Sony ICD-TX650 - Dictaphone for Videographers
Introduction
At the time of writing, the Sony ICD-TX650 is nearly six years old. This little gem came out in early 2015, yet it's still a current product for Sony and, in its specialist area, is entirely relevant today.
Digital recorders exist in all shapes and forms, but at this price point, size, and with this feature set, the TX650 firmly sits in the dictaphone category.
I recently bought one to review because I love Sony design and this is Sony at it's finest. I wanted to know how this compared to the UX570, which has a more classic dictaphone design.
Why the TX650? - Uses in Videography
Dictaphones is a familiar term, but it's inaccurate. These are digital recorders and are likely to be used widely for many other things than note dictation.
The TX650 has earned a special place on the market because of its small size. Videographers saw potential in having a recorder like the TX650 on their talent. They could use it either as a backup or as a discreet way of getting close to the action.
A quick look online shows that weddings have become a favourite. Using a lav mic can get messy, and you can't get close to the action without ruining the day. Merely placing a pen-like device in the breast pocket of the groom and letting it do its thing is an excellent way to record close, intimate audio from the service.
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Specifications
The following specs are a summary of those on the Sony website.
Frequency Response PCM: 95-20,000 Hz
Frequency Response MP3 192kbps: 95-18,000 Hz
Frequency Response MP3 128kbps: 95-16,000 Hz
Frequency Response MP3 48kbps (Mono): 95-14,000 Hz
Pre-recording: No
Sync Recording Function: No
Recording Monitor: Yes
Limiter Function: No
Low-Cut Filter: Yes
VOR: Yes
A-B Repeat: Yes
Digital Pitch Control (Speed Control): Yes
Battery Type: Built-in Lithium Battery
Built-in Memory: 16 Gb
Built-in Microphone: Stereo
Playback Formats: MP3/AAC/WMA/WAV
Recording Format: Linear PCM/MP3
USB Connection Charging: Yes
Max. Recording Time PCM: 24 Hrs 15 Min
Max. Recording Time MP3 192kbps: 178 Hrs 0 Min
Max. Recording Time MP3 128kbps: 268 Hrs 0 Min
Max. Recording Time MP3 48kbps (Mono): 715 Hrs 0 Min
Battery Life PCM: 12 Hrs
Battery Life MP3: 15 Hrs
Pros
The slim, tiny, discreet, pen-like design allows you to place this recorder in areas where others couldn't go. This advantage is by far one of the most significant selling points for the TX650.
You can power up and start recording just by hitting record meaning it takes about 1.3 seconds from pressing the button to capturing audio.
Option to record in PCM WAV is always welcome rather than being limited to compressed format (192kbps is the maximum MP3 bitrate).
16GB of storage is a generous and sensible amount. It should be enough for most requirements and provides over a week of continuous recording at 192kbps MP3.
The OLED display is clear and easy to read.
The nice control layout is easy and intuitive to operate by holding the recorder horizontally in your hand (see my first impressions video for a demonstration of this).
The small size has not meant sacrificing many standard dictaphones features such as A-B review, digital speed control, voice-operated record and onboard file management.
Build quality is top-notch. A mix of metal and plastic, it feels tough and sturdy in hand. This quality also minimises handling noise when recording.
The provided pouch is genuinely useful and good quality. It fits the TX650 snuggly and will protect it in your pocket.
The TX650 comes with Sony-branded headphones. These wired earbuds feel cheap and may not be what you're used to today, but they sound excellent.
Cons
The audio quality is OK but is a little thin and disappointing. A decent lav mic will give you much better results. I recorded a video where I tested each of the scene files and, outside of gain changes, there isn't one that stands out as clearly better. If you have no alternative, this is a superb option to get a recording close to your talent, but the sweet spot for this seems to be 10-20cm so you will need to fit the TX650 as close as you can.
There is no option to expand storage with a micro-SD card as on larger devices.
The record button is a record start and a record stop button. I still reach for the stop button to stop recording, but this is just a playback stop button.
The TX650 is missing the 'music recording' features of other small recorders such as the ICD-UX570. There is no option to reduce gain significantly to allow for recording a loud music environment.
When recording from a distance, the TX650 doesn't seem to increase the gain much, and recordings remain relatively quiet. After pushing up the levels in post-processing, background noise is very apparent. You can clearly understand what's going on but don't expect to record video quality material from any distance.
There is limited physical space on a device of this size, but I miss the option to connect an external mic or line device as is possible on the Sony UX570.
There are no level meters. These aren't essential, but I miss them.
The USB port is under a flimsy plastic cover. I'm not too fond of this solution as it's prone to failure.
The clip used to attach the device doesn't open as much as I would like. I found it tight to fix to a thick jumper.
The built-in speaker is tiny and virtually useless. It's like listening to a pair of headphones.
Audio Tests
Conclusion
I didn't mention the cost on my list. At £90, this may seem expensive for those looking for a dictaphone. There are undoubtedly much cheaper options out there if you want to take notes digitally. However, for those in videography looking for a discrete portable recorder, £90 is a very reasonable price to pay.
The TX650 is a beautifully designed, well made and well-presented package that slips into several different specialist areas. Sure, the mics aren't studio quality, and I was hoping for a little better, but it's the size that counts here.
The unit is tiny, and this makes it so powerful. There are, of course, much smaller recording devices but this has full file control and full dictaphone functionality. The small size makes this a joy to use and easy to carry around.
It's a great choice as a dictaphone and a fantastic addition to the camera bag of any videographer.