Sony ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [589kb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0001YFYKG
• Item model number: ICDP28
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,829 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 1, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Feel free to ramble on... the ICD-P28 holds more than 15 hours of recording time (945 minutes). This Digital Voice Recorder is small, less than 3 ounces and a 1/2 inch thick, but it has the functionality you need. A fast USB transfer rate, voice e-mail function, 5 message folders, and an overwrite correction function are just some of its many features. USB compatibility lets you quickly transfer audio to your PC. The 32MB Built-In Flash Memory makes it possible to re-record over and over without distortion or loss of clarity. It's easy to operate, thanks to the professional style design, which includes One Button Play from Record, Incremental Rewind, and simple playback/editing functions. All that, and it'll fit in your shirt pocket.

Features

• Up to 945 Minutes Recording Time is available on the integrated circuit chip which may be recorded over and used again.
• USB Compatible for Fast Transfer Rate to a PC via USB port on a PC.
• Choice of 2 Recording Modes, either SP-580 Min or LP-945 Min.
• Overwrite Correction Function allows the user to rewind to a location and re-record the dictation.
• Voice E-Mail Function allows you to send audible e-mail with an attached file using the supplied digital voice editor software.
• Professional Style Design only one-half inch thick, with Record and Pause controls located on the side of the unit for easy operation; fits neatly into a shirt pocket.
• Easy to Use Playback/Edit Function lets you begin playback with the press of a button, then edit the recordings with equal ease.
• 5 Message Folders provide separate message areas for different applications such as business memos or personal reminders, for better organization and faster access.
• Full Function LCD Display shows number of messages recorded, recording length, date, time and battery power remaining.
• One Button Play from Record lets you switch from Recording mode to Play mode with one finger.
• Incremental Rewind is the equivalent of tape Fast Rewind but without returning all the way to the beginning of each recording, to help locate specific passages.
• 32MB Built-In Flash Memory uses high capacity IC chip, which may be recorded over itself and used again and again, with distortion-free clarity.
• Built-In Microphone allows for higher quality dictation.
• Built-In Playback Speaker for monitoring playback of recordings.
• Record-Pause Function temporarily stops recording to allow for pauses in dictation or to provide time for reference to documents, then resumes where recording was stopped, at the press of a button.
• Add-Recording Function allows you to insert and add additional information to any message without affecting the original.
• Battery Strength LCD provides a visible signal when battery strength is low.
• Hold Switch prevents accidental operation or changes to settings while carrying the unit in pocket or briefcase.
• Hi/Lo Mic Sensitivity enables the unit to record different situations, from group meeting to individuals, more effectively.
• Earphone and Microphone Jack allows listening through earphones for privacy or transcription and connection of an external microphone for special applications.
• LED Operation Indicators (Record/Play) indicates Red when unit is recording, Green when in playback mode.
• Microsoft Windows 98/2000/Me/XP Compatible

Product Description

2/8/200615-19-32...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great toy. Poor recordings., September 14, 2004

By 

pg94au "pg94au" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)

I just purchased this recorder before going to a lecture, hoping to record it to listen to again later. I must say, this little toy is slick. It's very small, and has a very nice interface. Unfortunately, when I played back the recording I made, it was almost inaudible. It was extremely muffled, with periodic extremely loud noises, whenever the recorder was gently touched or moved. I've also tried testing it, recording my own voice when holding it up in front of me. It was definitely audible, but not as clear as I had expected it should be.

Another thing to consider is that, despite the fact that this unit has a USB interface, you cannot access your recordings without installing Sony's custom software. The disc that comes with it only has software for Windows 98 through XP, and although it does support wav, it does not seem to support MP3, as advertised on the box. I doubt you can rely on Sony to support this recorder indefinitely, so its future obsolescence might also be a deciding factor in purchasing it or not.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Bad at All!!, November 1, 2004

By 

V. Headen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)

I just purchased the ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder about 2 weeks ago. I recorded a 2 hour meeting with this recorder and the recording was very clear and understandable. I was in a meeting hall with a sound system. I came home and downloaded the recording to my computer's hard drive, and the recording sounds even better over the computer's speakers. Then, I copied the file to a CDR disk. The copy was successful. The only drawback is that I can only play the disk on my computer. I cannot play it on any other cd player. I tried converting the file to mp3 format through another software, it sounded horrible. So, now I'm trying to find a way that I can convert my files to a format that my cd-mp3 player will accept. I must admit that I found this very disappointing. However, the IDC-P28 does exactly what it says it will do. I recommend after buying this item, read the instructions and directions carefully. You will find that it clearly says that the recorder does not support mp3 format, and it never said that on the package either.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall, a very good recorder, March 9, 2005

By 

Babaylan (Florida, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder (Office Product)

I am a working journalist and I have really found this recorder to be a handy tool for me. It took a little while to get accustomed to using it, but it has proven its worth to me for several interviews, press conferences, court hearings, government meetings, even a funeral of a local dignitary that I needed to cover. I have been happy with the clarity of the recordings, even those of people speaking on a microphone, through an amplifier. I haven't had any other digital recorder, so I have nothing to compare this to, but overall it has done the job I needed it to do.
I have only one small complaint - the small display screen isn't working so well, but it hasn't hampered my ability to use it, since what I normally do is record, then download onto my computer, where I actually listen to the recordings.
Downloading the files are very simple. I will note that the recordings come in an special format so you do need the special software to listen to it, but the files are convertible to other formats if need be. I don't find this a problem because I don't need it in other formats, but I can see how this may be a problem for others.