Asbjoern Andersen


A good handheld recorder is an essential addition to any audio professional’s toolkit – but when it comes to finding the right one, it’s a bit of a jungle out there.

I discovered that sound designer and recordist George Vlad had spent quite a bit of time researching what’s available, and he’s now written this special guide to help you pick the handheld recorder that’s right for you. Read on for his opinion on what to look (and listen) for, the features and accessories that matter – and his personal favorite recorder right now:

This is my completely subjective overview on choosing a handheld recorder for sound effects/sound design work. It is based on real-world experience with a handful of makes and models and on the opinions of audio professionals I’ve had the pleasure of discussing the matter with. While it’s by no means exhaustive, it should provide a starting point and invite you to do more research of your own.

A handheld recorder is an absolute necessity for an audio professional. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you’re a seasoned professional, you should never get out of the house without your trusty handheld. Having had several makes and models over the years, I got familiar with the advantages and issues of the most popular ones.
 

Background

Some 5 years ago I purchased my first handheld recorder, a Zoom H4n. I was just starting to work as a freelance sound designer and I needed a compact solution for recording sound effects and voice both in a studio and in the field. The H4n seemed a great addition to my setup, helping me record sounds that I would otherwise have trouble finding online or in libraries. Remember this was 2010, a time when most of the sound effects libraries came on a pile of CDs as 16 bit/44.1 kHz files. If I wanted the sound of an angry rooster I had to take my recorder out and start looking for that bird.

After spending a few weeks listening to the world through the mics on the H4n I started to learn its limitations. While it provided decent results when recording relatively loud sources, recording quiet ambiences was out of the question. The on-board mics and preamps added a considerable amount of noise to the recordings, and there was no workaround. Even if I used external microphones, the way that the H4n is built means that the input signal still passes through the preamps, thus adding unwanted noise and making some recordings more or less unusable.

At any rate, the H4n was a winner in my inexperienced view as it seemed to have all the features I needed. It also was the most visible of only a few handheld recorders on the market. Nowadays there are countless handheld recorder options that one can pick from, which is not a bad thing, but not necessarily a good thing either. While the most important criterion is usually price, it’s worth taking a look at technical specifications as well.
 

Purpose

As already mentioned, this article is written for sound recordists and designers and not musicians or filmmakers. A handheld recorder is usually the only recorder in a beginner’s setup. It provides invaluable insight into the recording process, mic positioning, microphone and equipment quality etc. It also helps the user capture audio that can be used professionally or sold as library content afterwards.

A fully featured field recording rig can work wonders capturing audio, but what if that isn’t available or is too difficult/heavy to lug around?

A handheld recorder is also used by seasoned professionals. A fully featured field recording rig can work wonders capturing audio, but what if that isn’t available or is too difficult/heavy to lug around? I also find that limiting my options at times really helps me think creatively and come up with new ways of doing my work.

Another situation in which an all-in-one recording solution is practical is guerrilla recording. In certain situations it’s best if no one knows you’re recording, and as a consequence complex rigs are out of the question. A small handheld does not attract attention and can be taken for a smartphone or similar gadget.
 

Preamps

In short, the job of a mic preamp is to amplify the weak signal generated by the microphone to a level that is easier to work with. Higher quality preamps will generally not colour nor add noise to the original signal. Cheaper, lower quality preamps on the other hand will add significant amounts of noise and will often alter the quality of the recording.

While most of the devices on the market have relatively noisy preamps, Sony has managed to do a good job in this regard with their handhelds.

While most of the devices on the market have relatively noisy preamps, Sony has managed to do a good job in this regard with their handhelds. As an exception the D100 actually has two preamps and two A/D converters per channel, which work in parallel at different levels in case the signal is either too loud or too soft.


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Microphones

The on-board microphones of a handheld recorder are often overlooked when analyzing its features. That’s a pity, as they fulfill the task of translating the air pressure variations into the electric signal that the preamps will then amplify. As is the case with preamps, higher quality microphones generally provide a cleaner and more noise-free representation of the sound that is being recorded. (Some high-quality microphones and preamps do colour the audio, and this is what makes them so sought after. This aspect however is more relevant for music and voice purposes and therefore is beyond the purposes of sound effects recording). This is another criterion in which Sony scores high and the others not so much. The mics on the D100 can actually record content up to about 40 kHz, which is important when the recordings are going to be pitched down at the sound design stage.
 

