Sony ICD-MX20 Memory Stick Pro Duo Digital Voice Recorder
by Sony
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony ICD-MX20 Memory Stick Pro Duo Digital Voice Recorder
Customer Review: Worthless!
Summary: 1 Stars
All I wanted was a recorder that I could use for dictation/transcription with my copy of Dragon NaturallySpeaking + MP3 player functionality as a secondary use. What a waste of time! With the hoops I have to jump through to fiddle with the folders, start the dreadful Sony Digital Voice Editor software manually (it doesn't even auto-start), copy the proprietary MSV file, convert it to a nasty WAV (that's the only option), and manually transfer it to NaturallySpeaking because the voice recognition initiation functions are not available (because I didn't buy it as bundle perhaps?).
Here's a list of my issues after wasting a few hours with it:
1. the giant pieces of printed paper that Sony passes off as "manuals" are unintelligible.
2. folders can only be created one level deep and the names you give them are replaced with "FOLDER<nn>" when you view the memory stick from Windoze Explorer making them far too cryptic to find anything.
3. It's an unnecessarily time-consuming process to copy a voice file for transcription (as I described above).
4. Sony's on-line "eSupport" is worse than the "manual": it responds to even the simplest questions with "There are no results; try re-wording your search. " - WORTHLESS!
5. I was led to believe it would play MP3 files - IT DOESN'T! When you copy an MP3 file using Windoze Explorer (into a folder with a meaningless name) the device doesn't recognize it and simply says "no voice files". So guess what, you have to convert your hi-fidelity MP3 into a sucky proprietary VOICE file using the agonizingly slow Digital Voice Editor - POINTLESS!
As for making document preparation easier through off-line recording and transcription I think Moses had a more efficient method with stone tablets and a chisel. (Don't get me wrong, the Dragon NaturallySpeaking transcription software works like a charm when you are tethered to the PC i.e. without the useless recorder)
I picked this device because other reviewers liked it, it seemed to be the right balance of voice recorder (falsely claiming compatibility with NaturallySpeaking) and music player (that's a joke), and because it is one of the few recorders with a removable memory card. I can't yet comment on the sound quality, but the removable card is pointless if the only thing I put on it is MSV files.
So far like NOTHING about this device, but I'll give it another try tomorrow and report back if I find any redeeming features (don't hold your breath).
If I still hate it tomorrow I'll be faced with a simple choice - send it back now or struggle along with it until the Olympus DM-520 comes out in a couple of months (at which time I'll donate the Sony to the museum of bygone gadgets).
Customer Review: Junk - and Sony should be ASHAMED!
Summary: 1 Stars
Can I give this a minus five stars? I received mine not long after they began making them, when they were running over $200. It took two months on backorder to receive, and then it broke within a month. I didn't drop it, expose it to water, nothing. So I called them to return it, and spent 3 HOURS being shifted from person to person, with no results. 3 people I spoke to were obviously from India (and I don't have an issue with that if they can solve the problem,)they didn't know what backorder meant and told me that since it was order three months before, they would only be able to give me a refurbished recorder. I refused and finally insisted on speaking to an America. They gave my call to some 'manager' who tried to sell me the same line of bull. I refused to accept anything less, so finally he agreed to replace it with a new one and gave me a work order#. About a month later I got the digital recorder with a refurbished sticker on it! I was pissed, but it worked, so I let it go. Not ten months after that the thing's broken again! Does some weird stuff and won't work. They tell me they'll fix it for $140, with a 30 day guarantee on their work! So for a mere $300 to $400 investment you can have a piece of %*! that works for somewhere between 1-10 months. Olympus gets great reviews, the only bummer is Sony directly interfaces with Dragon Naturally Speaking (awesome software, though it takes training time), and Olympus doesn't. I'm looking into a way to make those two play well together; I'll let you know if it works. It's my opinion that this branch of Sony makes it their policy to use excessive hold times and shift callers around to get them to hang up and leave them alone. I've now spent over five hours on the phone between the two calls, and I still don't have a working recorder. I don't really understand this, since their software department was Extremely helpful, when I needed assistance with Acid Studio. Do they not realize, anything with the Sony name affects their customer's opinions of them? Sony Acid - Great! this thing - not worth your headache.Customer Review: Controls are very poorly designed.
Summary: 1 Stars
Don't buy this, the Navigation/control button in the center is extremely fragile and the device will be useless. The button operates like a joystick but also most of the functions of the device have to be manipulated through this tiny button. It is cumbersome to operate and not well made. I am very gentle with electronics (been building my own pc's for over 20 years) but I bought it online without "test driving" it. That button in the middle is going to break with mediocre usage and you'll end up like me a very disappointed customer. Trying to get it replaced is a nightmare and as a result I will never purchase anything from sony ever again. As of now it is sitting in my closet useless and sony refused to replace it with a new one. I will never accept a refurbished product as a replacement for a brand new defective item period. Sony refused to give me a new one. Go with another product.
Customer Review: A disgrace to sony, here's why in point form
Summary: 1 Stars
-small button size
-recording time is crap when used with the best batteries
-hold button, many bugs with
-bugs; files often end corrupt in various ways, meaning you get f***ed over
-software is crap, also it cant convert to mp3, o and did i mention you have to convert in general not true for all ic recorders, which others record directly in mp3 for example
-mic is without noice reduction
-device is the most fragile ic recorder ever
-a consumer grade product, not a professional grade product
Go with the following: ds-2200 made by olympus, it smokes this ic recorder by a mile, and its tough and goes for about the same price perhaps cheaper.
Customer Review: Do Not Buy This Recorder
Summary: 1 Stars
Shame on Sony. I wish I could give this zero stars. This is the least user-friendly or professional friendly recorder I have ever purchased. The instructions are terribly translated, and very hard to follow, even for the seasoned recording user. But the worst part is that all the controls are on this RIDICULOUSLY tiny button on the front which, unless you have very long, sharp fingernails or incredibly thin fingers, you are sure to hit stop when you are trying to hit play, etc etc. So what if the sound quality is good if you can't get the tiny little button to move to where you need it to go? A waste of time and an exercise in frustration. Don't bother.