Damn Sony and its proprietary file formats. I have a Sony ICD SX46 audio recorder and have used it for podcast forever. Lately, though, it’s got completely flaky with transferring its proprietary audio files and turning them into something sensible like an MP3.

Using the ICD-SX46, I recently did two 20 minute audio interviews with Bill Pulleyblank, a VP with IBM Global Services. I did not want to know about IBM Global Services as much as his intimate involvement with the Blue Gene and Deep Blue projects, the latter of  which gripped the public when a supercomputer squared off in two epic chess matches with grand master Garry Kasperov. The result was a split between man and machine.

But my recordings sit stuck on the recorder because Sony operates with proprietary files. Ever heard of a DVF or MSV file? No, I didn’t think so.

MSV stands for Memory Stick Voice, Sony’s own memory file format. It drives me nuts because it doesn’t work with anything I have, including Son’y own voice editing software. Shouldn’t I be able to right click on start, then explore and find the files on the device to download? Not with Sony which has overcomplicated this to an extreme.  I am even using the Sony proprietary ow Digital Voice Editor 2.31 and have explored every corner of it to understand why it keeps telling me the Sony’s recorder’s files are incompatible. With what!? How!? Why? This is sooo dumb. I’ve changed every setting and this recorder/editor combo was working fine until a year ago. All I want is a .wav or MP3  file to I can edit it in Audacity.

I guess Sony never got over the betamax mentality trying for force its own formats an unsuspecting consumers. By the way, Sony discontinued this line of handy recorders years ago and replaced with models that natively record in MP3.