Topic: M-Audio Microtrack

[splumer]

A lot of people have said they have some reservations about the M-Audio Microtrack, but to me it looks awesome, and I'm seriously considering buying one. What are your opinions on it? I don't wanna hear things like "I'm not comfortable with TRS connections," I wanna hear why. Thanks.

[Javier Cinakowski]

I am wrong.

Thanks!

[Roving Sign]

You might not get a ton of responses here, as this topic is not a new one.  Give the search feature a try.   

Agree - but time has passed since some of those threads -

Im sort of reconsidering the Microtacker myself - I have three 24 bit A/D converters (and one 20 bit) - might be nice to take advantage of the extra bits - rather than running 16/44 all the time with the JB3...

Seems like they have stayed on the firmware updates - most of the workarounds have been...well, worked out...and only one has exploded! 

Am I correct, this is the only 24 bit device with digital input - in its price range?

Also with some cool new Edirol Mixers with built in 24/96 A/Ds in the works - a Microtracker might be nice to have...
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,80916.0.html

[SClassical]

You know, there's actually no issues/problems with the MT now after they updated the firmware. It has worked perfectly now. When it just came out there were serious issues - like a lot of stuff. I guess now is the best time for you to get one! (BTW, I don't work for M-Audio or any vendors )

PS Yes, It's the only cheap portable 24 bit recorder with digital in.

[Brian Skalinder]

I think it's an excellent option for a low-cost, 24-bit digital recorder (bit-bucket).  For analog > recorder, I like what I've heard out of the R-1 / R-09 better.  $0.02

[dkarDaGobert]

You know, there's actually no issues/problems with the MT now after they updated the firmware. It has worked perfectly now. When it just came out there were serious issues - like a lot of stuff. I guess now is the best time for you to get one! (BTW, I don't work for M-Audio or any vendors )

PS Yes, It's the only cheap portable 24 bit recorder with digital in.

the mt can still freeze after loosing the spdif signal (disconnection the spdif-cable while recording or due to low batteries of the a/d preamp)

[Roving Sign]

You know, there's actually no issues/problems with the MT now after they updated the firmware. It has worked perfectly now. When it just came out there were serious issues - like a lot of stuff. I guess now is the best time for you to get one! (BTW, I don't work for M-Audio or any vendors )

PS Yes, It's the only cheap portable 24 bit recorder with digital in.

the mt can still freeze after loosing the spdif signal (disconnection the spdif-cable while recording or due to low batteries of the a/d preamp)

Good to know - I almost always run on AC...and when Im not - my Flying Calf will run for days on a 9V Wally Battery...

[JoeKiller]

The only thing that really sucks about the MT is the non-seamless split.  Otherwise I love mine.

[splumer]

The only thing that really sucks about the MT is the non-seamless split.  Otherwise I love mine.

"Non-seamless split?" Do you mean when tracking a recording in the unit itself?

[dkarDaGobert]

When a file reaches the 2gb limit the mt don´t begin a new track without loosing some seconds
you´ve to press the recordbutton to save the file and press it again to start a new file.

if you´ll record in 24/48 mode the files reaches 2gb after around 1h50min

[willndmb]

The only thing that really sucks about the MT is the non-seamless split.  Otherwise I love mine.

[hawghunter]

I would love mine if I had it. Still in the shop, need it for this weekend. I hope it shows up.  Mine died when upgrading firmware. The Customer Service woman was very nice, I told her I need the unit back by the 14th. She said she would move it up in the line for tech and get repaired or replace and have back to me. So I hope it shows up today, my fingers are crossed.

Edit: Just got of the phone with them, they screwed up. Unit won't be delivered till Monday, so I'll miss a show I wanted this weekend. Then she saw we had spoke in the past about needing it the 14th. She says I'll air out another  unit to you for Sat delivery. Then when the other one gets there Monday refuse the shipment. I thought that was very classy of them. What if I forget to refuse the shipment? hhmm....  or  . Nah can't do that.

[Nixoo]

I was thinking about buying the Microtrack, had to choose between the mictrotrack and the Edirol R-09. Didn't need digital inputs, so that argument wasn't of any value for me. Now I had to choose between the non-swappable batterie device and the linejacksmightgetloose-device. I picked the Edirol, white version. Hope they fixed that linejack issue 
Now if Microtrack would address the battery issue.. I don't like external battpacks.

[gratefulphish]

External battery packs rule.  Almost everyone uses one or another with almost all gear here.  Hours, sometimes days, of worryless operation.

