EDC Gear Guides: Sony PCM-D10 Audio Recorder

Overview

The Sony PCM-D10 Recorder is a portable high-resolution linear recorder with onboard microphones, dual XLR-¼” TRS combo inputs, and a 3.5mm TRS input. It also has the option of 48V phantom power for mics that require it. The onboard microphones can be positioned in an XY position for music performances, Zoom for interviews and discussions, or Wide Stereo for open or outdoor spaces. The recorder prevents distortion by replacing clipped audio sections with safety signals recorded at a lower level, using a dual-path limiter.

It has 16GB of internal memory, and can record uncompressed WAV files up to 24-bit/ 192 kHz or MP3 files up to 320 kb/s. It features two independent dials for left and right channels, so the user can adjust gain levels from one or both inputs.  It has Bluetooth capabilities that allow it to stream playback to a monitoring system, and enables app-based remote control via the Sony Rec Remote App.

The PCM-D10 has a port that can be used with the headphones in the kit, and volume control that can be used to monitor audio while recording and during playback. 

 

Table of Contents

• EDC Sony PCM-D10 Recorder Component Guide
• Compatible SD Cards
• Quick Start Guide
• Troubleshooting
• Compatible EDC Accessories
• Tips & Tricks

EDC Sony PCM-D10 Recorder Component Guide

                        Recorder                  Headphone with Cable                             Carry Case

 

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Compatible SD Cards

• SDHC or SDXC Memory Card Type
• 1 UHS Speed Class
• 4 or 10 Speed Class
• 120 MB/s Write & Read speed

Capacity is dependent on how much you need to record. Luckily, audio files do not take up a lot of space, even the higher quality types. Many short films are able to use 32GB cards for their production. We recommend 32GB or 64GB cards. 

Recommended Cards

SanDisk 32GB Ultra UHS-I SDHC Memory Card

SanDisk 64GB Ultra UHS-I SDXC Memory Card

 

 

Quick Start Guide 

*You will need (4) AA Batteries & SD Card*
(Not vended by EDC)

Overview

• First Steps
• Internal Settings
• Recording with Built-In Microphones
• Recording with External Microphones
• Recording

 

First Steps

• Inserting SD Card
  • Keep the recorder off or ensure no recorder operations are in progress.
  • Open the SD card cover
                                                             
  • Hold an SD card with the gold terminal side facing toward the front of the PCM recorder and insert it into the SD card slot until it clicks into place.
                                     
  • Close the cover.
  • When powering on, it may ask you if you wish to change the Recording Memory to SD card from the Built-In Memory:
    • Press the ⏪ or ⏩  button on the center dial to select Yes. 
    • Press the ▶️ button in the center dial to confirm.
• Inserting Batteries
  • Pull the tab (1) of the battery compartment cover on the back of the linear PCM recorder in the direction of the arrow and raise it to open the cover.
    
  • Insert (4) AA Batteries
    
                                                   
  • Close Cover.

• Powering ON & OFF
  • Slide the POWER switch to [ON].
                                                     
  • To turn off- Slide the POWER switch to [OFF]
                                                     

Initial Settings

When turning the PCM-D10 on the Configure Initial Settings screen appears on the display
window. It will guide you setting up the display language, setting the date and time, and turning on/off the beep sound.

Use these buttons to select your settings

• Press the ▶️ button to start. The default Language is English. Use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll through other languages. Press ▶️ button to select your preferred language
• To set time & date , use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to change each selection. Press the ▶️ button select. 
  • Press the ⏪ or ⏩ to go between Year/Month/Date/Hour/Minute
  • Once set, scroll to the NEXT button and Press the ▶️ button to continue
•  If you want to hear a Beep with each button hit while using, turn the beep sound on. You can also turn it off. 
  • Use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to select ON or OFF. Confirm with the ▶️ button

Back to Quick Start Guide Overview

Setting your Memory Settings
The PCM-D10 can record on internal memory. If using an SD card, be sure to set your recording folder to SD Card.

• Press the Option button.
                                                                   
• Use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to Recording Folder. Press the ▶️ button to select.
• Use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to SD Card.
• Press the ▶️ button to select.

