Sony ICD-P520 - Digital Voice Recorder User manual

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
IC Recorder
Operating Instructions
© 2007 Sony Corporation
ICD-P520
3-097-346-12 (1)
Owner’s Record
The model number is located at the rear panel and the serial number
is located inside the battery compartment. Record the serial number in
the space provided below. Refer to these numbers whenever you call
upon your Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No. ICD-P520
Serial No.
Getting Started
Basic Operations
Various Recording Modes
Playback/Erasing
Editing Messages
Utilizing the Menu Function
Using the IC Recorder with Your Computer
Toubleshooting
Additional Information

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
2GB
For the customers in the United
States
The following FCC statement applies only to the
version of this model manufactured for sale in the
USA. Other versions may not comply with FCC
technical regulations.
INFORMATION
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will
not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment o and on, the user is encouraged to try
to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment
and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a
circuit dierent from that to which the receiver
is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV
technician for help.
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You are cautioned that any changes or modications
not expressly approved in this manual could void your
authority to operate this equipment.
If you have any questions about this product, you
may call: Sony Customer Information Services Center
1-800-222-7669 or http://www.sony.com/
Declaration of Conformity
Trade Name : SONY
Model : ICD-P520
Responsible Party : Sony Electronics Inc.
Address : 16530 Via Esprillo, San Diego,
CA 92127 USA
Telephone Number : 858-942-2230
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
For the State of California, USA only
Perchlorate Material — special handling may apply,
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
Perchlorate Material : Lithium battery contains
perchlorate

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
3GB
Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic
Equipment (Applicable in the European
Union and other European countries
with separate collection systems)
This symbol on the product or on its
packaging indicates that this product
shall not be treated as household waste.
Instead it shall be handed over to the
applicable collection point for the
recycling of electrical and electronic
equipment. By ensuring this product is
disposed of correctly, you will help
prevent potentialnegative consequences for the
environment and human health, which could otherwise
be caused by inappropriate waste handling of this
product. The recycling of materials will help to conserve
natural resources. For more detailed information about
recycling of this product, please contact your local Civic
Oce, your household waste disposal service or the shop
where you purchased the product.
Notice for Users
Program © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007 Sony Corporation
Documentation ©2007 Sony Corporation
All rights reserved. This manual or the software
described herein, in whole or in part, may not be
reproduced, translated or reduced to any machine
readable form without prior written approval from
Sony Corporation.
IN NO EVENT SHALL SONY CORPORATION BE LIABLE
FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL
DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED ON TORT, CONTRACT,
OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS MANUAL, THE SOFTWARE OR OTHER
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THE USE
THEREOF.
Sony Corporation reserves the right to make any
modication to this manual or the information
contained herein at any time without notice.
The software described herein may also be governed
by the terms of a separate user license agreement.
This software is for Windows and cannot be used
for Macintosh.
The supplied connecting cable is for the IC recorder
ICD-P520. You cannot connect other IC recorders.
Information
IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE, OR LOSSES OR
EXPENSES RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECTIVE
PRODUCT OR THE USE OF ANY PRODUCT.
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ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
4GB
Table of Contents
Index to Parts and Controls.....................6
Getting Started
Step 1: Installing the Batteries ...............9
Replacing the batteries.....................10
Step 2: Setting the Clock...........................11
Basic Operations
Recording Messages....................................13
Selecting the Folder.....................................17
Starting Recording Automatically
in Response to the Sound
— Advanced VOR Function ...................17
Selecting the Microphone
Sensitivity............................................................18
Various Recording Modes
Adding a Recording.....................................19
Using an adding recording ............19
Adding a recording to a
previously recorded message.......20
Recording with an External
Microphone or from Other
Equipment.........................................................21
Playback/Erasing
Playing Back Messages...............................23
Playing back a message
repeatedly
— Repeat Play........................................25
Playing back all messages
in a folder continuously
— Continuous Play.............................25
Searching forward/backward
during playback (Cue/Review).....25
Locating quickly the point
you wish to start playback
(Easy Search)............................................26
Playing Back a Message at a
Desired Time with an Alarm ...................26
Erasing Messages...........................................30
Erasing messages one by one......30
Erasing all messages in a folder...31