Build quality

Often overlooked, build quality plays an important role. I’ve had cheap handhelds whose parts rattled or creaked when the device was moved, and since the mics are part of the actual device all these extraneous sounds were picked up and made it into the recordings.

Handling noise however is more or less an issue on all devices that I’ve ever tested, so shock protection is an absolute requirement.

Most of these devices are made of tough plastic which doesn’t feel especially top quality. Some of the Tascam or Olympus devices are made of rugged metal, and they actually feel much sturdier in comparison. Handling noise however is more or less an issue on all devices that I’ve ever tested, so shock protection is an absolute requirement.
 

Features

Handheld recorders come with on-board preamps and mics by definition. Some of them also offer the option of connecting external microphones, either via an XLR input or a 3.5 mm jack input. The former usually provide phantom power (P48) as well, while the latter may provide what is known as Plug In Power (PIP). This however does not eliminate the need for a field mixer or battery-powered preamp when working with external microphones, as the preamps on these devices are quite noisy. Some devices such as the Zoom H4n are notoriously difficult to work with in this regard as they don’t offer the ability to bypass the on-board preamps.
Having more than two channels to record on can also seem like a welcome feature. The Zoom H4n can record to 4 channels, while the Zoom H6 and the Roland R26 can record to 6 channels. With limited mixing capabilities this can become a problem though, and a dedicated field mixer becomes a necessity.

Most of the handheld recorders on the market at the moment only offer 24 bit/96 kHz as maximum bit depth and sample rate. The Sony PCM D100 goes up to 192 kHz which is great for a handheld recorder. While this looks great on paper though I’m not sure how often this feature actually ends up being used. The Sony D100 and the Korg MR2 also offer 1bit DSD format recording that goes up to 2.8 MHz, which works completely differently from your run-of-the-mill PCM recording. Sadly no one actually uses it because dedicated software is required in order to edit or play it.


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    . Totally mono compatibility
    . All sounds have several variations.
    . Use your imagination and feel free to use any sound for a creature other than the one described, remember that the world of sound is totally subjective.
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    The content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K plus a Sennheiser 8050 for center image and a couple of Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image.
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    All files are delivered as stereo bounce of these for mics, though in some instances an additional couple of CO100K was added to the sides.
    The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

    Bonus: Two extra libraries included for free:
    This library also includes two additional releases from Mattia Cellotto - for free: Crunch Mode delivers 230 crunchy sounds made with a variety of vegetables, fresh bread, pizza crust and a selection of frozen goods. The Borax Experiment gets you 158 squishy, gory, slimy and gooey sounds.
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    Animal Hyperrealism Vol II is a library containing sounds themed animal vocalisations, from real to designed creatures totaling more than 2000 individual sounds in 283 files.

    The sounds were partly recorded with animals trained for media production, partly recorded in zoos and wildlife centers. The asset list includes but is not limited to: amur leopards, bottlenose dolphins, californian sealions, pacific walruses, red ruffed lemurs, owls, parrots, dwarf little fruit bats, hamsters, guinea pigs and many more.

    The content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K plus a Sennheiser 8050 for center image and a couple of Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image.
    A special section of the library features samples recorded at 384KHz. For these sounds an additional microphone was employed, specifically the CMPA by Avisoft-Bioacoustics which records up to 200 KHz. This microphone was actually used to record most of the library but the 384KHz format was preserved only where energy was found beyond 96KHz not to occupy unnecessary disk space.
    All files are delivered as stereo bounce of these for mics, though in some instances an additional couple of CO100K was added to the sides.
    The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

    Bonus: Two extra libraries included for free:
    This library also includes two additional releases from Mattia Cellotto - for free: Crunch Mode delivers 230 crunchy sounds made with a variety of vegetables, fresh bread, pizza crust and a selection of frozen goods. The Borax Experiment gets you 158 squishy, gory, slimy and gooey sounds.
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    All these small motion-supporting elements that you need in your everyday work for game menus, apps, general motion designs, … or as parts of more complex moving stuff.