Formatting SD Card

Always format your SD card prior to first use so files are recorded properly.
WARNING - THIS WILL DELETE ALL FILES ON YOUR CARD. Be sure to offload any needed files off your card to your computer/hard drive prior to formatting.

• Press the Back/ Home button and use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to Settings. Press the ▶️ button to select.
• Scroll to Common Settings. Press the ▶️ button to select.
• Scroll to Reset/Format. Press the ▶️ button to select.
• Select Format SD Card
• Press the ⏪ or ⏩  buttons to select Yes. Press the ▶️ button to format.
                                                     

 

Back to Quick Start Guide Overview

Internal Settings

To change any internal settings, press the Back/ Home button to reach the Home Menu

Recording Settings

• Press the Back/ Home button and use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to Settings. Press the ▶️ button to select.
• Use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to REC Mode. Press the ▶️ button to select.
• Use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to your preferred setting.
  • Recommended Setting: LPCM 48kHz/24bit

Choosing Stereo or Monaural Recording
Stereo records both Right & Left channels
Monaural records the Left channel only. 

• Press the Back/ Home button and use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to Settings. Press the ▶️ button to select.
• Use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to Stereo/Monaural. Press the ▶️ button to select.
• Use the 🔼 or 🔽  buttons to scroll to select your preferred mode. Press the ▶️ button to select
  • Stereo is the default setting.

Back to Quick Start Guide Overview

Recording with the Built-In Microphones

You can adjust the direction of the built-in microphones (located on the top of the recorder) depending on where your subject is.

X-Y Position 

When rotating both capsules of the microphones to face inside ,the microphone on the right picks up sound from the left; the microphone on the left picks up sound from the right. You can obtain natural and profound stereo sound recording.

This position recommended for recording close-by sound sources such
as a solo performance or a session of two or three people.

 

Wide Stereo  Position 

When rotating both capsules of the microphones to face outside, The microphone on the right picks up sound from the right; the microphone on the left picks up sound from the left. You can
obtain dynamic stereo sound recording.

This position is recommended for recording a remote sound source such as a chorus, an orchestra, or other performance of a large number of people.

 

• Position the built-in microphones to preferred direction.
• Slide the INPUT switch to [MIC/LINE]

Back to Quick Start Guide Overview

Recording with External XLR Microphones 
Ex. Shotgun Microphones & Wired & Wireless Lavaliers

• Ensure PHANTOM POWER is OFF

• If using a shotgun microphone or wired lavalier, using an XLR cable to connect the shotgun microphone to the XLR/TRS jack(s) on bottom of the recorder.
  • Line up the 3 pins on the XLR cable to the 3 holes in the XLR jack. Push in Gently until it clicks.
                     
          XLR CABLE                            ->                                         XLR JACK
• If using the AVX Wireless Lavalier kit, connect the receiver directly to the XLR jack. The receiver can rotate the pin section if needed.
  • Line up the 3 pins on the receiver to the 3 holes in the XLR jack. Push in Gently until it clicks.
                         
                   RECEIVER                        ->                                        XLR JACK
• If you are using 1 External Microphone in MONO (Monaural) Mode - insert the XLR in the L/Mono jack.
• If you are using 2 External Microphones in Stereo Mode, insert microphones in both XLR jacks.
• Slide the INPUT switch to [XLR/TRS].
                                                   
• Slide the XLR/TRS INPUT LEVEL switch to [MIC].
                                                 
• Turn Phantom Power ON if using a shotgun microphone that does not have a battery/power supply.
                                         

DO NOT USE PHANTOM POWER IF YOUR MICROPHONE OR LAVALIER HAS A POWER SUPPLY OR BATTERY (ex. AVX Wireless Lavalier)

• To release the external microphone, press the silver push tab on the bottom of the recorder and pull the XLR connection by its collar straight out.
                                           

Using Headphones

• Connect headphones via their cable into the Headphone Jack on the right side of the recorder.
• If needed, adjust the headphone volume  using the + or - buttons below the jack.                     
                                             

ADJUSTING THE HEADPHONE VOLUME DOES NOT ADJUST MICROPHONE SENSITIVITY.

