Sony MS515 Recorder

Capture all that is important.

I recently purchased a Sony MS515 digital voice recorder to use as a mini dictation machine on long journeys to work.

Remember the days when recording sound required magnetic tapes that you could fast-forward through, rewind, and turn over? I can't say that I do; it's all such a fog now. Maybe it was just a bad dream. Either way, digital recorders are here, so there's no point bemoaning the past.

I shopped around before buying the pricey Sony. Here are my observations several months after my purchase:

1) As with every Sony device I've ever owned, the Sony MS515 is well-designed, easy to use, feature rich, and 100% reliable; in other words, it's worth the money.

2) If you carry a tiny voice recorder in your pocket, I guarantee you will find more uses for it than you could ever anticipate.

3) Being able to easily download your recordings to your computer and save them as WAV files (among other formats) will change the way you use such recordings--for the better.

4) I will never touch another cassette recorder so long as I live.

With regard to novel applications, consider this: Have you ever been lost because you didn't bother to jot down all those seemingly unimportant details in the directions? Do you try to remember phone numbers for want of a pencil? Do you ignore flashes of insight while travelling or walking your dog? Have you ever tried to describe the sound your car makes to your mechanic? Do you remember what your kid's first words sounded like? Need I say more?

But here is my absolute favourite (and unexpected) application of my digital voice recorder. When I am snapping pictures (with my digital camera, or course) of a sporting event, a ceremony, or even kids at play, I switch on my Sony MS515 and capture all the sounds (and narration) to go along with the photos. It's infinitely richer to have sounds, voices, and narration to accompany the photos. (Don't think of this combination as a cheap form of video, but as a way to augment your still photos.) Try it. You won't believe what a difference it makes. In some ways I actually prefer it to video.

Here are a few specific comments about the Sony MS515. It's not much bigger than a cigarette lighter, so it's easy to pop it in your pocket. Its buttons are well placed, so it's easy to turn off and on, append, delete, switch folders, etc. It runs on two AAA batteries, which last for maybe 10 hours. Keep plenty of extra batteries on hand if you plan to use it a lot. As for memory, I use a 32 MB memory stick, which can hold about 4 hours of recording at the highest quality. I find this to be more than adequate for most everything I do. (But 8 MB is not enough.) Finally, the internal microphone is very good, so there is no need for an expensive external microphone. (I bought an external directional microphone and found that the quality was indistinguishable from the built-in microphone.)

One last piece of advice: Before you decide to save a little money by getting a cheap voice recorder, ask yourself two questions.

How many times have you regretted buying the top-of-the-line?

How many times have you regretted NOT buying the top-of-the-line?

For me, the latter far outnumbers the former. Since we're talking voice recorders here, not sports cars, here's your chance to go for the top-of-the-line. The Sony MS515 is a great little device; I don't think you'll be disappointed. With the Sony MS515 in your pocket, you are far more likely to capture the really important stuff, like your kid's first attempt at the word "spaghetti".

By the way, it's an outstanding mini dictation device too!

It enables me to transcribe my dictation to text using voice recognition software on my PC.