Topic: M-Audio Flash Tracker details

[Steelcorner27]

Ok lets get down to the aplication of this. So I want to use this units phantom pwr. to light up my mics but I want to use a external pre. how is this going to work as far as cabling goes is it possible or will we be limited to using the internal preamp when using the internal phantom?

Brad

[F.O.Bean]

if using an external pre, id guess you would have to pull the power from the external pre, the tracker will just be used as an a/d at that point

[Steelcorner27]

Thats what I thought I guess we'll have to wait to hear the quality of the internal pre before we worry about plugging to much shit into it.

Brad

[F.O.Bean]

v3>m-audio flash tracker via 24/48 the batteries should be plentiful if im not using any phantom or a pre/a/d

[silentmark]

NICE! getting really excited for this one!

Hells yeah Bean !

[kfrinkle]

Even I want one.. Someone buy this poor grad student an M-Audio Flash Tracker.....

[bhadella]

Nothing against Brian's French, but here's a quick and dirty translation from me:

MicroTrack 24/96

Anxious to respond to the user-friendly R-1 from Edirol, M-Audio presents the MicroTrack 24/96, a portable 2-track digital recorder capable of storing WAV or MP3-format recordings on CompactFlash
cards or micro drives.

Designed with musical recordings in mind, this recorder will no doubt be used in other areas as well (journalism, education...). The recording can be done via the standard stereo line in, or via the built-in pre-amp (with phantom power). In addition to the stereo line out, MicroTrack 24/96 has a useful S/PDIF input/output for digital inputs and transfers. Finally, the device has a stereo mini headphone mini jack, and phono outs through RCA connectors.

The device supports both Compact Flash (which many digital cameras use) and micro drives (miniature hard disks). The storage capacity thus depends directly on the choice of media. For example, a 1GB Compact Flash card allows CD-quality audio recording (stereo WAV, in 16 bits/44.1 Khz) for approximately 100 minutes. The same size card can also give 1500 minutes of stereo MP3 at 96 kbps. The user will, as a result, decide between one media or another according to his needs.

MicroTrack 24/96 can record as many individual files as the storage capacity will allow. A USB connection makes it possible to see the apparatus from either a Mac or a PC, like media of standard storage. It is thus possible to transfer the files with an easy drag and drop. The MicroTrack ships with the Audacity software (for Mac and PC) which makes it possible to edit the recorded files and to convert them if need be.

You may also wish to know that the power is provided by long-lasting lithium ion batteries, with approximately 8 hours of life (or 3 hours with phantom power on), and that they recharge when connected to a computer via the USB port (or via an optional external plug).

No final price has been announced yet, but rumor is that the MicroTrack 24/96 will be advertised for around 599 Euros, including tax.

So by the translation, there's a mini line out jack AND a mini headphone jack in addition to the RCA outs and the S/PDIF I/O. Still no measurement on the TRS jacks but I have to assume they're 1/4 now that we know the jacks on the top of the unit are minis. Very cool that it'll ship with Audacity, and that it'll be Mac AND PC compatible, though hopefully the CF usage will make platform pointless...

Don't playa hate!  Actually the internet translated that bitch for me.....I took German back in school!

[udovdh]

So there is no stereo, single connector 1/4" or 1/8" input on the device? 

What about specs like SNR, impedance, etc?
We do get a wall-wart?

[jcrab66]

Even I want one.. Someone buy this poor grad student an M-Audio Flash Tracker.....

how about i just sell you another JB3 instead

[kfrinkle]

I got 2 of those already, was thinking about a trade-in of sorts.

[The Kilted Taper]

So there is no stereo, single connector 1/4" or 1/8" input on the device? 

Reread the translation from Dave. Second paragraph.

[udovdh]

So there is no stereo, single connector 1/4" or 1/8" input on the device? 

Reread the translation from Dave. Second paragraph.

'Standard stereo line in'?
I.e.: consumer level line in on a stereo mini-jack terminated in 47K or so? (like on a Sony DAT?)

[The Kilted Taper]

So there is no stereo, single connector 1/4" or 1/8" input on the device? 

Reread the translation from Dave. Second paragraph.

'Standard stereo line in'?
I.e.: consumer level line in on a stereo mini-jack terminated in 47K or so? (like on a Sony DAT?)

I think the concensus has been it will be a 1/4" line in, not mini. It will also have a mini in...

So by the translation, there's a mini line out jack AND a mini headphone jack in addition to the RCA outs and the S/PDIF I/O. Still no measurement on the TRS jacks but I have to assume they're 1/4 now that we know the jacks on the top of the unit are minis. Very cool that it'll ship with Audacity, and that it'll be Mac AND PC compatible, though hopefully the CF usage will make platform pointless...

[ice8888]

cant wait for this thing to finally hit the streets... should be a great replacement for my lappy and dat.

[greenone]

I think the concensus has been it will be a 1/4" line in, not mini. It will also have a mini in...

So by the translation, there's a mini line out jack AND a mini headphone jack in addition to the RCA outs and the S/PDIF I/O. Still no measurement on the TRS jacks but I have to assume they're 1/4 now that we know the jacks on the top of the unit are minis. Very cool that it'll ship with Audacity, and that it'll be Mac AND PC compatible, though hopefully the CF usage will make platform pointless...

Actually, look at the picture that shows the top of the unit. There are what looks like two 1/4" connectors and two 1/8" connectors. Going by the text on the first page of this thread:

The MicroTrack features a 1/4 jack input, a micro preamp (fantom powered), a jack output, digital in/out (S/PDIF), a RCA output and a headphones output. MicroTrack comes with Lithium ion battery. User can charge battery on a computer via USB port.

It looks like the 1/4" connectors are called "jacks" in that description. So there's the "1/4 jack input" and the "jack output". One of the 1/8" connectors is a headphone out according to the French article, but it makes no mention of what the other connector is. Maybe it's not even a 1/8" jack, but a power jack instead - the French article mentions the possibility of an external power source other than the USB. We still haven't seen the back or the right side of this thing so far, so maybe the power jack is there, but who knows...