Most gadgets in a Bond film exist to be noticed. The Sony ICD-SX1000 voice recorder exists to be used. In Spectre, Dr Madeleine Swann talks into one at her desk when Daniel Craig’s Bond walks into her office, and it belongs to a working life rather than a spy’s. It is a small, sensible tool, and we think it makes a better case for owning a dedicated recorder than any phone app does.
In the film
Léa Seydoux’s Swann uses the recorder in Spectre (2015), in her office at the Hoffler Klinik. She is talking into it when Bond enters, and she is still using it at her desk in the same scene. It is a one-scene appearance, but a clear one.
The details of the Sony ICD-SX1000 voice recorder
A three-element microphone. The stereo microphone has adjustable sensitivity and a zoom function, so you can favour a speaker across a table over the noise of the room. Dual analogue-to-digital converters record at up to 24-bit/96kHz.
Memory to spare. The recorder holds 16GB internally, of which about 12.8GB is available to you. A microSD slot adds more, and recording can carry on from the internal memory to the card without a break.
Two kinds of file. It records PCM WAV or MP3. At the lowest MP3 setting in mono, B&H quotes up to 636 hours. In uncompressed PCM stereo the figure falls to about 6.5 hours, which shows what the choice costs.
Five seconds of grace. Pre-record mode buffers the five seconds before you press the button, so the start of a sentence is never lost. Levels can be left on automatic or set by hand, with a limiter in manual mode to tame sudden loud sounds.
Small and light. It measures 39.6mm by 110.8mm and is 14.6mm thick, and it weighs 82g. A retractable USB connector charges it and moves files to a Mac or PC with no cable. Retailer listings quote up to 19 hours of battery life.
What comes with it. B&H lists stereo headphones, a stand, a carrying case and a windscreen in the box. A second-hand example should include them; check before you pay.
Using it now
A recorder like this suits a man who thinks aloud: notes for a meeting, a speech rehearsed on a walk, an interview, a lecture he does not want to lose. It does one thing and does not buzz with notifications, and its battery is not shared with a phone. That is the argument for it. If you record other people, check the rules where you live, and ask first.
Which settings. We would record speech as MP3 and keep PCM for the occasions that need it, such as music or a room you cannot return to. Spoken word at modest MP3 quality fills very little of the memory, while PCM stereo, at about 6.5 hours, will not last a long day.
Finding one. The recorder appears to be out of production: B&H and Adorama both list it as no longer available, so it is found second-hand, and the button below runs a search of eBay for it. Buy from a seller who shows the recorder working, with its accessories. Sony still publishes manuals and Sound Organizer software for it, last updated on 15 October 2020, which makes a used one practical. For more in this vein, see our gadgets and electronics.
Specifications
| Model | Sony ICD-SX1000, 16GB |
|---|---|
| Memory | 16GB internal (about 12.8GB available); microSD slot |
| Recording formats | PCM (WAV) and MP3 |
| Resolution | Up to 24-bit/96kHz |
| Microphone | Internal stereo, three elements; automatic or manual levels with limiter |
| Recording time | About 6.5 hours (PCM stereo); about 159 hours (MP3 stereo, SHQ); about 636 hours (MP3 mono, SP), per B&H |
| Connections | 3.5mm headphone output; 3.5mm microphone input; retractable USB 2.0 connector |
| Dimensions | 39.6mm x 110.8mm x 14.6mm |
| Weight | 82g |
| RRP | Not confirmed; no longer listed as available at B&H or Adorama (October 2026) |
Manuals and software are on Sony’s support page for the ICD-SX1000.
Questions
Which voice recorder does Madeleine Swann use in Spectre?
She uses a Sony ICD-SX1000 with 16GB of memory. She talks into it at her desk in the Hoffler Klinik when Bond enters her office.
Is the Sony ICD-SX1000 still made?
We cannot confirm that it is. B&H and Adorama both list it as no longer available, though Sony still hosts its manuals and software, so a used one remains easy to live with.
How long can the Sony ICD-SX1000 record?
It depends on the format. B&H quotes up to 636 hours at the lowest MP3 mono setting and about 6.5 hours in PCM stereo, before the microSD slot adds capacity.
Can it record in high resolution?
Yes. It records PCM at up to 24-bit/96kHz and plays back files at up to 192kHz/24-bit through Sony’s S-Master amplification, according to B&H.
For the wider cast and their kit, see Spectre and the Bonds.