    You get 275 designed sounds + a selection of 290 cleaned and edited source sounds that were used to design the Tiny Transitions. These sounds are mostly different props that are scraping or sliding on different surfaces and also some vocalized whoosh attempts.

    All source sounds were recorded with Sonosax SX-R4+ and Sennheiser MKH8050+MKH30 M/S rig.

    All sounds come with embedded Soundminer Metadata.

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Latest releases:

  • Enhance your game with the UI Menu RPG Sound Effects Pack, featuring 174 carefully designed sound effects. Created for high-quality user interface interactions, this pack includes sounds for select, deny, and access actions, perfect for RPGs and other genres. But these versatile effects go beyond just menus—they can be used to elevate action, skills, magic, combat, motion, and more. Whether you’re building intricate gameplay systems or immersive user interfaces, this extensive collection offers the dynamic, rich sounds you need to bring your project to life.

    Features:

    •  174 universal user interface sounds for any type of game
    • High-quality sounds for the most commonly used categories
    • Can be used not only for UI, but perfect for any genre
  • Elevate your game with this Transmission/Glitchy sound effects pack, designed to add a dynamic, futuristic edge to your project. Perfect for enhancing the user experience, these high-quality, glitch-inspired sounds are ideal for creating technical malfunctions, digital disturbances, or sci-fi-themed environments. Whether you’re working on a cyberpunk game, a tech-heavy adventure, or any project in need of glitchy, electronic audio, this pack will help you immerse your audience with compelling, atmospheric effects that bring your digital world to life.

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    Each track is a richly textured sonic environment where strange birds call from the treetops, mysterious creatures chirp and chatter in the shadows, and the soothing sounds of flowing water, rustling leaves, and gentle winds form a vivid natural backdrop. This ambience set is ideal for adding depth and life to fantasy worlds, game environments, audio dramas, or creative writing sessions.

    Crafted with care and detail, all files are delivered in high-quality stereo WAV format, with embedded metadata for easy organization and integration into your workflow.

    Product Features:

    ·          18 stereo WAV files

    ·          Total runtime: 1:31:41

    ·          Fantasy wildlife & jungle ambience – strange birds, unknown creatures, wind, and water

    ·          Metadata embedded for seamless library management

    ·          Loopable-friendly for continuous playback

    ·          Perfect for RPGs, games, film, podcasting, and immersive storytelling

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Need specific sound effects? Try a search below:


Feel

A bit more difficult to quantify but nevertheless important, the overall feel of a piece of gear affects the user on both a conscious and subconscious level. Handheld recorders that are too heavy will be difficult to lug around or take out on long trip, so they might “accidentally” be left home or in the bag. If the device is too light it may be thought of as a toy. A device that rattles and creaks with every movement will seem unprofessional and unreliable, even if that might not be the case. If your recorder has parts sticking out without any protection (especially mics in this case), you will take less risks with it and avoid certain circumstances, possibly wasting opportunities.

Field recording is the opposite of studio recording in a controlled environment and will test your gear constantly

The point I’m trying to make here is that while gear has to be taken care of, it’s no use if it doesn’t feel like it will withstand even light abuse when you’re out recording. Field recording is the opposite of studio recording in a controlled environment and will test your gear constantly.

As already mentioned, the Zooms feel quite cheap and unreliable, while the Roland ones feel relatively good and sturdy. Olympus made a good choice when picking metal for their handheld recorders’ cases as they look like they could take a beating. The Sony devices don’t feel too high-end, but I don’t doubt that they can take a bit of rough treatment. My D100 has been in my backpack along with lots of other gear on countless trips, and so far I haven’t had one single problem with it.
 

Budget

As previously discussed, budget is usually the most important aspect taken into account when looking to purchase a handheld recorder. This is also generally wrong, for more than one reason. First of all, professional audio is a field in which the saying you get what you pay for applies more than in other fields.

Secondly, the final cost of a handheld recorder has to include the cost of the individual bits such as the preamps, mics, case etc., the research, design and the manufacturing cost. Get a cheap handheld recorder and you’ll be getting even cheaper mics, preamps, build quality etc. Spend some more and you’ll notice the difference.

