A Little Piece Of Gear
The Sony PCM-A10 is a tiny machine! This recorder is no longer sold new and, like its big brother the Sony PCM-D100, it can only be found at a high second-hand price. It is so compact that it’s easy to carry everywhere, in a backpack or even in a pocket! In addition to its built-in microphones, it lets you connect external microphones via mini-jack, such as a pair of LOM mikroUsi.
I bought mine in Japan for a fair price, but everything on it is written in Japanese only.
I still use the Sony PCM-A10 regularly as an everyday pocket recorder. For me, it is a bit like the point-and-shoot camera of field recording: small, compact, sturdy and simple enough to carry almost anywhere. It is not the recorder I would choose as the main machine for every recording session. Its strength is elsewhere: having a capable recorder in your pocket when an interesting sound appears unexpectedly.
The idea here is to share my experience and feelings about this little machine.
Design And Construction
The Sony PCM-A10 looks like a sturdy little toy! Its USB-A connector gives it the look of a first-generation MP3 player. Even if this choice is a little surprising, it comes in handy for fast data transfer. The microphone position is adjustable, as on most recorders in this range. Its compact, lightweight design makes it pleasant to hold, but it doesn’t make it a professional machine – that’s not the point.
Audio Quality And Connectivity
In my opinion, the internal mics of the Sony PCM-A10 are probably too noisy for it to be the main recorder on a field recording trip. They can be useful in a noisy environment, but when recording in a quiet atmosphere, the self-noise of the microphones becomes noticeable. With a recorder of this size, you can’t expect the best quality: the compromise was made on the size of the device. In addition, wind protection accessories are not really suited to this machine, which makes it difficult to use even in moderate wind.
But its real interest, besides its small size, is the stereo mini-jack mic/line input, which allows you to connect discreet external microphones. The recorder can easily be hidden almost anywhere for drop rig recordings, with a pair of microphones concealed in their environment.
The audio quality achieved this way is comparable to that of the Sony PCM-D100, making it possible to record clean, high-quality soundscapes in a very compact format.
Power And Advanced Features
The Sony PCM-A10 is powered by a non-removable internal battery. It can record for around 15 hours at 96 kHz/24-bit LPCM, which may be enough for an overnight recording session. Unfortunately, as we all know, batteries tend to wear out over time. The good thing is that an external battery can be connected to the recorder, making it capable of recording continuously for more than a day!
For storage, the recorder has 16 GB of internal memory, plus a microSD card slot for expansion. The microSD format can be fiddly and risky to handle, so you’ll need to be very careful when backing up. Or you can simply do it through the USB plug.
Ease Of Use And Interface
The Sony PCM-A10 doesn’t have a physical gain knob like its big brother. Instead, microphone sensitivity is adjusted with buttons, and this can only be done while recording, which is not very intuitive. The gain adjustment range is also rather limited, which can be confusing compared with other recorders.
The backlit LCD display provides clear information on recording levels, settings and battery status.
Should You Buy It?
If you are not yet equipped and are looking for your first main field recorder, I would not necessarily recommend the Sony PCM-A10, because its internal microphones are a bit noisy in quiet, calm surroundings.
In my view, it is very practical as a secondary recorder – an everyday pocket recorder that is even smaller than a typical backup, while keeping suitable sound quality.
Its qualities really stand out with a few additional accessories. With an external battery, a small bag and a pair of discreet microphones, the Sony PCM-A10 becomes a superb recorder to conceal anywhere, for hours if necessary – ideal for a drop rig, for example, all for an affordable price.
Just like its big brother, the Sony PCM-D100, the PCM-A10 has become something of a collector’s item, and it’s now hard to find at the right price.
Still, the Sony PCM-A10 is, in a way, the point-and-shoot camera of sound recorders: compact, practical, discreet and easy to keep with you.
Want to hear the built-in microphones for yourself? I recorded a collection of real-world ambiences using only the Sony PCM-A10's internal microphones, including indoor spaces, parks and public transport.