in the "Meeting Scene" solved this problem without any noticeable change in voice quality. 192 kbps is more appropriate for quality music reproduction, while the 8 kbps rate seems fine to me for recording speech. Using the 8 kbps rate, the file size for a one-hour meeting was reduced from 85 MB to 3.6 MB. This is 24 times less, since 192/8 = 24. Almost any email provider can process this small file as an attachment, whereas a file of more than 25 MB may not be allowed to be sent, or may not be able to be received by a recipients email provider. Yahoo mail, for instance, currently has a file attachment size limit of 25 MB total.To me, the most negative thing about the 412 is the disappointingly low playback volume of the built-in speaker. It's barely acceptable if you are listening alone in a quiet room with the speaker very close to you. Using small powered speakers (that I had left over from an old computer) plugged into the earphone jack, the playback volume, which is mono only, was excellent. Noise reduction, using the noise cut switch on the side of the recorder, was also excellent. By the way, as the Operating Instructions state, the noise cut switch has no effect when listening using the built in speaker. However, even without using the noise cut feature, the background noise level was low and very tolerable using either the built-in speaker or powered speakers. My conclusion is that powered speakers are necessary if you want the playback to be heard by a group of people.I find the Track Mark feature to be very useful. Using the Track Mark button on the front of the recorder, you can place track marks while recording or while listening to a recording. This makes it easier to separate different topics in the recording, or to mark, or find, specific places in the recording. If desired, the track marks can then be used to divide one long recorded file into several shorter and smaller files.One other slight negative of the 412 is that the track mark button is flush with the case and does not have much of a feel or click to it when pressed. I normally press it with my thumb, without looking at the display, and, at times, I was not sure it was registering a track mark when I pressed it; but this is really nit picking.Since the AAA alkaline battery life of 60 hours of recording and 18 hours of playback through the internal speaker, is extremely long, an AC adaptor or Rechargeable batteries (neither of which are supplied) are not necessary or desirable.The 412 Operating Instructions Booklet is 130 pages in a 5" x 5", one quarter inch thick booklet. It is comprehensive, clearly written and very understandable. It is well worth spending a few hours getting familiar with, and learning to use, all of the features of this fantastic device.Among the features that I have not used are VOR (Voice Operated Recording) since I don't want to miss even a millisecond of speech at a meeting, and I want an accurate measure of the total time of the meeting. I have also not used any microphone sensitivity setting other than medium, various built-in file addition, overwriting, moving and copying features, the additional memory card (which is not supplied), recording with an external microphone or other devices, "scenes" other than "MEETING" (some other scenes would be voice notes, interviews and lectures), playing back a file at a desired time with an alarm, rerecording to other equipment using the headphone jack, protecting a file from being accidentally erased or edited, and copying files from a computer to the recorder. I have also not used the supplied Disk containing the Sound Organizer Software. This software can be used for managing and editing of files beyond the fundamental features incorporated into the recorder itself, and also for burning files to a CD. PROS - User-friendly switches, button shapes and locations. Big and bright colored LED play and record indicators built into PLAY and RECORD buttons. Front speaker. Long battery life. Sturdy, compact and lightweight construction. Built in stand. Comprehensive and clearly written operating instructions booklet. Easy to transfer recorded files to a computer and then send them as attachments to an email. Lots of additional built in features besides basic recording, playback and erasing. CONS - Playback volume using the built in speaker is very low. The display is not backlit.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

I wanted a digital voice recorder primarily to record meetings in a room about 10 feet wide and 50 feet long, with the main people who would be speaking approximately in the middle of the room, and the recorder placed one quarter of the way along the long side wall.

Based on Specifications and reviews, I narrowed the choice down to two Sony Devices, the ICD-UX512 and the ICD-AX412. At first I thought the 512 would be better because of its higher model number and somewhat higher price. However, the 412 has features that I think are important, and that were eliminated or changed in the 512, making the 412 the more desirable device.

The 412 has a front speaker rather than a rear speaker, so when the device is set down, or being held, the speaker is not blocked.

