Topic: M-Audio MicroTracker details **PART II**

[kevin p]

So how are we going to short hand this device for the recording info

I've already seen one sig around here with MTR as the short hand. I like MTR so I'll use that when I pick one up.

[John Kelly]

What's so bad about MicroTrack?

[Brian]

What's so bad about MicroTrack?

and who really cares

[Simp-Dawg]

i'm gonna label it "MicroTRax0R fUcKing GIanT KillaR OMG LOL WTF!?!11!!"

wtf does it matter?  people never label shit the same anyways...

[Chanher]

i'm gonna label it "MicroTRax0R fUcKing GIanT KillaR OMG LOL WTF!?!11!!"

wtf does it matter?  people never label shit the same anyways...

lol

[detroit lightning]

thanks for all this discussion - you all have answered most of my questions!

A few more...I've been taping for a while, but i don't know $hit about the technology/terminology

current rig is

dpa 4060 -> modSBM1 -> D100

transfer coax digi out/in to an maudio soundcard

-what is the advantage of going 24bit compared to 16bit (in basic terms?)  how about 48 compared to 96?
-for playback, what is needed for 24bit? 

-I don't have firewire, and I don't think my usb port is the fastest (my computer is ~2yrs old) - what is my best bet for transfers?  is there anything I can buy to upgrade?

-what are the options for charging/powering this thing in the field?  any stealth options?

-this stuff about 2gig max, when you either hit the 2gig limit or stop - how easy is it to start a new recording? 

-i'll keep my 4060's - but I won't be able to use my sbm1 if I want to record in 24bit, right?  what are the options for recording in 24b - or would it be fine to go straight into the maudio? 

(obviously most/all of you don't have this yet, so these are just shots in the dark...)

thanks!  this thing looks cool, i'm psyched about it

[Ray76]

thanks for all this discussion - you all have answered most of my questions!

A few more...I've been taping for a while, but i don't know $hit about the technology/terminology

current rig is

dpa 4060 -> modSBM1 -> D100

transfer coax digi out/in to an maudio soundcard

-what is the advantage of going 24bit compared to 16bit (in basic terms?)  how about 48 compared to 96?
-for playback, what is needed for 24bit? 

-I don't have firewire, and I don't think my usb port is the fastest (my computer is ~2yrs old) - what is my best bet for transfers?  is there anything I can buy to upgrade?

-what are the options for charging/powering this thing in the field?  any stealth options?

-this stuff about 2gig max, when you either hit the 2gig limit or stop - how easy is it to start a new recording? 

-i'll keep my 4060's - but I won't be able to use my sbm1 if I want to record in 24bit, right?  what are the options for recording in 24b - or would it be fine to go straight into the maudio? 

(obviously most/all of you don't have this yet, so these are just shots in the dark...)

thanks!  this thing looks cool, i'm psyched about it

www.24bitfaq.org

here is a wealth of info regarding 24 bit recording and advantages..you will have to can the sbm1 for 24 bit recording, yes, since it only has the options of either 16/44.1 or 48 (I believe) there are a couple options for 24 bit recording...the edirol r1, the edirol r4, the sound devices 722(which is great, btw, have one myself) fostex fr-2, marantz..others....but as for right now, the maudio and 722 seem to be the main two that people are buying or will buy....as far as specs of the device..you know as much as us...

[JasonSobel]

for a simpler, more basic 24 bit FAQ, check out:
http://24bit.turtleside.com

certainly not as in depth as the www.24bitfaq.org, but a good starting place...

[detroit lightning]

thank you both - very good info!

so the sbm-1 acts as an a/d converter - and also 'adds' to the sound?  (i might be talking out of my @ss here, so feel free to correct me on what it does)

basically what i'm asking, is do i need anything in between my mics & the m-audio tracker?  maybe need is a bad word - but is there something that fits in with what the sbm1 does that would do a similar function @ 24bit with the m-audio thing

thanks!!

