Sony M-100MC Microcassette Recorder with Voice Operated Recording

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [639kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 1.6 x 2.8 inches
• 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: B00001ZUHX
• Item model number: M100MC
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,597 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #76 in Electronics > Portable Audio & Video > Microcassette Recorders
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 21, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

This unidirectional microphone minimizes the recording of peripheral sounds and is ideal for recording lectures and presentations. There are three microphone sensitivity modes (lecture, normal, and dictation) which let you select the best pickup sensitivity for recording a wide range of applications, from close-up personal dictation to large meetings.

The desktop microphone stand allows the recorder to be set down on a table or desk for hands-free operation. The voice-operated recording automatically activates the recorder only when audible sound is present, conserving tape and eliminating lengthy noiseless passages on recordings. The Clear Voice sound system enhances voice quality during recording and playback for greater clarity. The Cue Marker indexing feature lets you place an electronic "mark" at specific tape segments, and provides rapid access during cue and review. The fast playback feature plays tape 20 percent faster than normal speed and reduces the time needed to review recordings.

This unit will record up to 19 hours using just two AA batteries. The three-digit tape counter provides a digital display of tape elapsed for rapid access to a particular section of the tape during playback. The LED indicator visibly indicates recording level and condition of battery power in three segments.

The playback speaker is unobtrusive and lets you and others hear playback without an earphone. The automatic shut-off helps reduce mechanical wear and conserves battery power. The pause switch temporarily halts recording or playback without leaving that mode, and resumes at the flick of a button. The two-speed operation (1.2/2.4 centimeters per second) feature gives you the option of recording on a standard microcassette for twice its normal time, for extended dictation or recording sessions.

This unit also includes a cue/review function that provides sound during fast-forward and rewind modes to help find specific passages. The earphone jack provides individual listening to playback for privacy.

Another handy feature is the hinged battery lid, which helps prevent accidental loss or damage. The strap affords a very convenient one-hand use, similar to using a videocassette camera. A DC-in jack allows for two-way power operation, using replaceable batteries or an optional AC power adapter.

Product Description

Uni-directional microphone minimizes recording of peripheral sounds and is ideal for recording speaker at lectures and presentations. 3 mic sensitivty modes (Lecture/normal/dictation) lets you select best pickup sensitivity for recording a wide range of applications, from close-up personal dictation to large meetings. Desktop mic stand allows the recorder to be set down on table or desk for hands-free operation. Voice operated recording (VOR) automatically activates the recorder only when audible sound is present, conserving tape and eliminating lengthy noiseless passages on recordings. Clear Voice sound system enhances voice quality during recording and playback for greater clarity. Cue marker indexing lets you place an electronic "mark" at specific tape segments, and provides rapid access during Cue and Review. Fast Playback plays tape 20% faster than normal speed and reduces the time needed to review recordings. Up to 19 hours of battery life using just two "AA" batteries for recording convenience. 3-Digit Tape Counter provides a digital display of tape elapsed for rapid access to a particular section of the tape during playback. 3 LED indicator visibly indicates recording level and condition of battery power, in three segments. Playback Speaker is unobtrusive, and lets you and others hear playback without an earphone. Automatic Shut-Off helps reduce mechanical wear and conserves

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so great as you'd think, October 31, 2002

By 

Joezef K. Pangaea (Wyandotte, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony M-100MC Microcassette Recorder with Voice Operated Recording (Office Product)

I thought this would be the end-all, be-all solution to my microcassette needs, which include field recordings, music ideas, dictation and lecture. It's not...I tried three models, thinking each time it was just a bad model, but each one had an enourmous amount of flutter on playback, as if everything recorded was being twanged with a whammy bar. Too large and bulky for standard dictation needs as well, you can do better for dication with a smaller one.