Pay attention to Recording Levels for an accurate audio reading.

 

Back to Quick Start Guide Overview

 

Recording Audio

• Press the Back/ Home button and select RECORD using the ▶️ button to select.
                                                 
• The recording standby screen is displayed.
                                                   

• Press the red REC button ONCE. This will allow you to adjust the microphone channel sensitivity before recording

                                                               

• Turn the REC LEVEL dial to adjust the recording volume while monitoring the peak level meters on the display window.
                                                         
• To change the recording volume balance between the right and left channels, pull out the outer dial to separate it from the inner dial. To adjust the level of the Right channel, turn the Outer dial. To adjust the level of the Left channel, turn the inner dial.
                                                             

• The recording volume levels are indicated by the peak level meters. You can check either the peak level meters on the display window (1) or the lighted peak level indicators (2) for the recording volume level.

• Adjust the side volume dial to a level in the range around -12 dB that is suitable for your sound source.
                                                     

• Once you have determined a suitable level for your sound source, Press the REC PAUSE button to record.
                                                                 
• When recording a REC symbol will appear under the R level. 
• To stop recording press the STOP ⏹️ button. ( A saving standby screen will appear)
• To playback the most recent recording, press the ▶️ button.

Back to Quick Start Guide Overview

Troubleshooting

Q: I cannot hear anything through the recorder after plugging headphones in.

A: Try pressing the record button and see if you can hear anything then. If not, check if the gain is all the way down and turn it up. The recorder will not play sound through the headphones unless it is recording or playing back. It is also possible the headphone cable is faulty. You can test the headphones on an audio player to determine if this the cause. Please contact the EDC if the cable does not work.

 

Q: No sound is coming through the internal microphones.

A: You may have the wrong inputs selected. Ensure the recorder has the correct information for what input to use.

 

Q: No sound is coming through an external microphone.

A: Check if your microphone needs phantom power. If it does, slide the slider for that input to “48V”. This should provide power to your microphone for it to function.

 

Q: The microphone is feeding back into the headphones.

A: Usually, this happens when the gain is set too high. To solve this issue, factory reset the recorder.

Q: There is ground noise while using one microphone.

A: Check if the recorder is in “stereo” mode. This issue can occur if the recorder is in stereo mode and only has one input plugged in.

Q: I accidentally recorded to the internal memory! How do I get my files off the recorder?

A: You will need a USB C cable (not vended by EDC - See IT Help Desk)  that can connect to a computer. Plug the USB-C end into the Recorder and the other to a computer. 

 

On the Mac, make sure that [PCMRECORDER] drive appears on the Finder.

On the Windows computer, open [Computer] or [PC], and make sure that [PCMRECORDER] or is detected.

You can copy the files in the [PCMRECORDER] folder to your computer.

 

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Compatible EDC Accessories

Access is dependent on class equipment allocations & availability 

•  Microphones
  • Sennheiser MKE-600
  • Sennheiser MKH-416
  • Sennheiser MKH 50
• Lavaliers
  • Sony Wired & Wireless Lavaliers
  • Sennheiser AVX Wireless Lavaliers
  • Sennheiser G3 Wireless Lavaliers
• Hand Microphones
  • EV RE50B Omnidirectional Handheld Microphone
  • Shure VP64A Omnidirectional Handheld Microphone
  • SM58-LC (Switchless) Handheld Microphone
  • SM58-S (On/Off Switch) Handheld Microphone
• Speciality / Other
  • Hydrophone
  • Comtek Wireless Audio Monitoring Kit

 

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Tips & Tricks

• Always format your SD card to ensure the files are saved correctly.
• When using the Built-In Microphone, it is best to keep a steady hand.
  •  You can also mount it to a tripod or monopod if needed by using the 1/4-20" screw threading on the back of the recorder. 
• Always pay attention the the audio levels on the screen instead of using the headphones as a basis for monitoring audio.
• Be gentle when plugging in and releasing XLR connections. If you force it, it can break the jack and become stuck.
• Pack the recorder and headphones in the soft case with care. Forcing the headphones in the case can cause damage.
• Before you return the recorder, be sure to collect your SD card and batteries!

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