The 412 has a built-in stand, rather than a built-in USB connector. I would rather have the stand and use a cable to connect to a USB port. In addition to cable supplied with the recorder, I already had several of these from cameras and cell phones.

The physical form of the 412 seemed much more pleasing and logical than the 512. Although the 512 has a "more modern looking" circular front control, I think that the placement of the buttons, switches and indicators, as well as the placement of the microphones, are much, much better in the 412. The large PLAY button has its own built in bright green arrowhead shaped LED, and the large RECORD button has its own built in bright red circular shaped LED. These are much preferred over the tiny "operations indicator" on the 512. In addition, the battery and memory card compartments seemed sturdier and less prone to unwanted openings than those of the 512.

The 412 has two AAA batteries rather than one, leading to a speaker power output specification of 300 mw rather than 90 mw. My thinking was that the playback would be somewhat louder. The output volume level, however, turned out to be a major disappointment. I expected much better.

Also, on the somewhat negative side, despite the claim in some literature, the 412 does not have a backlit display, which would be a consideration for those using the device in dimly lit rooms. The 512 also permanently displays more information about the current recording than the 412 does, such as more current file information and remaining recording time, features that were not that important to me. (Pressing the DISP-MENU button on the 412 does allow alternate display of this information, if desired.) The recording time is so long on these devices, at least 22 hours even at the maximum bit rate and without the expandable memory card, that I never expect to get anywhere close to zero time left.

I am avoiding using the supplied software until I feel a need for it, which may never happen. Using the supplied cable, it is easy to copy the recorded files to my computer without any additional software. Once copied, I rename the files in my computer so that they are more descriptive of what was recorded.

The copied MP3 files can then be emailed for others to listen to, people who missed a meeting or who are interested in what happened at a meeting, for instance. Most computers do not need additional software to play MP3 files. I did, however, run into a problem with file size. When using the presets in the "Meeting Scene" recording mode, the files generated are ridiculously large. Changing the recording bit rate from 192 kbps to the minimum 8 kbps in the "Meeting Scene" solved this problem without any noticeable change in voice quality. 192 kbps is more appropriate for quality music reproduction, while the 8 kbps rate seems fine to me for recording speech. Using the 8 kbps rate, the file size for a one-hour meeting was reduced from 85 MB to 3.6 MB. This is 24 times less, since 292/8 = 24. Almost any email provider can process this small file as an attachment, whereas a file of more than 25 MB may not be allowed to be sent, or may not be able to be received by a recipients email provider. Yahoo mail, for instance, currently has a file attachment size limit of 25 MB total.

To me, the most negative thing about the 412 is the disappointingly low playback volume of the built-in speaker. It's barely OK if you are listening alone in a quiet room with the speaker very close to you. Using small powered speakers (that I had left over from an old computer) plugged into the earphone jack, the playback volume, which is mono only, was excellent. Noise reduction, using the noise cut switch on the side of the recorder, was also excellent. By the way, as the Operating Instructions state, the noise cut switch has no effect when listening using the built in speaker. However, even without using the noise cut feature, the background noise level was low and very tolerable using either the built-in speaker or powered speakers. My conclusion is that powered speakers are necessary if you want the playback to be heard by a group of people.

I find the Track Mark feature to be very useful. Using the Track Mark button on the front of the recorder, you can place track marks while recording or while listening to a recording. This makes it easier to separate different topics in the recording, or to mark, or find, specific places in the recording. If desired, the track marks can then be used to convert one long recorded file into several shorter and smaller files.

One other slight negative of the 412 is that the track mark button is flush with the case and does not have much of a feel or click to it when pressed. I normally press it with my thumb, without looking at the display, and, at times, I was not sure it was registering a track mark when I pressed it; but this is really nit picking.

Since the AAA alkaline battery life of 60 hours of recording and 18 hours of playback through the internal speaker, is extremely long, an AC adaptor or Rechargeable batteries (neither of which is supplied) are not necessary or desirable.