On top of quality considerations, budget is also rarely a fixed figure. If you have x amount of money for a purchase now, why not wait, save more and get a better device? If you plan on using your recorder professionally, sooner or later you’re going to have to upgrade.
It is also worth mentioning the upside of cheap recorders, which is that you might take more risks with these since they’re easier to replace. I wouldn’t tape my D100 to pipes in the engine compartment of a race car, but an older PCM M10 or a Zoom H2n are cheap enough to be sacrificed this way.
 

Accessories

Regardless of brand or model your handheld will require a few extra accessories, the most important being batteries, memory cards, wind protection and shock protection.
Rechargeable batteries are your best choice, mainly because they’re practical but also because they’re environmentally friendly. Some handheld recorders are extremely power hungry, and you don’t want to continuously spend your money on batteries. Redundancy is key here though, as batteries get depleted or misplaced easily. I myself have about 30 Sanyo Eneloops and I’ve never run out of juice.

With regards to memory, handhelds usually take SD cards and it’s best to check compatibility with the manufacturer depending your make and model. I use a 64GB Sandisk Ultra with my Sony PCM D100 which also has 32GB of internal memory. This gives me more than enough recording time, even when recording at 24 bit/192 kHz. On top of storage size, SD cards also come in various speed class ratings. Without going into too much detail, it is advisable that you get a Class 10 or above so that you don’t get write errors. As for brand, I found that Sandisk are most trusted among audio professionals. I have never had any issues with them and I’ve been using Sandisk for all my audio and video/photo equipment.

It’s most likely that your recorder came with a foam windshield that’s more or less useless, so get your hands on a proper one as soon as you get the chance.

Wind and shock protection are usually afterthoughts, but they’re crucial for recording clean undistorted audio. I’m bundling the two together as that Rycote sells what’s called Portable Recorder Audio Kits.
It’s most likely that your recorder came with a foam windshield that’s more or less useless, so get your hands on a proper one as soon as you get the chance. On top of that, all handheld recorders are prone to handling noise, and having the Lyre suspension and soft grip really makes a difference. I also need to mention that wind protection is not 100% transparent. The ability to record in windy conditions comes at the price of muffling some of the mid and high frequencies and even colouring the sound. Think twice before recording and use wind protection only if it’s needed.

 

Makes and models

The name Zoom is almost synonymous with handheld recorders. Their H4n and H2n models are so cheap and ubiquitous that people don’t think twice before buying one. Having had first-hand experience with both I can say they simply aren’t suitable for serious field recording. The recording quality is not that good for quiet ambiences as the preamps are best suited for medium to loud sources. The plastic cases don’t feel great, and some bits start to rattle after they’ve been used for a while. On top of that the H4n is also a notorious battery hog, so you have to lug around plenty of spare batteries. This is not to say they’re bad though. They’re just geared towards musicians, and trying to record sound effects with these will be a difficult task.

The Sony PCM 100 RecorderOn the other end of the spectrum there’s the Sony PCM devices. Their flagship model, the D100, is what I would heartily recommend. This piece of kit scores high on all criteria except price. The build quality is excellent, the preamps and mics are as good as you can get on a handheld device, it doesn’t feel cheap in the hand and it also offers 192k recording as already mentioned. One other welcome feature is the ability to record in S/N 100 mode, which theoretically gives 100dB of signal to noise ratio. The price however makes this piece of kit unaffordable for most sound recordists starting out.

If the D100 is not an option then its older brother the PCM D50 can still be bought used for about half the price. It doesn’t offer 192k recording but otherwise it does just as good a job as the D100. If this is still too expensive then there’s the PCM M10. This can be bought for about the price of a Zoom H4n and sounds much better. The only caveat here is that the M10 has a pair of omnidirectional mics on-board. Consequently you won’t get as good a stereo image since the capsules are so close to one another, but on the up side the handling and wind noise are significantly lower.

As is the case with all other devices in the list, the Sony ones have their limitations. I tried recording quiet forest ambiences during winter and while the recordings aren’t half bad, they don’t stand up to a similar recording I’ve done with my Sound Devices 633 and a pair of Sennheiser MKH 8040s.
Apart from Sony and Zoom devices there’s a few other brands that might be of note. Korg, Tascam, Olympus and Roland all make their versions of a handheld recorder. I’ve had the chance to listen to recordings made with several of these devices last year on the Wildeye nature recording course last year, and the only one that sounded relatively good was the Olympus LS11. It is also worth mentioning the Marantz PMD devices, of which the 661 actually does a decent job. With a price closer to the Sony D100 though I’m not sure it’s worth getting though.
 

