Sony ICD - B500 Digital voice recorder

It is easy to use and picks up voices without being too close. Rewind was a bit tricky to master, it kept going all the way back to the start, but once I read the instructions I soon got the hang of it!

Nice basic number, ideal for interviewing

I used this machine for recording interviews as part of my social science studies and, although considerably cheaper when I bought mine, it is a good basic tape recorder with good sound quality and an excellent range. I don't see any point spending more money if this is the kind of thing you are going to use it for.

Compact tape recorder

I am a disabled person who has difficulty with using my hands and fingers. I use audiobooks on tape and disc, has they are easier to use, then a book. I already have a CD, MP3 player for audiobooks on disc. I found that it is very difficult to find, a product that just plays and records on a tape.
The Sony compact tape recorder seems to be the main one still available.
It can be used using the mains (AC power adapter supplied), or AA batteries.
It has the normal control buttons, which are large enough to be able to us the full width of your finger.
The buttons are, record, play,rewind/review, fast forward/cue, stop/eject, pause. Another button on top is for resetting the counter. An inbuilt microphone is positioned next to the record button.
On the right hand side is a volume slider. On the left side are the holes for the DC connecter, ear and microphone.
I have found using the machine very easy, either on its own, with earphones or powered speakers.

Amazing sound quality!

I play a number of instruments and often make recordings to play back. The sound really is crystal clear, for the price point its good value and just what you expect from SONY

Preparing a speech

Ideal if you need to prepare a lengthy speech or learn lines if you still have a cassette player in the car.

Don't listen to other reviews!!

Hi, other reviewers gave this one a poor review, we'll all i can say is i think they are wrong!.
I use this for paranormal work for EVP sessions and i must say if you want a quality piece of kit then this is it. The software that comes with it is great, and lets you auto download files and listen to them in crystal clear quality in seconds, and is so simple to use.
Recording time is 130hrs on LP, 79hrs on SP and over 29hrs and HQ, so its great to leave in a room for long periods on fresh batteries.
All i can say is that if you want one to use for paranormal work then i'd go for this one. Enough said...just buy it now!!

If you need a dictaphone....

do not buy this one. I thought that there was simply a fault on the one that I had received, but having now had a replacement I realise that they are just useless. They are unfit for recording anything as there is constant, appalling background noise. I have used a Sony previously and thought that this would be good enough for my language studies. However I shall definitely buy a digital one instead this time.

Simply the 1st class

I've been looking for the best voice recorder for a while and it's not as simple as one my think. There is quite a good range of low and medium quality devices, but I really didn't want to get frustrated when trying to make out what the lecturer said in my recordings. I also wanted it to have expansion slot, so that I could stick a memory card in and record almost unlimited amounts.

This Sony recorder has exceeded all my expectations, thought. It's got excellent quality build - feels very firm and sturdy and it's made of metal, not plastic. It's definitely not going to break in the next couple of years. The voice quality is absolutely fantastic. I've use a lot of other voice recorderes and none of them come close to it. The stereo microphone really makes quite a lot of difference! This voice recorder is the best device that money can buy. It's definitely worth every £ spent.

Sony dictation machine

I bought the 1gb machine, which matches on all features bar the storage capacity, as the above reviewer it's simple to use and pretty to look at, but the recording leaves much to be desired. If you are recording at close range the Sony does a great job, but with distance the recorded volume falls of hugely and is over shadowed with an annoying background hiss. This makes it too difficult, if not nearly imppossible, to hear through the in-built speaker or supplied headphones. The only way that I could make sense of things was to use a set of headphones with a volume control and the Sony's microphone sensitivty set to maximum. Given the price of these gadgets the Sony's performance is well below acceptable. I do not have experience of hard drive dictation machines, but my minidisc was far better than this. This item is going back and I'm of to Olympus, they enable the hiss to be turn down post-recording.

It is great!

I bought a new one beacuse I needed something to record my singing lessions. I have tried many diferent recorders, but I must say that this one is perfect. The mic record great. The sound is clear expecialy with high notes when usualy you get unreciognasible sound. Really, I am very setisfided!

Brilliant - excellent recording quality

I bought this with the intention of using it to record me play the Piano and saxophone. Then if i played anything i really liked i wouldn't have to immediately stop and quickly try to write it out before i forgot it. Instead i could play the dictaphone back and then try to work it out again.
The recording quality is brilliant and the 4gb memory stick i bought seperately has recorded loads of conversations and music sessions and isn't even 25 percent full yet. My friend is now going to buy his own as with his current dictaphone he has to carry loads of tapes with him !
Whereas i only one small memory stick.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a decent dictaphone.

Just the job.

Excellent sound quality using the built in microphone. Very easy to use. The software integrates well. I would like to be able to have multiple bookmarks on a single file, but then - can't have everything.

It does what I want it to do

Although Tape recording is fast becoming a relic with all the modern technology available I have found that this Sony Voice operated Slim Tape Recorder suits my needs. I am a member of an Amateur Operatics Society and this machine allows me to record music - songs and Lib which I can then play back in my car Tape player to rehearse and revise what I am doing and when. As far as I am concerned the perfect tool for my hobby

great dictaphone

Okay if your like me and dont want second best this is for you this dictaphone boasts so much in such a small package. long battery life long recording times the microphone is really good more importantly allows you to add headphones and external microphone. the quality of recording is great and what more important you can back this up to your ps hassle free just use the software and usb provided. This is a great tool for catologing and backing up. If you have a tape dictaphone you will wonder how you ever used such a heavey beast.

superb

Clarity of recording is excellent, this syncs with Media Player easily and can be used as a MP3 player too. It records at a default high sampling rate of 128kbps, I don't think that many sound cards can play this level of fidelity, so it will be your computer which will be the weak link in sound quality. It also has a neat feature which enables recharging of the battery (you need to get a rechargable battery yourself) when plugged into the USB dongle provided.

Given this is effectively an MP3 player (headphones are included) as well as a voice recorder, this is a good value bit of kit. There are several functions in the menu, which I have not bothered fiddling with. As it comes out of the box, its exactly what I need.

One concern is that it feels a little fragile, but it comes in its own little carry bag to keep it unscratched.