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
5GB
Editing Messages
Dividing a Message......................................32
Moving Messages to a Different
Folder — Move Function .........................33
Utilizing the Menu Function
Selecting the Display Mode....................35
Turning off the Beep Sound ...................36
Changing the Recording Mode............36
Playing Back All Messages in a
Folder Continuously ....................................37
Turning off the OPR Indicator (LED)...37
Using the IC Recorder with
Your Computer
Using the Supplied Digital Voice
Editor Software................................................38
What you can do using the
Digital Voice Editor software .........38
System requirements.........................39
Installing the software.......................40
Connecting the IC recorder
to your computer.................................43
Referring to the help les................44
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting.............................................45
Additional Information
Precautions........................................................51
Specifications...................................................52

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
6GB
Index to Parts and Controls
Main unit
MIC (built-in microphone)
(microphone) jack
Display window
MENU/DISPLAY
DIVIDE
xSTOP
zXREC (record) /PAUSE
– . (review/fast backward) /
>+ (cue/fast forward) (SELECT)
Speaker
i(headphone) jack
OPR (operation) indicator
ERASE
VOL (volume) control*
HOLD
NxPLAY/STOP (ENTER)**
* There is a tactile dot beside the control to show
the direction to turn up the volume.
** The button has a tactile dot.

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
7GB
Preventing Accidental Operation
— HOLD function
Slide the HOLD switch to “ON”. “HOLD”will
flash three times, indicating that all the
functions of the buttons are locked.
When the HOLD function is activated during
stop, all the display will be turned off after
“HOLD” flashes.
HOLD
To cancel the HOLD function
Slide the HOLD switch to “OFF” .
Note
When the HOLD function is activated during
recording, cancel the HOLD function first to
stop recording.
Tip
Even if the HOLD function is activated, you can
stop the alarm playback. To stop the alarm or
playback, press STOP.
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Rear
USB connector
Battery compartment
Hook for handstrap
(not supplied)

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
8GB
Display window
Folder indication
Microphone sensitivity
Alarm indicator
Selected message
number
REC DATE (recorded date)
indication
REMAIN indicator
Remaining memory
indicator
Remaining battery
indicator
Recording mode
indication
REC (recording)
indicator
Repeat play indicator
EASY-S (Easy Search)
indicator
Number of messages
in a folder/Menu
indication/Counter/
Remaining time
indication /Recording
date indication/
Current time indication/
Messages

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
9GB
Getting Started
Getting Started
Step 1: Installing the
Batteries
1 Slide and lift the battery
compartment lid.
2 Insert two LR03 (size AAA) alkaline
batteries with correct polarity, and
close the lid.
Make sure to insert both of the
batteries from their – ends.
If the battery compartment lid is
accidentally detached, attach it as
illustrated.
Clock setting display appears when you
insert batteries for the rst time, or when
you replace the batteries with new ones.
Please refer to Steps 2 to 3 in “Step 2:
Setting the Clock” to set the date and time.

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
10GB
Replacing the batteries
The battery indicator in the display
window shows the battery condition.
When ashes, replace the batteries
with new ones.
When ashes, the batteries are
exhausted and the unit will stop
operation.
Battery life* (With continuous use)
In the HQ mode
Recording: Approx. 11 hr.
Playback: Approx. 7.5 hr.
In the SP and LP modes
Recording: Approx. 22 hr.
Playback: Approx. 11 hr.
(hr.: hours)
* Using Sony alkaline batteries LR03 (size AAA)
* When playing back through the internal
speaker with the medium volume level
The battery life may shorten depending on the
operation of the unit.
Notes
Do not use manganese batteries for this unit.
When you replace the batteries with new
ones, the clock setting display appears.
In this case, set the date and time again.
The recorded messages and alarm setting,
however, will remain.
When replacing the batteries, be sure to
replace both batteries with new ones.
Do not charge dry batteries.
When you are not going to use the unit for
a long time, remove the batteries to prevent
damage from battery leakage and corrosion.
The unit is accessing data while “ACCESS“
appears in the display window or the OPR
indicator flashes in orange. While accessing,
do not remove the batteries. Doing so may
damage the data.
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ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
11GB
Getting Started
Step 2: Setting the
Clock
MENU/DISPLAY
PLAY/STOP
STOP
– /+
Clock setting display appears when you
insert batteries for the rst time, or when
you replace the batteries with new ones.
In this case, proceed from step 2.
1 Display the clock setting display.