The 412 Operating Instructions Booklet is 130 pages in a 5" x 5", one quarter inch thick booklet. It is comprehensive, clearly written and very understandable. It is well worth spending a few hours getting familiar with, and learning to use, all of the features of this fantastic device.

Among the features that I have not used are VOR (Voice Operated Recording) since I don't want to miss even a millisecond of speech at a meeting, and I want an accurate measure of the total time of the meeting. I have also not used any microphone sensitivity setting other than medium, various built-in file addition, overwriting, moving, copying and dividing features, the use of an additional memory card (which is not supplied), recording with an external microphone or other devices, "scenes" other than "MEETING" (which would include, voice notes, interviews and lectures), playing back a file at a desired time with an alarm, rerecording to other equipment using the headphone jack, protecting a file from being accidentally erased or edited, and copying files from a computer to the recorder. I have also not used the supplied Disk containing the Sound Organizer Software. This software can be used for managing and editing of files beyond the fundamental features incorporated into the recorder itself, and also for burning files to a CD.

PROS - User-friendly switches, button shapes and locations. Big and bright colored LED play and record indicators built into PLAY and RECORD buttons. Front speaker. Long battery life. Sturdy, compact and lightweight construction. Built in stand. Comprehensive and clearly written operating instructions booklet. Easy to transfer recorded files to a computer and then send them as attachments to an email. Lots of additional built in features besides basic recording, playback and erasing.

CONS - Low Playback volume using the built in speaker. The display is not backlit.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

This is great recorder and the sound quality is amazing. Use is mainly for lectures and meetings. Glad I finally bought one and this is perfect.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

My new recorder is so great for me to learn Mandarin language. Now, using cable 3,5 mm, I have recorded all oral lessons on the Webs without noise, then listen them anytime, anywhere I want. Its functions are easy to operate within 30-minute practice. My records which are clasified into Meeting, Voice Note,... is also a plus for my right choice. An extra slot for a mimi memory card makes me crazy downloading huge volume of my favorite songs. Without a doubt, I like it very much.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

this voice recorder is the besth

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

light and easy to use

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

I bought this little fella to record some conversations I had while traveling as well as to record lectures. I had the phone in a bag at my feet while I was riding in a car -- with the mike sensitivity to set at medium, it picked up every word loud and clear. It also works great in lecture halls! Another great thing about it is that there are just enough features/settings that allow me to customize how I record and playback audio without being overwhelmed.

I only found two downsides:
1)I wish there was a setting that would allow me to pick up a bit more ambient noise. Then again, if there were, it would cost a whole lot more.
2)When I stop the recording, it automatically begins to playback. I might be missing something, though.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

I use the product to record interviews. I am an outdoor journalist and the recorder is just wonderful. I looked at lots of recorders before I made this purchase and I am very satisfied with this model. Easy to use and the battery life is very good. No complaints! I also am always very satisfied with BH Photo. I buy 99% of my electronics from them. They usually have the best price and offer the best advice prior to purchasing any items.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

product is very useful. I can record my minutes and rest assured that everything will clearly be there when I am ready to transcribe.

I down load the data onto my computer, listen and transcribe at the same time.

It has made my job a whole lot easier.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

This voice recorder is exactly what we were looking for. I purchased this to record family history stories/conversations. The software included makes it easy to duplicate the recordings onto CD to distribute to family members. B&H shipped quickly and I will purchase from them in the future. Highly recommend!

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

I use this to record my practice sessions on the cello and for posting notes for me journal. It is more than adequate for my purposes.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

great product

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

I have only tested the item a few times in a silent and have not really used it yet. It picked up my voice in silent room about 3-4 feet away. I can see this being a good tool in formal interviews. I have yet to use is outdoors or during class. I may write a review after I have tested it further.

Comments about Sony ICDAX412 Digital Voice Recorder:

Excellent speaker,use of SD card make this one of the best recorders,included software puts Sony ahead of the competition.Main use is for audio books,has seperate music file,unit is verry user friendly.We have four of these recorders in daily use. 100% satisfied.