[king_rhoton]

I've got one and used it for over a year now.

Plusses: Small, lightweight, solid-state make it travel-friendly.
            Sound quality seems fine to me.
            I've never had a firmware problem with the unit except when trying to use it for playback with early firmwares.  Recording has been rock-solid for me.
            The level meters are acceptably responsive, but the peaking red LEDs end up being what I watch more (and they're quite handy and visible).
            It'll power and charge via USB, so you can use a laptop as an external battery if you're on the road and have a laptop with you anyway.
            I actually like TRS connections--they make the unit much smaller, and the cables I have to carry can be more compact.

Minuses:  Yes, the non-seamless split is a major drag--fixing it's been a feature request of mine in their support system from almost the beginning.  Thanks to this, I can't just set it recording before the opening act and expect that it'll span through to the end of the show, even though my card's big enough.  It also means that I'm only recording at 24/48 (24 mostly for additional headroom, but it's not clear that it buys you much on the MT) due to trying to work around the 2GB WAV file size limit.
             The internal battery is more of a curiosity than anything useful.  I always end up plugging into AC or using a battery box, and that's more gear and more fuss.  And all external power is via a USB mini-connector, which doesn't lock, so it can pull right out.
             Even though it'll take professional (balanced) cabling, mine doesn't even come close to handling pro-line-levels.  I guess the silver lining here is that I always run with the unit's gain ALL the way down, so I avoid a lot of noise from the unit itself.  Of course, the sound guys don't like cranking my feed SO far down, so occasionally I get clipping; need to get some -20db attenuating 1/4" cables.
             I believe the 1/8" input is only mic-level.
             The supplied mic is, as you'd no-doubt expect, useless for pretty much any music purposes.

Any more questions?  I'm happy to help.

[SClassical]

That's why I don't understand why people waste money and time changing the internal battery when it dies anyway. Since it will never be reliable and you have to keep on paying to change it. Might as well use external rechargeable AAs...Less worries and more economical.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

External battery packs rule.  Almost everyone uses one or another with almost all gear here.

Important exception: R09 with AA's. The pair of internals last a Long time and cheap rechargables work great.  But I just about always run an external with my MT to 'save' the built in LiON for when it is really needed.

If you're seeing shows where crotching gear is necessary to get in, running an external battery is a burden. And especially in those situations, external power cords reduce the reliability of your rig over the long haul (though not so bad if you can fallback on an internal).

Whether the MT is right for you really depends on how you'll be using it. There are not many alternatives if you're looking for a handheld 24-bit bucket.  Otherwise I'd go with the r09.

[dallman]

             The supplied mic is, as you'd no-doubt expect, useless for pretty much any music purposes.

I disagree on that . I have some very good mics and I am not a novice, but I have made some excellent quality stealth recordings using the supplied T mic. It is surprisingly good. I have taken some bass out in post, but I have a pre-set for doing that as my battery box that sits atop the MT does not have bass roll off.

[king_rhoton]

I have some very good mics and I am not a novice, but I have made some excellent quality stealth recordings using the supplied T mic. It is surprisingly good. I have taken some bass out in post, but I have a pre-set for doing that as my battery box that sits atop the MT does not have bass roll off.

Hmmm.  Maybe I'll have to try again.  The only times I've tried using the supplied mic, it picked up all kinds of undesirable noises (including creaks from the MicroTrack itself when plugging the mic directly into the recorder rather than using an extension cable).  Given how hot it seemed, I couldn't believe it wouldn't clip for any real volumes.  It looks more like a dictaphone accessory.

[king_rhoton]

Oh, and I should also point out another (admittedly minor) plus of the MicroTrack.  Evidently the sampling clock on-board is very good.  I videotape concerts as a hobby (http://king.dyndns.org/DVDs.html), and when I want to sync the MicroTrack audio to the video I've shot, it's only (and reliably) off by 1 video frame every 15 minutes; this consistency makes synchronizing so much easier.  This is MUCH better than what a friend gives me from a Zoom H4.

[willndmb]

Oh, and I should also point out another (admittedly minor) plus of the MicroTrack.  Evidently the sampling clock on-board is very good.  I videotape concerts as a hobby (http://king.dyndns.org/DVDs.html), and when I want to sync the MicroTrack audio to the video I've shot, it's only (and reliably) off by 1 video frame every 15 minutes; this consistency makes synchronizing so much easier.  This is MUCH better than what a friend gives me from a Zoom H4.

what kind of camera do you have?
how di you find out its  1 fram every 15 mins, just trial and error?