Short excerpt from a dawn chorus recording in the Pentland Hills – captured with the Sony D100

Conclusions

The clear winner for me is the Sony PCM D100. I first heard about it in Frank Bry’s libraries, and I got one as soon as it became available in the UK. It is a pleasure to use, it worked well in a variety of temperatures and climates and it simply sounds amazing. If however price is an issue I would recommend getting a used D50 or the M10 from Sony.

Having said all that, the best recorder is the one you have access to. It’s easy to waste time doing research and lusting over gear, but only first-hand experience with a device will tell if it’s right for you or not. If you can borrow or hire any one of these devices before buying then go for it, and settle on one that you think works best for you. In the end it’s your recordings that matter.

 

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A big thanks to George Vlad for writing this comprehensive guide to finding the right handheld recorder!
 
What’s your favorite recorder? Share your thoughts in the comments below:

About George Vlad

George Vlad is a passionate sound designer, recordist and composer. He works as a game audio professional and also runs game-sounds.com. He’s fascinated by sounds that aren’t readily accessible and goes to great lengths in order to capture and reproduce them.



 
 
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A Sound Effect gives you easy access to an absolutely huge sound effects catalog from a myriad of independent sound creators, all covered by one license agreement - a few highlights:

  • Animal Sound Effects Animal Hyperrealism Vol III Play Track 1711 sounds included $170

    Animal Hyperrealism Vol III is a library containing sounds themed animal vocalisations, from real to designed creatures totaling more than 1700 individual sounds in 279 files.

    The sounds were recorded in zoos and wildlife centers. The asset list includes but is not limited to: european red deers, monkeys, reindeers, hornbills camels, crickets, tamarins, boars, frogs, red ruffed lemurs, parrots, and many more.

    The content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K plus a Sennheiser 8050 for center image and a couple of Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image.
    Part of the cheats section of the library features samples recorded at 384KHz. For these sounds an additional microphone was employed, specifically the CMPA by Avisoft-Bioacoustics which records up to 200 KHz. This microphone was used to record most of the library but the 384KHz format was preserved only where energy was found beyond 96KHz not to occupy unnecessary disk space.
    All files are delivered as stereo bounce of these for mics, though in some instances an additional couple of CO100K was added to the sides.
    The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

    Bonus: Two extra libraries included for free:
    This library also includes two additional releases from Mattia Cellotto - for free: Crunch Mode delivers 230 crunchy sounds made with a variety of vegetables, fresh bread, pizza crust and a selection of frozen goods. The Borax Experiment gets you 158 squishy, gory, slimy and gooey sounds.
  • Spell Variations Vol. 3 brings a fresh wave of magical creativity and sonic variety. This collection dives deep into the mystical realm, offering everything from shimmering chime spells and celestial choirs, to demonic voices that feel torn from the depths of hell, along with earth-based magic, electric spells, powerful invocations, and more.

    Inside, you’ll find 247 sound effects across 27 distinct types of magic, each with multiple variations. As with our previous volumes, these variations ensure each spell feels unique, even when reused throughout different moments in your project.

    Each spell type is neatly organized into individual folders, giving you total flexibility when designing magical scenes, gameplay effects, or transitions. Whether you need a subtle magical aura or a powerful blast, you’ll have the perfect sound at your fingertips.

    All sounds were recorded, edited, and mastered at 192 kHz / 24-bit, delivering high-end quality and broad adaptability. This library is perfect for professional sound designers and creators looking for high-quality, drag-and-drop magical sounds for games, trailers, animations, or any audiovisual production.

    More about the pack
    . Intuitive file naming
    . All you’ll ever need regarding magical sounds [Use them again & again
    . Use the sound effects over and over, in any of your projects or productions, forever without any additional fees or royalties. Use the SFX in your game, in your trailer, in a Kickstarter
    campaign, wherever you need to, as much as you want to.
    . Totally mono compatibility
    . All sounds have several variations.
    . Use your imagination and feel free to use any sound for a creature other than the one described, remember that the world of sound is totally subjective.
    . For any questions or problems: khronstudio@gmail.com

    Khron Studio - Spells Variations Vol 3
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    All these small motion-supporting elements that you need in your everyday work for game menus, apps, general motion designs, … or as parts of more complex moving stuff.