56 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little better than the average recorder, January 25, 2002

By 

Zagnorch (Terra, Sol System) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony M-100MC Microcassette Recorder with Voice Operated Recording (Office Product)

In the hunt for something to help me with my college studies, I decided to grab this particular microcassette recorder/player to tape my instructors' class lectures. So far, I've found it to be a pretty good study aid. Although the recording quality still isn't as top-notch as I'd hoped it'd be, it's still a bit better than many mid-to-lower-end recorders I've used and tried out.

The lecture setting is good if you're in a class where the instructor just gives his spiel, and doesn't field that many student questions. Unfortunately, this setting features a bit more background white noise than the other two modes, so it's best to have this device within a close proximity to the subject doing the lecturing, about seven feet or less. It's also best to have a clear line-of-sight from the microphone to the speaker, without any obstructions in the way.

I've found the meeting setting to be the best for classes where student views and participation is encouraged. It doesn't have quite as much background noise as the lecture setting, but it also doesn't quite have the recording range, either. I try to get the player about five feet away or closer from the instructor when I set it to the meeting mode.

The dictation setting's perfect for those times I've got a few thoughts and words off the top of my head regarding a product offered on Amazon I'm going to review (like this one, f'rinstance). It's an especially good thing to have when you come up with a thought or idea, and you want to record it before it disappears on you. You know, like when you walk to another room in your house to get a particular thing, but when you get there, you've forgotten the reason why you went there in the first place. This setting offers the least background noise, but unfortunately it also has the shortest recording range, which doesn't make it a very good mode for recording my class instructors' lectures. But for some reason it records my voice a bit deeper than it actually is. I listen to the playback of my spoken thoughts, and I end up sounding a little like Mister Sulu from classic Star Trek. Oh my!

PROS:
I've discovered that the playback is a bit clearer sounding if you listen to it through earphones. I would, however, recommend you listen to it through a comfy pair of headphones, rather than the earbud that's included with the machine. You can even listen to whatever you're recording through the player itself as it's taping, and you'll have some idea of what the tape will end up sounding like, background noise and all. Also, don't put the earbud too close to the mike, or you'll cause some uncomfortably high-pitched feedback!

I'm always losing the battery covers to my little electronic gadgets, so I was happy to see that the battery cover slides open, and stays attached to the player.

The foam wind guard seen in the product picture is an attachment that can be removed or added if needed or desired. I found this add-on a bit funny-looking, and I'm happy to see that it's not permanently mounted to the player.

CONS:
I'm not too hip with the cue/review (aka fast-forward/rewind) feature. Both selections are on either end of a three-way slide switch, rather than push-down buttons like the play, record, and stop/eject buttons. Also, when the tape reaches the end (or beginning), the switch doesn't automatically click off; you've got to slide it to `off' yourself.

I've also discovered that the voice-only recording feature isn't as sensitive as it should be. It doesn't need the subject to be very loud when it's activated and recording, but a fairly high decibel level is required for the VOR to re-activate and resume taping. Unfortunately, I've found this to be the case with every other minitaper that has this feature, so it's not like this particular model is a unique case.

A Con that became sort of a Pro:
I haven't found the fast-playback feature to be all that useful. It plays back my lecture recordings a bit too quickly for me to comprehend what's being said. It does have one good point, though: if you want to fast-forward or rewind your tape a little faster, click the fast-playback switch on (along with the 2.4 cm tape speed setting) and it'll get to the end or beginning a bit sooner than with the rewind/review switch by itself.

`Late

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You're lucky you're not paying more!, January 18, 2002

By 

cornhusker001 (Bellevue, NE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony M-100MC Microcassette Recorder with Voice Operated Recording (Office Product)

With the LED voice meter, battery meter, removable wind filter, counter, and a bipod you usually find on machine guns, you're lucky that you're not paying more than the price listed above. I used mine to record European History notes and I had no problem understanding my teacher. The built-in speaker has a good maximum volume so you won't have to hold it to your ear. I really liked how far the microphone was kept away from the recording components-your regular recorders have the microphone right next to the motors (which can cause noise).