[Ray76]

Its all a matter of personal preference, I dont know much about the microtracker, but given the price of it, and the features it has, I would think that the pre/a>d stages wouldnt be as hot as running an outboard ...i think what a lot of people are planning on doing is keeping their favorite a/d, and preamp(grace v3 for example) and running that in front of the microtrack...If I were going to buy one, I wouldnt plan on it being awesome as an all in one box..thats just too hard to do given the profit margin....but if i were you id try it alone first, then if you didnt like it as an all in one, d/l some tapes made with different boxes and see what sound you like the best....as far as a>d goes, mytek makes a line of Converters that many folks rave about ....with the caveat being that portable one can ONLY do 24 bit recordings i think...(its called the stereo 192 i think)there are a few all in one boxes....the grace v3 which is arguably the best around these parts.....the apogee mini me, etc........as far as the sbm1 goes.. at least with the Oade brothers mod to the analog line stage , warmth and better sound were brought to the table...i think the stock one sounded pretty neutral, from the tapes i heard....

[JasonSobel]

so the sbm-1 acts as an a/d converter - and also 'adds' to the sound?  (i might be talking out of my @ss here, so feel free to correct me on what it does)

yes, the sbm-1 is an a/d converter.  any piece of audio gear is going to sound different from other audio gear.  I wouldn't really say "add" to the sound, just that the sound signal sounds different going through different sets of electronics.  that said, people tend to classify and label what different pieces of gear "sound" like.  i.e. the general consensus is that the V3 is very transparent (changes the incoming sound by little to nothing), where as a modSBM-1 is classified as a "warm" piece of gear (a little more emphasis on the low ed).

like BigRay said, it's all a matter of preference, and what you like.  there are many a/d converters that are capable of 24 bit, although none as small as the SBM-1.  off the top of my head, there's the Lunatec V3, the Apogee MiniMe, the AD2K+, the mytek converter, the Edirol UA-5, and several others.  if size is important to you, there is also the Core Sound Mic2496, which is the same size as a Denecke AD-20.

BigRay has a good idea, because you don't really need to run an outboard A/D converter.  however, based on the low cost of the M-Audio recorder, many of us are expecting that the internal pre-amp and internal a/d converter will not be as good as the external gear (which many of us already own anyway).  the truth is, no one has any idea what the M-Audio will sound like.  so before you spend money of a new 24 bit a/d converter, it might be worthwhile to run your mics straight into the M-audio and see if you like the sound.  if you don't like it, then think about a new a/d converter...

[muj]

MYTEK RULES..MYTEK RULES...MYTEK RULES

[OOK]

Its coming soon...I just got my september copy of "EQ" magazine and guess what was on the second page....yep an ad for the micro tracker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!        now starts the media blitz......can't wait!!!!!!!!

[RADIONICO]

hi from france ;o)
the specs for microtrack are online on m-audio site...
it looks interesting, no?
 
1/8" Mic Input
Input Level: -14dBV
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -98dB, A-weighted
Dynamic Range: 98dB, A-weighted
THD+N: 0.003% (-90dB) @ -1dBFS, 1kHz
Channel-to-Channel Crosstalk (Bal): < -100dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz, +/- 0.5dB
Preamp Gain: >34dB
stereo electret condenser power: electret condenser power enable
 
1/4" Mic/Line Inputs
Maximum Input Level: +4.3dBu, balanced; +2.1dBV, unbalanced
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -100dB, A-weighted
Dynamic Range: 100dB, A-weighted
THD+N: 0.003% (-90dB) @ -1dBFS, 1kHz
Channel-to-Channel Crosstalk (Bal): < -100dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz, +/- 0.3dB @ 48kHz sample rate
Pre-amp Gain: > 55dB
Phantom Power: switchable phantom power
 
Line Outputs
Maximum Output Level: +2dBV, unbalanced
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -102dB, A-weighted
Dynamic Range: 102dB, A-weighted
THD+N: 0.00265% (-91.5dB) @ -1dBFS, 1kHz
Channel-to-Channel Crosstalk (Bal): < -100dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz, +/- 0.3dB @ 48kHz sample rate
 
Headphone Output
Maximum Output: -2.0dBV at THD < 0.02% into 32 ohms
Working Range: 16 ohms to 600 ohms

[monochromic]

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MicroTrack/
here's another outlet to possibly purchase this from
399 sale price with free shipping.
So dam tempted to drop the hammer on this...

i'm fighting the same temptation -- such a nice price.