    You get 275 designed sounds + a selection of 290 cleaned and edited source sounds that were used to design the Tiny Transitions. These sounds are mostly different props that are scraping or sliding on different surfaces and also some vocalized whoosh attempts.

    All source sounds were recorded with Sonosax SX-R4+ and Sennheiser MKH8050+MKH30 M/S rig.

    All sounds come with embedded Soundminer Metadata.

    50 %
    OFF
Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • Enhance your game with the UI Menu RPG Sound Effects Pack, featuring 174 carefully designed sound effects. Created for high-quality user interface interactions, this pack includes sounds for select, deny, and access actions, perfect for RPGs and other genres. But these versatile effects go beyond just menus—they can be used to elevate action, skills, magic, combat, motion, and more. Whether you’re building intricate gameplay systems or immersive user interfaces, this extensive collection offers the dynamic, rich sounds you need to bring your project to life.

    Features:

    •  174 universal user interface sounds for any type of game
    • High-quality sounds for the most commonly used categories
    • Can be used not only for UI, but perfect for any genre
  • Elevate your game with this Transmission/Glitchy sound effects pack, designed to add a dynamic, futuristic edge to your project. Perfect for enhancing the user experience, these high-quality, glitch-inspired sounds are ideal for creating technical malfunctions, digital disturbances, or sci-fi-themed environments. Whether you’re working on a cyberpunk game, a tech-heavy adventure, or any project in need of glitchy, electronic audio, this pack will help you immerse your audience with compelling, atmospheric effects that bring your digital world to life.

    Features:

    •  Transmissions
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  • Environments & Ambiences Fantasy Jungle Ambiences Play Track 18 sounds included, 60 mins total $17.99

    Enter the mystical heart of an ancient, otherworldly wilderness with Fantasy Jungle — a curated collection of 18 designed stereo ambience tracks, totaling 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 41 seconds of immersive fantasy jungle soundscapes.

    Each track is a richly textured sonic environment where strange birds call from the treetops, mysterious creatures chirp and chatter in the shadows, and the soothing sounds of flowing water, rustling leaves, and gentle winds form a vivid natural backdrop. This ambience set is ideal for adding depth and life to fantasy worlds, game environments, audio dramas, or creative writing sessions.

    Crafted with care and detail, all files are delivered in high-quality stereo WAV format, with embedded metadata for easy organization and integration into your workflow.

    Product Features:

    ·          18 stereo WAV files

    ·          Total runtime: 1:31:41

    ·          Fantasy wildlife & jungle ambience – strange birds, unknown creatures, wind, and water

    ·          Metadata embedded for seamless library management

    ·          Loopable-friendly for continuous playback

    ·          Perfect for RPGs, games, film, podcasting, and immersive storytelling

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13 thoughts on “How To Find The Best Handheld Recorder

  1. “The mics on the D100 can actually record content up to about 40 kHz, which is important when the recordings are going to be pitched down at the sound design stage.”

    Actually, the Sony PCM D100 built in mic has 20-20kHz frequency response. The line-in frequency response is 20-45kHz (@192kHz/24bit).

    “Some devices such as the Zoom H4n are notoriously difficult to work with in this regard as they don’t offer the ability to bypass the on-board preamps.”

    Here’s how to do that:
    http://www.danmccomb.com/tips/zoom-h4n-with-sound-devices-mixpre-how-to-properly-connect-the-two-for-pristine-audio/

  2. Thanks for the observations Mr. X.

    On paper the mics’ frequency response is 20 Hz – 20 kHz indeed, but I have found otherwise. As you can see in the following spectrogram the content of the specific recording goes up to about 34 kHz: http://i.imgur.com/OL4OcQA.jpg. The frequency response is probably not flat all the way, but it’s darn good for on-board microphones on a handheld recorder.

    I know there are workarounds for bypassing the on-board preamps, but they don’t work on all devices or 100% of the time. I would also much rather spend my time recording than trying to fix issues such as that one.