[king_rhoton]

what kind of camera do you have?
how di you find out its  1 frame every 15 mins, just trial and error?

I've shot with a variety (and combination) of cameras--DCR-PC100, DCR-HC90, HDR-HC1, and even a PDW530.  My current set is 2 HDR-FX1s and 1 HDR-FX7.  They're all able to stay in-sync with each other down to the frame for 2+ hours at a time during free-run.  I've yet to find an audio source that's that accurate, but I have high hopes for the 744T that's coming tomorrow!

And yes, I found 1frame/15min by syncing to a drum beat on the video's soundtrack.  I'm not saying that's a perfect scaling factor, but it's still quite good after 3+ hours, and that's good enough for me.

Oh, and needless to say, this is all open video/taping with the band's knowledge and venue's permission.  Three cameras don't exactly go unnoticed, especially once the tripods come out!

[geordy]

Oh, and I should also point out another (admittedly minor) plus of the MicroTrack.  Evidently the sampling clock on-board is very good.

Good point.  If I'm doing video, I make sure and use the MT with the audio source that I want to sync up after the fact.  Never had a problem with it getting out of sync. 

[dallman]

I have some very good mics and I am not a novice, but I have made some excellent quality stealth recordings using the supplied T mic. It is surprisingly good. I have taken some bass out in post, but I have a pre-set for doing that as my battery box that sits atop the MT does not have bass roll off.

Hmmm.  Maybe I'll have to try again.  The only times I've tried using the supplied mic, it picked up all kinds of undesirable noises (including creaks from the MicroTrack itself when plugging the mic directly into the recorder rather than using an extension cable).  Given how hot it seemed, I couldn't believe it wouldn't clip for any real volumes.  It looks more like a dictaphone accessory.

I think it helps a great deal that the battery box goes through the 1/4TRS jacks. So the supplied t-mic is plugged into the 1/8 jack on the battery box, but the battery box is pligged into the 1/4 TRS jacks which are less sensitive. I also use an angle connector between the t-mic and the battery box, so that way I can swivel the mic forward. It is probably hard to picture, but if I can find some time, I'll shoot a photo of it. Tha battery box comes from Sound Professionals, and it takes up very little room, but makes the unit perform much better.

[king_rhoton]

I think it helps a great deal that the battery box goes through the 1/4TRS jacks. So the supplied t-mic is plugged into the 1/8 jack on the battery box, but the battery box is pligged into the 1/4 TRS jacks which are less sensitive. I also use an angle connector between the t-mic and the battery box, so that way I can swivel the mic forward. It is probably hard to picture, but if I can find some time, I'll shoot a photo of it. Tha battery box comes from Sound Professionals, and it takes up very little room, but makes the unit perform much better.

That's an interesting unit--I'd not seen it before.  Out of curiosity, it claims it uses a 12V battery.  What kind, and is it rechargeable?  Can it be powered externally (by the same box I'd use to power the Microtrack?  It's a shame it doesn't run off phantom power (since it's connecting to 1/4" anyway).

[dallman]

I think it helps a great deal that the battery box goes through the 1/4TRS jacks. So the supplied t-mic is plugged into the 1/8 jack on the battery box, but the battery box is pligged into the 1/4 TRS jacks which are less sensitive. I also use an angle connector between the t-mic and the battery box, so that way I can swivel the mic forward. It is probably hard to picture, but if I can find some time, I'll shoot a photo of it. Tha battery box comes from Sound Professionals, and it takes up very little room, but makes the unit perform much better.

That's an interesting unit--I'd not seen it before.  Out of curiosity, it claims it uses a 12V battery.  What kind, and is it rechargeable?  Can it be powered externally (by the same box I'd use to power the Microtrack?  It's a shame it doesn't run off phantom power (since it's connecting to 1/4" anyway).

The need for a battery was for me the biggest reason to hesitate. I have yet to open the unit to replace it, but I believe it is a button type of battery. I have used it for well over a year and many shows and it is fine, but like smoke alarms, maybe I should change it every year or so on a specific date. I was assured it would last for 50-60 shows, and I am well on my way. I have an older more traditional SP battery box too that I used for a long time, and that takes a 9v battery, and with that one too, I was able to go years without needing to replace it. I guess the power draw is very low and must only take place while actual recording is going on.

If anyone knows more about this topic, I'd love for them to chime in. I am always wondering what is the best way to conserve battery power on the battery box, as they do not have any type of indicator to help me know. I have never had a failure, but still, knowledge is power...

