Sony ICD Series FAQ

English

Q4

The display always appears on the
window of the IC recorder. Isn’t there a
power on/off button?

ICD Series FAQ

Q1

A1

Q2

A2

Are there any tips on how to record a
message best?

When dictating a speech:

Set the MIC SENS (microphone sensitivity) to
LOW. When recording a message, hold the IC
recorder so that the microphone is close to the
speaker’s mouth.

When recording a lecture or meeting:

Set the microphone sensitivity (MIC SENS) to
HIGH. When recording a message, place the IC
recorder so that the microphone faces the sound
source.
Keep the distance from the sound source to within
3 to 4 m when recording with the built-in
microphone. When the distance from the speaker
is longer than the recommended distance, we
suggest you use an external microphone such as a
zoom microphone.
When recording a message with the IC recorder
placed on a table or other surface, place a cushion
between the IC recorder and the table so that you
can reduce possible noises that may travel
through the table.

Note

Noise may be recorded if an object, such as your finger,
etc., accidentally rubs or scratches the unit during
recording.

Can I use Ni-H (nickel-hydrogen) or
Ni-Cd (nickel-cadmium) rechargeable
batteries?

We recommend you use alkaline batteries, but
you can also use Ni-H (nickel-hydrogen) or Ni-Cd
(nickel-cadmium) rechargeable batteries. Please
note, however, the battery life of a rechargeable
battery is shorter than that of an alkaline battery.
(The battery indicator may not show full capacity,
since the voltage of Ni-H and Ni-Cd rechargeable
batteries is 1.2 V.)

A4

Q5

A5

Q6

A6

Q7

A7

The unit is not equipped with a power on/off
button. The display always appears on the
window. The power consumption for the display
is very small and will not have any appreciable
influence on the battery life shown in the
operating instructions.
Depending on the IC recorder model you use, you
can turn off the display by sliding the HOLD
switch to ON.

If I leave the batteries inserted, aren’t
they consumed even when the IC
recorder is not used?

Even if you do not use the IC recorder, the
batteries are consumed slightly. The battery life in
this case varies depending on the IC recorder
model, humidity or other environmental
conditions. Usually, the batteries last two to three
months. If you do not intend to use the IC
recorder for an extended period of time, we
recommend that you remove the batteries.

Which type of external microphones
should I use? Can I use a stereo
microphone?

You can use the electret condenser microphones
such as the ECM-C10 (tiepin-type), the ECM­DM5P (direct-in type), or the ECM-Z60 (zoom
microphone). You can also use a stereo
microphone, but the right (R) channel of the
sound will not be input. Only the left (L) channel
of the sound will be recorded in monaural.

To record the IC recorder sound with
other equipment (tape recorder,
MiniDisc player, etc.), how should I
connect the other equipment?

Use an audio connecting cable to connect the
earphone (headphones) jack of the IC recorder to
the microphone or line input jack of a tape
recorder, a MiniDisc player, or other device.

To the EAR
(earphone) jack

Q3

A3

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Can I use manganese batteries?

You cannot use manganese batteries. (If you use
them, the battery life will be extremely short.)

Audio connecting
cable

IC recorder

Tape recorder, MiniDisk
player, etc.

Notes

• To connect to the microphone jack of an external
device, use an audio connecting cable with a resistor.

• To connect to the line input jack of an external device,
use an audio connecting cable without a resistor.

To the MIC
(microphone)
jack

Q8

To record sound from other equipment
(tape recorder, MiniDisc player, etc.)
with the IC recorder, how should I
connect the other equipment?

Q10

How can I select and use the recording
modes (HQ/SP/LP) properly?

A8

Use an audio connecting cable with a resistor to
connect the earphone (headphones) jack of a tape
recorder, a MiniDisc player, or other device and
the microphone jack of the IC recorder.

To the MIC (microphone)
jack

Audio
connecting cable

IC recorder

Tape recorder, MiniDisk
player, etc.

Notes

• When recording, we suggest you set the MIC SENS
(microphone sensitivity) of your IC recorder to HIGH,
the mode for recording a meeting.

• To adjust the recording level, use the volume control
function of the tape recorder, MiniDisc player, or
other device.

• If you use an audio connecting cable without a
resistor to connect the sound source to the IC
recorder, the sound may be recorded with
interruptions. We suggest you use an audio
connecting cable with a resistor.

To the
earphone
(headphones)
jack

A10

Q11

A11

Please select and use the recording mode
according to the following criteria:

HQ (High Quality) mode:

To make a very important recording with the
highest sound quality, select this mode.

SP (Standard Play) mode:

To make an important recording with higher
sound quality, select this mode.

LP (Long Play) mode:

To record a casual meeting or a memorandum,
select this mode. You can record for a longer
time.

Is there any limit in recording time for
each folder?

There is no limit in recording time for each
folder. You can record the maximum
recording time in a single folder. (When you
record multiple messages, you may not be able
record the maximum recording time because of
the system limitations. For details, see the
operating instructions. )

Q9

A9

Can I record sound from a telephone or
a cell phone?

You can use the headphones-type electret
condenser microphone ECM-TL1 (not supplied) to
record sound from a telephone or a cell phone.

1 Plug the microphone into the MIC

(microphone) jack of the IC recorder (1),
and set the ear piece into your ear (2).

When you connect the external microphone,
the built-in microphone is automatically cut
off and the IC recorder will record sound from
the microphone. The power is automatically
supplied to the microphone from the IC
recorder.

2

To the MIC
(microphone)
jack

1

Earphones-type
microphone

Q12

A12

How do the function of dividing a
message work?

You can divide a message during recording or
playback, so that the message is divided into
two and the new message number is added to
the divided message. By dividing a message,
you can easily find the point you want to play
back when you make a long recording such as
a meeting.
You can divide messages until the total number
of messages in the folder becomes 99.

Notes

•Once a message is divided, you cannot combine the
divided messages.

• If you divide a message frequently, the unit may
become unable to divide a message.

• If you divide a message with an alarm setting, the
alarm setting remains only with the former message
divided.

• You cannot divide a message in the first or the last 1
second.

2 Place the telephone receiver to your ear

and record conversation.

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