  3. The PCM-D100’s mic response is available on the Sony website. George is right, it goes beyond 20khz but is -10dB down by 30khz. Still, that’s pretty impressive for this sort of a device:

    https://pro.sony.com/bbsc/assetDownloadController/PCM-D100-Stereo-Microphone-Characteristics.pdf?path=Asset%20Hierarchy$Professional$SEL-yf-generic-153707$SEL-yf-generic-153748SEL-asset-407981.pdf&id=StepID$SEL-asset-407981$original&dimension=original

  4. I have a PCM-M10 which I’ve used for recording railroad audio. While it is quiet, can handle very high SPLs with proper gain control, and comes with a great battery life, it has its limitations other than its lack of stereo image:

    i. It sounds really muffled (even without windscreen) in every situation/technique I’ve tried. This means fast transients will be sacrificed (e.g. screeching sound of wheels of freight train/coupler jolts/sharp exhaust of diesel locos/thunder/firework/any sound with tight bass). This cannot be compensated with eq boost in 6-10k range, since it only increases hissiness without any improvement in clarity.

    ii. There is some kind of peak compression going on even with the limiter OFF, I have found this in recording of some very loud diesel horns. Onboard meters touched over 0dB a few times, yet the waveform did not clip when opened in Audacity. But on closer inspection, I found brickwalling in in the louder portion of the horn blast:(

    No wonder I’ve ordered a MixPre-D, will be using Rode NT55 & NT4 with it (until I can afford SD702, MKH8040 or MK4)

  5. You should try the D50 or D100 before moving on to more expensive equipment. As with anything though, keep in mind that low price comes with downsides, and the Sonys are better in that they have fewer downsides overall.

    Having said that, I never noticed these issues while using the M10. I never recorded sources this loud with it, but regardless you might want to have yours checked if it’s still under warranty.

  6. Hi George,

    After comparing various online samples, I don’t think my M10 is malfunctioning, they all sound similar to mine. I bought it after reading all the rave reviews. Initially I was also quite excited, but as time progressed, I’ve noticed the limitations of the built in mics.

    I’ve seen a comparison of D100 & DR100mkII (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Mn-YbflxM) , maybe D100 also shares M10’s trait to some extent, DR100mkII sounds much more natural/open to me in this clip.

    Then I encountered a page with very good test clips (http://www.wingfieldaudio.com/portable-recorder-noise.html) which shows the M10 preamps have a harsh quality, when compared to 702 preamps (a very unfair comparison indeed).

    However, M10 performs very well when I feed its line-in via Mix-PreD/NT4. I’ve also compared that setup with MixPre-D digital output, which probably has slightly more clarity, but barely visible in spectrums/waveform. Lastly, due to M10’s portability, I know I’ll record far more clips with it than MixPre-D setup.

  7. Hi there,

    Note that the mics on the D100 swivel, and therefore they can sound wide or narrow based on preference. I personally prefer the sound of the D100 in the video you shared as it sounds a bit more focused.

    As for the M10, there will be limitations related to cost. Regardless of the downsides I think it outperforms many recorders on the market, even more expensive ones.

    George

  8. How does Zoom H5 fit in this picture. With significantly improved preamp and build quality, and feel, how does it compare to D100?

    • The Zoom H5 and H6 models are mainly targeted at music or location recording on a budget. Their preamps are better than the H4 ones, but still too noisy for recording ambiences or soft sounds. A used D50 (or indeed a D100) will work much better for field recording.

  9. Georges, i am thinking to buy the sony D100 for bird sound recording , rarities, migration calls but i don’t want to use external mics , are the internal mics good enough ,
    Erik

  10. Hi Erik,

    I have recorded birds with the D100 myself and the mics are definitely good enough. However, gear alone is never enough. You will have to get really close to your subjects if you want clean recordings. The D100 is great in this regard due to its small size and the fact that you can turn off the Record button red light.

    George

  11. So, does that mean the Sony PCM-D100 is the only handheld device worth purchasing for quality audio recording without buying and carrying a larger kit, cables and mics? This post has some very old posts. Is there anything new, as good or better out there in the last 3 years?

    The D100 is the most expensive and hardest to acquire.

    I’m surprised after all the years the D100 has been out that no one else is smart enough to build something equal or better. Even Sony can’t or hasn’t done it. That includes their new D10 which tested very poorly, in my opinion.

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