[Jimna]

so not see stupid but.... as far as the seemless files go, as long as you can stop every 1:50 or so to save that file your ok?  and if so how long does it take to save and start a new file?  could it be done quickly between songs?  just wondering about my options down this avenue....

thanks again for the insight.

[coloartist]

so not see stupid but.... as far as the seemless files go, as long as you can stop every 1:50 or so to save that file your ok?  and if so how long does it take to save and start a new file?  could it be done quickly between songs?  just wondering about my options down this avenue....

thanks again for the insight.

1:55 at 24/48. It seems to take about 5 seconds to save and start a file.

[BC]

so not see stupid but.... as far as the seemless files go, as long as you can stop every 1:50 or so to save that file your ok? 

yep

[Jimna]

so not see stupid but.... as far as the seemless files go, as long as you can stop every 1:50 or so to save that file your ok? 

yep

so not see stupid but.... as far as the seemless files go, as long as you can stop every 1:50 or so to save that file your ok?  and if so how long does it take to save and start a new file?  could it be done quickly between songs?  just wondering about my options down this avenue....

thanks again for the insight.

1:55 at 24/48. It seems to take about 5 seconds to save and start a file.

thanks for the clarity

[pmonk66]

I'm not a fan of the auto sample feature when using the S/PDIF input

[Jimna]

I'm not a fan of the auto sample feature when using the S/PDIF input

??

[pmonk66]

I'm not a fan of the auto sample feature when using the S/PDIF input

??

I would like to see the sample rate set (i.e. 48, 44.1, etc..) as shown when you set either 1/8th or 1/4th input instead of being locked on "auto" when using S/DIF

[anhisr]

excuse me if I am wrong but, if your A/D converter is set at one thing and the mtrack let you switch the sample rate, the unit would be resampling, not a good thing.  Just set your A/D converter to what rate you want when using S/DIF

[willndmb]

yeah when using spdif it gets the info from the pre, if you were able to change it you would have a reciording that sounded like the chipmunks
this has happened to a few people in the past

the only reason you get to select it via 1/8 or 1/4 is because its not digital

[Jimna]

so this unit seems to be getting more attractive, anyone have a reason i shouldnt do it?

[Brian Skalinder]

yeah when using spdif it gets the info from the pre

For clarity's sake in the hopes newbies don't get confused:  when running S/PDIF input to the MT, the MT locks its sample rate to the sample rate of the ADC (not the preamp).

[pmonk66]

excuse me if I am wrong but, if your A/D converter is set at one thing and the mtrack let you switch the sample rate, the unit would be resampling, not a good thing.  Just set your A/D converter to what rate you want when using S/DIF

I know that - I just would like to set the sample so when you hit the Record Time Available feature its gives you the time for 96/24 of 57:52 max per file.

I'm just saying!

[willndmb]

yeah when using spdif it gets the info from the pre

For clarity's sake in the hopes newbies don't get confused:  when running S/PDIF input to the MT, the MT locks its sample rate to the sample rate of the ADC (not the preamp).

thanks

[dkarDaGobert]

hm
since i have the latest firmware my mt can´t format my 4gb hitachi microdrive anymore..
is this a known problem?
its only the microdrive - there´re no problems with my transcend 4gb cf card

[jtessier]

hm
since i have the latest firmware my mt can´t format my 4gb hitachi microdrive anymore..
is this a known problem?
its only the microdrive - there´re no problems with my transcend 4gb cf card

What happens when you try to format it?  My 4GB Hitachi Microdrive seems to format just fine (with 1.4.6/1.05)

You could try going back to the older firmware to see if the drive simply went bad and doesn't work even with the older firmware but from what I've heard every time you change firmware there appears to be some risk of killing the unit so it may not be worth the risk if you've got other cards that work fine.

J.T.

[blindman]

hm
since i have the latest firmware my mt can´t format my 4gb hitachi microdrive anymore..
is this a known problem?
its only the microdrive - there´re no problems with my transcend 4gb cf card

It may be your card... I have 1.4.6 + hitachi 4GB MicroDrive and have used and formatted several times without issue.

Is the MT on full charge/AC power? Maybe the battery was low?

Have you checked the card in another reader? Have you tried to format in seperate reader?  See if the MT can recognize it, record a few short samples then try to reformat again in the MT.

That is what I would check.

hope you get it fixed.

[dkarDaGobert]

hi

the battery is half-full / half-empty ^^
i already checked (and formated) the md in a seperate reader - the mt recognizes the card but cant format it..

now iam waiting until the battery is full and check it again.
if it won´t work i need a third compactflash card..