Press MENU/DISPLAY for more than
1 second until “MODE” appears in the
display window.
The unit enters the menu mode.

Press – or + to display “SET
DATE”.

Press PLAY/STOP.
The year digits will ash.
2 Set the date.

Press – or + to select the
digits of the year.

Press PLAY/STOP.
The month digits will ash.

Set the month and day in sequence,
then press PLAY/STOP.
The hour digits will ash.
Tip
To set the date to Year 2007, display “07Y”.
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ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
12GB
3 Set the time.

Press – or + to select the
digits of the hour.

Press PLAY/STOP.
The minute digits will ash.

Set the minute.

Press PLAY/STOP at the time
signal.
The display will return to“SET DATE”.

Press STOP to exit from the menu
mode.
If the unit is left unused for more
than 3 seconds in the stop mode, the
display will show the current time.
Tip
This unit does not have a power on/off switch.
The display is shown at all times.
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ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
13GB
Basic Operations
Basic Operations
Recording Messages
Display window
Recording mode
Current message
number
Counter display*
Remaining memory
indicator
* The display selected with the
MENU/DISPLAY button appears.
Built-in microphone
OPR indicator
(lights in red during
recording.)
REC/PAUSE
STOP
You can record up to 99 messages in
each of the four folders (A, B, C, and D).
Since a newly recorded message
is automatically added behind the
last recorded message, you can start
recording quickly without searching for
the end of the last recording.
Note
Before making a long recording, be sure to
insert new batteries and check the battery
indicator.
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1 Select the recording mode.
See “Changing the Recording Mode”
on page 36.
2 Select the folder.
See “Selecting the Folder” on page 17.

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
14GB
3 Start recording.
1
Press zXREC/PAUSE.
You do not need to keep pressing
REC/PAUSE while recording.
2
Speak to the built-in microphone.
4 Stop recording.
Press STOP.
The unit stops at the beginning of the
current recording.
If you do not change the folder after you
stop recording, the next time you record
you will record in the same folder.
Other operations
To Do this
pause
recording*
Press REC/PAUSE.
During recording pause, the
OPR indicator ashes in red
and “PAUSE”ashes in the
display window.
release
pause and
resume
recording
Press REC/PAUSE.
Recording resumes from that
point.
(To stop recording after
pausing recording, press
STOP.)
To Do this
listen to
the current
recording
Press STOP to stop
recording, then press
PLAY/STOP.
review the
current
recording
instantly
Press PLAY/STOP during
recording.
search
backward
during
recording
(Review)
Hold down – during
recording or recording pause.
Recording mode will be
released, and reviewing of the
current recording starts. If you
release the button, playback
starts from that point.
select the
microphone
sensitivity
You can select the
microphone sensitivity using
the menu. See “Selecting the
Microphone Sensitivity”.
H (high): To record at meeting
or in a quiet and/or
spacious place.
L (low): To record for dictation
or in a noisy place.
* About one hour after you pause recording,
recording pause is automatically released
and the unit goes into the stop mode.

