Overview: The Sony ICD-TX50 Digital Voice Recorder provides
high-quality stereo recording for meetings or lectures through its built-in
microphone and integrated 4 GB flash memory. The ICD-TX50 offers multiple recording
quality settings, from linear PCM (WAV) to 48 kbps mono MP3, with 178 hours maximum
recording time using built-in memory. A convenient carrying pouch is included to
store, transport, and protect the digital voice recorder.
Display Features
Recording Functions
Edit Functions
Playback Functions
Computer Requirements
Power Requirements
Display Features
LCD Display: The ICD-TX50 features an LED backlit, monochrome
LCD display which shows recording and playback information. The recorder will display
the remaining recording time in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Multiple Language Display: You can select the language used
in the display for messages, menus, folder names, file names, etc.: English,
French, and Spanish.
Date and Time: With the time and date set, that information
is written to the file automatically as it's recorded. Additionally, you can set
an alarm and start playback of a selected file on a specified date, once every
week, or at the same time every day.
Recording Functions
Stereo Microphone: The ICD-TX50 features two built-in microphones
on the top of the recorder.
Built-In 4 GB Flash Memory: The built-in 4 GB flash memory
holds hours of audio or voice memos. The unit can recognize up to 400 folders,
and up to 199 files per folder (or a total of 4,095 folders and files for one
memory media). Because a portion of the memory is used for system management
and/or application files, available capacity is approximately 3.6 GB.
External Media: In addition to the built-in memory, the TX50
has a slot for a microSD or microSDHC card (up to 32 GB).
Recording Scene: Four Scenes are available to best suit the
recording setting:
- Shirt Pocket: recorder in a pocket with
the clip facing outward
- Meeting: recording in a spacious room,
typically with the recorder in a table
- Voice Notes: dictating with the microphone
very close to your mouth
- Interview: recording from a distance of
approximately three to six feet
Multiple Recording Formats: The digital voice recorder offers
multiple recording formats and quality modes:
| Recording Mode |
Frequency Response |
Maximum Recording Time
Built-in 4 GB Memory |
LPCM
44.1kHz, 16-bit |
95 Hz - 20 kHz |
6 hours |
| MP3 192 kbps |
95 Hz - 18 kHz |
44 hours 40 minutes |
| MP3 128 kbps |
95 Hz - 16 kHz |
67 hours 5 minutes |
| MP3 48 kbps (Mono) |
95 Hz - 14 kHz |
178 hours |
Microphone Sensitivity: The microphones have three sensitivity
settings, High, Medium, and Low.
VOR Function: When using the VOR (Voice Operated Recording)
function, the ICD-TX50 starts recording automatically when it detects sound
exceeding a specified level, and pauses when no sound is heard, eliminating
recording silence.
Low-Cut Filter: When you set the LCF (Low-Cut Filter) function
to On, the recorder cuts out low frequencies to reduce the background noise from
wind, projector fan, etc.
Shirt Clip/Stand: Although it doesn't stand the recorder on
end, the shirt clip doubles as a stand to raise the microphones slightly above
the surface when sitting on a table or desktop. The included noise damper fits
in the shirt clip opening to remove vibrations transmitted through the table.
Edit Functions
Divide: In the stop mode, you can divide a file into two
parts, with the new file number being added to the newer part of the divided
file.
Track Mark: You can add a track mark at a point in a file and
use it during playback. You can add up to 98 bookmarks to each file. You can also
divide a file at all the track marks if you like.
Move Files: You can move a file from one folder to another
folder, or copy files between the built-in memory and the memory card in either
direction.
Erase: You can erase your files one at a time, or all the
files in a folder at once.
Protect Files: To prevent a file from being accidentally
erased or edited it can be marked as protected.
Playback Functions
Built-In Speaker and Headphones: The ICD-TX50 features a
built-in speaker so you can listen to your recordings. It also features a 3.5mm
headphone output and comes with a pair of earbud-style headphones for private
listening.
Playback: The recorder offers Play, Stop, Previous, Next, and
Repeat playback functions.
Easy Search: You can skip forward or backward a preset
amount of time to help locate a desired point in a long recording. The forward
skip settings are 5 sec, 10sec, 30 sec, 1 min, 5 min, and 10 min. The backward
skip settings are 1 sec, 3 sec, 5 sec, 10sec, 30 sec, 1 min, 5 min, and 10 min.
Digital Pitch Control: The Digital Pitch Control allows you to
adjust the playback speed of your recording. The playback speed can be adjusted
from half normal speed to twice normal speed (playback speed cannot be increase
for LPCM files). The recording is still played back in a natural tone using digital
processing.
Sound Effect: You can choose from the following Sound
Effects:
- Clear Voice 1: reduces the volume level
outside the human vocal range, and adjusts low and loud voices
to the optimum volume automatically, making voices easy to
understand; not suitable for listening to music
- Clear Voice 2: similar to Clear Voice 1,
but with greater adjustment
- Pop: stresses the middle ranges, ideal
for vocal centered music
- Rock: emphasizes high and low ranges
for a powerful sound
- Jazz: emphasizes high ranges for lively
sound
- Bass 1: emphasizes the bass sound
- Bass 2: emphasizes the bass sound more
than Bass 1
Computer Requirements
USB Port: The Sony ICD-TX50 features a micro-USB B port and
includes a USB cable to connect the digital voice recorder to your computer. You
can do the following when you connect the digital voice recorder to your computer.
- Copy Files: You can copy the files and
folders recorded on the ICD-TX50 to your computer to save
them. You can also copy music or other audio files from your
computer to the recorder, including WAV, MP3, WMA, and AAC-LC
by a simple drag and drop operation.
- Mass Storage Device: You can store image
data or text data saved on your computer temporarily on the
ICD-TX50
Sony Sound Organizer ver.1.2.0: The included Sound Organizer
software allows you to import files from the recorder to your computer. You can
also import songs from music CDs, MP3 and other audio files, and podcasts for
transferring to the recorder. The software lets you edit, view track marks, and burn
CDs/DVDs.
- Operating System: To be compatible with
the Sound Organizer software, your computer will need to have
one of the following operating systems installed:
- Windows 7: Ultimate,
Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic,
Starter
- Windows Vista: Ultimate
(SP2 or higher), Business (SP2 or higher), Home
Premium (SP2 or higher), Home Basic (SP2 or higher)
- Windows XP: Media Center
Edition 2005 (SP3 or higher), Media Center Edition
2004 (SP3 or higher), Professional (SP3 or higher), Home
Edition (SP3 or higher)
Note: The TX50 only has Drag and Drop
Mass Storage Device functionality with Mac OS X (v10.3.9-v10.7).
Optional Software: The ICD-TX50 is compatible with Dragon
NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software (not included).
Power Requirements
Battery Life: The built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
takes about an hour and a half to charge and offers varying battery life based
on use (all times are in hours and approximate):
| Mode |
Recording |
Playback (speaker) |
Playback (headphones) |
| LPCM |
18 |
10 |
19 |
| MP3 192 kbps |
24 |
11 |
23 |
| MP3 128 kbps |
24 |
11 |
25 |
| MP3 48 kbps |
24 |
11 |
26 |
| Music File |
- |
11 |
26 |