I have been using the ICD-MX50 for about a month now in all my classes. I record the main dialog practice of each class and later listen to our dialog and transcribe an edited/corrected version of that dialog into the student's homework/notes, and then send that dialog to them to review before the next class.
The ICD-MX50 comes with an AC adapter, so in the classroom, I plug the adapter into the ICD-MX50 and record the class dialog. Then, I hook up the USB to the ICD-MX50 and computer, and transfer the voice file from the recorder into a folder on my computer. Since I am on a LAN, I simply open a copy of the voice file from the office computer (not the classroom computer), which has good speakers.
From that computer, I listen to the dialog and transcribe/edit the dialog into Microsoft Word. Although the recorder comes with a battery, I have yet to use the battery since my setup allows me to use the AC adapter most of the time.
The ICD-MX50 has a "hold" switch on the back which disables all of the buttons and switches on the sides and front so that you don't accidently record something when it is in your bag. It also comes with a soft case, which I strongly recommend using. The display panel scratches fairly easy and I already have a small scratch on it (I cried!).
Sony's interface program for the voice file on your computer is also very good. You can control the speed and volume of your playback. This is good for when I want to match the playback speed to my typing speed so that I don't have to keep "rewinding." The computer interface can be operated both by mouse or your keyboard. I tend to use the the keyboard more than the mouse so that I don't have to keep moving my hand back and forth.
The ICD-MX50 comes with many more functions that I don't fully understand, but doubt I might use them. For my purposes, this slightly expensive gadget has been well worth the investment. I have noticed some things I do in classes that I now want to change. I hope my students benefit from having such feedback in addition to the classtime that they pay for.
Here is the info on ICD-MX50 in Japanese from the Sony website:
トリプルマイク構造＆“メモリースティック PRO デュオ”対応。高音質かつ長時間録音を実現したフラッグシップモデル
ステレオICレコーダー： ICD-MX50
ヨドバシ・ドット・コム：特価：￥33,800 (税込)
Amazon.co.jp：￥28,500 (税込)
付属：単4形アルカリ乾電池×2、ステレオイヤーレシーバー、パソコン用アプリケーションソフトウェア “Digital Voice Editor Ver.2.3”（CD-ROM）、USB接続ケーブル、ACアダプター、キャリングケース
●ステレオ/指向性録音に合わせマイクが変わるトリプルマイク（＊1）内蔵
●記録メディア“メモリースティック PRO デュオ”（＊2）対応
●パソコン上の画像やテキストデータなども記録可煤怺ｿ字表示対応液晶ディスプレイ＆ジョグレバーで快適検索
●ステレオ長時間（ステレオLP）モード搭載
●高音質で聞き取りやすい大出力スピーカー内蔵（実用最大出力350mW）
●大きな音の再生レベルはキープしたまま、小さな音だけを大きく再生するデジタルボイスアップ機煤恪ﾄ生スピードを変えても自然に近い音程で速聞き・遅聞きができるデジタルピッチコントロール機煤怎pソコン接続キット付属
●AC電源対応
＜最大録音時間＞
ステレオ：約11時間30分
ステレオLP（ステレオ長時間）：約22時間10分（＊3）
SP（モノラル）：約35時間05分（＊3）
LP（モノラル）：約93時間30分（＊3）
＊1 SP/LP（モノラル）モード時は、左右のマイクを使ったモノラル録音になります
＊2 “メモリースティック デュオ”でも使用できます
＊3 乾電池ご使用での連続録音/再生の場合、途中、電池の交換が必要です
大きさ：幅36.6×高さ107.5×奥行16.9mm
質量：約96g（乾電池含む）
Sony Catalog
アンミ英会話教室
〒234-0053神奈川県横浜市港南区日野中央2-6-3
パークサイド日野102号室
tel 045-841-4218
fax 045-841-4288
cell 070-5084-9592
http://www.anmi-eikaiwa.com/