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
15GB
Basic Operations
Note on recording
Noise may be recorded if an object, such as
your finger, etc., accidentally rubs or scratches
the unit during recording.
Maximum recording time
The maximum recording time of all the
folders is as follows. You can record
messages for the maximum recording
time in a single folder.
HQ* 29 hr. 45 min.
SP** 79 hr. 20 min.
LP*** 130 hr. 25 min.
(hr.: hours/min.: minutes)
* HQ: High quality recording mode
(monaural sound)
** SP: Standard play recording mode
(monaural sound)
*** LP: Long play recording mode (monaural
sound)
Notes
To record in better sound quality, select
the HQ mode. For switching the recording
mode, see “Changing the Recording Mode”
on page 36.
Before making a long recording, be sure to
check the battery indicator.
The maximum recording time and the
number of messages you can make vary
depending on the conditions of use.
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When you record messages in the mixture
of HQ, SP and LP modes, the maximum
recording time will be between those for the
HQ and LP modes.
Due to the limitation of the IC recording
system, this unit records in the minimum
recording unit of approx. 2 seconds at most,
therefore the following symptoms may
occur:
When a message is shorter than the
minimum recording unit, it is still counted
as approx. 2 seconds at most so the
remaining recording time will decrease
by more than the actual length of the
message.
When the message is longer than the
minimum recording unit, the remaining
recording time will decrease by more
than the actual length of the message
if it cannot be divided by the minimum
recording unit without a remainder.
The sum of the number on the counter
(elapsed recording time) and the
remaining recording time may be less than
the unit’s maximum recording time.
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ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
16GB
Remaining memory indication
During recording, the remaining memory
indicator decreases one by one.
The memory is
nearly full.
Flashing
When the remaining time of recording
reaches 5 minutes, the last one of the
indication ashes.
If the remaining recording time display
mode is selected, the remaining
recording time display will also ash
when the remaining time reaches 1
minute.
When the memory is full, recording
automatically stops and “FULL” will ash
in the display window with an alarm
sound. To continue recording, rst erase
some of the messages.
Notes
If you press REC/PAUSE when the
memory is full, “FULL” will flash with an alarm
sound. Erase some of the messages before
you start recording again.
If you press REC/PAUSE after you have
recorded 99 messages,“FULL” will flash with
an alarm sound. Select another folder or
erase some of the messages.
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ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
17GB
Basic Operations
Selecting the Folder
1 Press MENU/DISPLAY for more than
1 second until“MODE” appears in
the display window.
2 Press – or + to select
“FOLDER” and press PLAY/
STOP.
3 Press – or + to select
the folder you want and press
PLAY/STOP.
Current folder
4 Press STOP to exit the menu
mode.
Starting Recording
Automatically in
Response to the
Sound — Advanced
VOR Function
When VOR (voice operated recording) is
set to “ON”in the menu, recording starts
when the recorder detects sound. (“VOR”
is displayed in the display window.)
Recording stops when no sound is
heard. (“VOR PAUSE”ashes in the display
window.)
Note
VOR function is affected by the sound around
you. Set the microphone sensitivity to “H
(high)” or “L (low)” using the menu. If recording
is not satisfactory after you have changed
the microphone sensitivity, or for important
recording, set VOR to“OFF.”
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ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
18GB
Selecting the
Microphone
Sensitivity
1 Press MENU/DISPLAY for more than
1 second until“MODE” appears in
the display window.
2 Press – or + to select
“SENS” and press PLAY/STOP.
3 Press – or + to select
“H (high sensitivity)” or “L (low
sensitivity)” and press PLAY/
STOP.
4 Press STOP to exit the menu
mode.

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
19GB
Various Recording Modes
Various Recording Modes
Adding a Recording
Using an adding recording
At a factory setting, you cannot add a
recording not to erase the message by
accidental operation. If you want to add
a recording to a previously recorded
message or add an overwrite recording,
change the REC-OP setting in the
procedures below.
1 Press MENU/DISPLAY for more than
1 second until“MODE” appears in
the display window.
2 Press – or + to display
“REC-OP” and press PLAY/
STOP.
The adding recording window will be
displayed.
3 Press – or + to select“ON”
and press PLAY/STOP.
The setting is changed.
4 Press –  or  + to select
“ADD” or “OVER” and press
 PLAY/STOP.
• ADD: adds a recording to a
previously recorded message
• OVER: adds an overwrite recording.
5 Press  STOP to exit the menu mode.
To prohibit to add a recording
In step 3, select “OFF” and press
NxPLAY/STOP.

ICD-P520 GB 3-097-346-12 (1)
20GB
Adding a recording to
a previously recorded
message
You can add a recording to the message
being played back.
When “ADD” is selected in the menu
The added recording will be placed after
the current message and counted as a
part of the message.
During playback of Message 3
Message 3 Message 4
After adding a recording
Message 3 Message 4
Added recording
When “OVER” is selected in the menu
You can add an overwrite recording
after the selected point in a recorded
message. The part of the message after
the selected point is deleted.
The starting point of
an overwrite recording
Message 2 Message 3 Message 4
The deleted part
of Message 2
Message 2 Message 3 Message 4
Added overwrite recording in Message 2
1 During playback, press and hold
REC/PAUSE.
The “REC” indication appears.
“ADD” or “OVER” will ash and the unit
stops in the recording pause mode.