Sony ICD-MX20 Memory Stick Pro Duo Digital Voice Recorder

I bought this back on Amazon in 2008 for $189. I had bought it elsewhere for more than that about 6 months earlier. But I thought the original one had lost the sound in the output jack and I really needed to listen to my dictation via that jack. I did not find out until years later that the problem was with intermittent sound in the headphones. Now this device sells for ~$60, used. That is still an excellent buy, even if the used one is 10 years old. I bought it because it was recommended by Dragon Naturally Speaking v 9.I agree with the pros given by previous reviewers. I won't go over the same features as they do, but I highly recommend that you read those reviews. Some of the cons written by the critical reviews are also fitting. I guess the difference between me and the latter is that I did not consider their cons as that annoying to me. It is a complicated gadget and you do have to be gadget-experienced to deal with problems. Someone said that the software sent with this device, the Digital Voice Editor v. 2.3.1, could not convert to wav files and it does. It just doesn't convert to mp3 files. I use other software to do those conversions. Sony offers an upgrade in this Digital Voice editor (still available at Sony webpage) for Vista, Win 7 to v 3.3.01. They have since replaced that editor with Sound Organizer, which is not compatible with this device or with the earlier Windows versions. If I had reviewed this when I got it, I would have given it only 4 stars because of the hassles with the editor. But once I learned what different buttons were for and how to use the editor, and how to just copy files from the voice recorder to my Windows HD folder (instead of transferring within the Digital Editor), and kept to particular settings, I have had no problem with it. I figured out that the files were named with the date when recorded. I just renamed them. Most operations on the files I do on my computer, not on the device files in the Digital Voice Editor because doing the latter is so much slower.The most important feature of this item is that IT LASTS, & LASTS, & LASTS. Just do not drop it or put it near magnets. Both of these recorders still work flawlessly, 10 years later. Sony tends to make very reliable devices, but just a bit complicated for those not gadget-oriented. The guide is cumbersome, but can be figured out. I still use the same Sony Pro Duo memory stick I bought in 2008, with no failures. And it is still available online. My recordings generally do not go over 1 hour, and I keep the device plugged into an electrical socket with the Sony 3 volt AC-E30A adapter (which I bought on Amazon). That essentially gets rid of the heavy drain on the batteries that recording and playing does in this device.Even if this device is older, it has features on it that the newer ones (cheaper ICD-PX devices) do not have, like the ability to record in either stereo or mono, a built-in microphone with two settings (for whole room or individual speaker recording) and the ability to take a good external microphone or headset/boom combo. The sound quality still satisfies the transcription software for accuracy. It is just not acceptable as a portable music player, because of the limitations of batteries and not being able to recognize mp3 files.

All I wanted was a recorder that I could use for dictation/transcription with my copy of Dragon NaturallySpeaking + MP3 player functionality as a secondary use. What a waste of time! With the hoops I have to jump through to fiddle with the folders, start the dreadful Sony Digital Voice Editor software manually (it doesn't even auto-start), copy the proprietary MSV file, convert it to a nasty WAV (that's the only option), and manually transfer it to NaturallySpeaking because the voice recognition initiation functions are not available (because I didn't buy it as bundle perhaps?).Here's a list of my issues after wasting a few hours with it:1. the giant pieces of printed paper that Sony passes off as "manuals" are unintelligible.2. folders can only be created one level deep and the names you give them are replaced with "FOLDER<nn>" when you view the memory stick from Windoze Explorer making them far too cryptic to find anything.3. It's an unnecessarily time-consuming process to copy a voice file for transcription (as I described above).4. Sony's on-line "eSupport" is worse than the "manual": it responds to even the simplest questions with "There are no results; try re-wording your search. " - WORTHLESS!5. I was led to believe it would play MP3 files - IT DOESN'T! When you copy an MP3 file using Windoze Explorer (into a folder with a meaningless name) the device doesn't recognize it and simply says "no voice files". So guess what, you have to convert your hi-fidelity MP3 into a sucky proprietary VOICE file using the agonizingly slow Digital Voice Editor - POINTLESS!As for making document preparation easier through off-line recording and transcription I think Moses had a more efficient method with stone tablets and a chisel. (Don't get me wrong, the Dragon NaturallySpeaking transcription software works like a charm when you are tethered to the PC i.e. without the useless recorder)I picked this device because other reviewers liked it, it seemed to be the right balance of voice recorder (falsely claiming compatibility with NaturallySpeaking) and music player (that's a joke), and because it is one of the few recorders with a removable memory card. I can't yet comment on the sound quality, but the removable card is pointless if the only thing I put on it is MSV files.So far like NOTHING about this device, but I'll give it another try tomorrow and report back if I find any redeeming features (don't hold your breath).If I still hate it tomorrow I'll be faced with a simple choice - send it back now or struggle along with it until the Olympus DM-520 comes out in a couple of months (at which time I'll donate the Sony to the museum of bygone gadgets).

The device is great, audio quality and features fine, but their proprietary audio format and lack of ANY Macintosh software that can read it is infuriating. Fortunately I use boot camp but it is a pain. Sony should give you the option to recording uncompressed WAV or AIF, and not just their lousy MSV format. I knew before the purchase that the software they provide was not Mac compatible, but didn't know that the audio could not be read by ANY Mac software. Sony, get your act together.

The recorder itself is excellent. Just be aware, though, that a compatibility problem with Vista will prevent you from training a user profile for the recorder in Naturally Speaking 10:[...]There is a work-around for now. Hopefully, the problem will be resolved fully before long -- maybe just in time for a new round of problems under Windows 7. :)