[dallman]

FWIW I noticed that Guitar Center has the MT on sale this month for $299. Thay have done this from time to time. It is how I got mine when they first hit the market. In spite of all the negative comments, it was a great purchase for me and a valuable part of my taping arsenal.

[blindman]

If you try all the charging etc and still can't get the MT to format it, my next step would be to downgrade to the last firmware that worked with the MT+Microdrive.

good luck.

[rodeen]

And Full Compass has them for about $260!  I got mine the same day as Cliff and without a doubt have gotten my moneys worth out of it!

FWIW I noticed that Guitar Center has the MT on sale this month for $299. Thay have done this from time to time. It is how I got mine when they first hit the market. In spite of all the negative comments, it was a great purchase for me and a valuable part of my taping arsenal.

[svenkid]

good idea! Ive been using my MT for about a year noow with no problems, I have a sick battery pack for it, sweet! I just updated the firmware to 1.4.6 and bam! dead as a ghost! after the update was done, it diidnt reset itsef, and now I cant get it to turn on with the wall AC, the usb thru a computer or my battery pack. 

[michael japan]

hey there--I'm a newbie to this forum--heard about you from a friend. I own/operate a studio in Japan but new to micro gear. What I am interested in is a high-quality nit that is good for playbaack--I'm not even interested in recording as when I record live I usually take quite a bit of gear. But what I would like is a machine that I could use to play back backing tracks that I make in my studio (usually bass and drums) and the rest--guitar/keyboard/vocals we do live. I have been using a Sony TR3 for years using Cubase/Nuendo/Sonar and it's wondeful to be able to follow the markers if you get lost, but sometimes with so many applications on the laptop it can get a little scarey live. I just bought this huge unit from "American Audio" and it does even read you song titles--it's going back tomorrow morning.

I was considering either a video Ipod/M-audio Micro-track. Zoom H4, or Roland R-9 (names may be wrong. ) Somebody told me that playback isn't so great from SD cards. I have no experience. I would like to have something that plays back easily, shows the titles of the songs, and is stable with dedicated audio outs--not having to go through the cheap little headphone pre-amp into the system. I would appreciate your help.

Michael

[taper420]

Forget the MT, playback sucks.... it will pause every one in a while.

[blindman]

Forget the MT, playback sucks.... it will pause every one in a while.

On my unit...it isn't so much that playback pauses, the song keeps playing... there is just no output for a few seconds... on the pre 1.4.6 the gaps were huge... as in 10's of minutes... on 1.4.6 now the gap is momentary. But listening to the show on the way home is just a bonus, not a required feature.

The R9 screen is tiny.. 2.6cm wide X 1.3cm high.

If I wanted something to just playback only, I would get a iPod and use AAC/MP4's. You can set up playlists so you can have one track go into the next... I think there are even remote add ons you can get that you could keep handy and keep the iPod propped up on a mic stand or a someplace else that is easy to see for your situation.

[shayne]

Getting back to the splits I have a couple of questions, I want to replace a jb3 w/ microtrack, at this point I don't really care about 24 bit 16 is fine, I burn to cd for my own use. at 16 bit would I get longer times between splits, running behind t+ mod ua5, would my recordings get that much more detailed at 24bit. and do I lose this detail when I burn to cdr. Thanks for any and all help.
Shayne

[Todd R]

Getting back to the splits I have a couple of questions, I want to replace a jb3 w/ microtrack, at this point I don't really care about 24 bit 16 is fine, I burn to cd for my own use. at 16 bit would I get longer times between splits, running behind t+ mod ua5, would my recordings get that much more detailed at 24bit. and do I lose this detail when I burn to cdr. Thanks for any and all help.
Shayne

I'll skip the question about the value of recording at 24bits and dithering down to 16bits.  If you do some searching, I think this has been discussed quite a bit in the past.

As to the maximum recording length at 16bits:  if you record at 16/44.1k, you'll have a maximum recording length of something like 3 hours, 20 minutes (maybe 3:25?).  So yeah, you'll get much more time before needing a split than if you record at say 24/48, which is just under 2 hours.

[SClassical]

Anyone here get a few sec skip during the middle of recording using SPDIF @24/96?

Also, anyone experience the right channel going to the left and vice versa with the same settings?

I get both of these sometimes with the current firmware.

(Yes, playback sucks....I have problems fast forward and rewind when I'm in a middle of a long track. The rewind and forward slidder acts like a pause switch sometimes. So I cann't scan through/check out what I've recorded if I'm out recording).