Topic: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...

[Nick Graham]

Taped Mule last night, MK4>Sonosax>Microtrack (24/48), and while I ran into a few of the already documented problems - for the most part everything turned out okay.

1st Problem:
The battery life is nowhere near what was originally advertised, but I guess most of us knew that already. I got roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes on a full charge (backlight off, input monitoring off, no phantom, 1/4" TRS input), which was unfortunately about 10 minutes too litle, as my Microtrack died right before the encore. Luckily the file saved just fine, and was opened with no problems at all in Wavelab.

2nd Problem:
Just as I'd expected, at exactly the 25 minute mark, the level meters went ballistic. Looked like I was recording a fireworks display at close range. However the display had no effect on what was actually being recorded. One thing though, even when working properly the level meters suck. Practically useless. I clipped twice (red indicator light) at the start of the 1st set, but the actual level wasn't but about halfway up.

Overall a pretty good first go 'round. I rebooted between each set as per Skalinder's earlier post, and had no issues with the unit freezing. I also had the correct "Record Time Remaining" display the whole time, not one instance of it counting forward, showing an incorrect time, etc.

With a couple more firmware updates I think this unit can be what a lot of us have been waiting for, whether it be a 24/96 DAT replacement, all in one stealth box, or simply a digital dump. I've got my fingers crossed the bugs get worked out, and see no reason to believe they won't.

[svenkid]

similar to my first outing, except I never looked at it while recording, and my battery didnt die! And I only used it for a 1 set show. Well maybe NOT similar, but glad to hear another positive experience using this little machine 

[BC]

I got roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes on a full charge (backlight off, input monitoring off, no phantom, 1/4" TRS input),

CF media or microdrive? Just curious, thanks for sharing your experience!
+t

[svenkid]

I got roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes on a full charge (backlight off, input monitoring off, no phantom, 1/4" TRS input),

CF media or microdrive? Just curious, thanks for sharing your experience!
+t

Im also thinking that running analog eats the battery a bit more than spdif in

[Nick Graham]

Should've clarified I was running a 4GB Microdrive, so with a CF card it would've ran a little longer...though still far short of the originally advertised 8 hours.

[tf]

Nick,

With my pmd 670, I get much much less powered time using a microdrive than a flash card.  I don't know how the two units compare in this respect but I would bet circumstances are similar.  I can get up to 1.5 hours more using the flash cards in the marantz unit.

Tom

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Clip light comes on at -1 dB.

I always run my USB bat box because I don't want to wear out the already feeble internal battery.

[Scooter]

agreed, the runtime is a bit too short without the USB batt box.  It's essentail for the Microtrack.

[Nick Graham]

agreed, the runtime is a bit too short without the USB batt box.  It's essentail for the Microtrack.

Clip light comes on at -1 dB.

I always run my USB bat box because I don't want to wear out the already feeble internal battery.

Where can I get a USB battery box? I'm sure a simple search would pull it up, but I'm feeling incredibly lazy

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Dealsonic did okay by me.  $3.99 + $5.99 shipping via USPS priority and fast ship.. but they're back ordered and now they're $6.99...   I no longer see any cheap ones on froogle 

One downside with these units is the exit of the USB cable is out the side.. very dumb. I have two and I've been going to mod mine to just hardwire the cable so the connector doesn't stick out.  I also want to mod one to take AAA cells.  But bottom line, they work well otherwise.

Try searching google for usb power battery pack

[Scooter]

here's the one I use...

http://www.bixnet.com/usbbatterybox.html

[mmedley.]

Nick, if you need an external batt box I ordered an extra one (I got 2) and it is sitting at the house. Where did you guys run from last night? Turn out okay besides the battery issue?

Edit:

It is exactly like the one right above this post.

[Nick Graham]

Nick, if you need an external batt box I ordered an extra one (I got 2) and it is sitting at the house. Where did you guys run from last night? Turn out okay besides the battery issue?

Edit:

It is exactly like the one right above this post.

We all ran from the section (last 3 rows of the balcony on either side of the board) except John Callery, who handheld MK4s in the front row of the balcony. Turned out really good, the back of the Ryman sounds better than FOB/DFC in 99% of other venues. I don't think the Microtrack's A/DC is as nice as the M1's, but for 24bit I'll take it.

Nice section, we had my Schoeps MK4s, AKG 451s, AKG 480s, Neumann TLM-103s, Neumann KM184s, Studio Projects C4s, and a couple other pairs I didn't recognize.

[silentmark]

You can also use a walmart batt and a VR box (ToddR or leegeddy), which is what I use currently ...

[svenkid]

I used the MT tonite for a 2 set show
V3 > sony 7pin > spdif > mt

no battery pack. Ran fine and stopped  and restarted for set 2, no probs. I might look into a battery pack for this thinng though, as towards the end of second set I started to fret over battery power.

[neutrino]

I don't think the Microtrack's A/DC is as nice as the M1's, but for 24bit I'll take it.

Have you done a comparison between the M1 and the MT2496 at 16/44.1? Just curious what differences your hearing in the ADC of the MT as compared to the Sony M1.
dB-

[tfrench]

You can also use a walmart batt and a VR box (ToddR or leegeddy), which is what I use currently ...

Do you have to get a special cable made for the walmart battery?

[Nick Graham]

I don't think the Microtrack's A/DC is as nice as the M1's, but for 24bit I'll take it.

Have you done a comparison between the M1 and the MT2496 at 16/44.1? Just curious what differences your hearing in the ADC of the MT as compared to the Sony M1.
dB-

No direct comparisons, so it's completely unscientific (), but there's a "graininess" I hear with the Microtracker...like the highs aren't as smooth as with the M1.

It's certainly not a deal breaker though...my Mule recording from Wednesday night still sounds damn good to my ears, and even better in 24 bit.

[willndmb]

You can also use a walmart batt and a VR box (ToddR or leegeddy), which is what I use currently ...

Do you have to get a special cable made for the walmart battery?

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=49744.msg659892#msg659892

[detroit lightning]

here's the one I use...

http://www.bixnet.com/usbbatterybox.html

how long have you been getting with one of these? 

[Nick Graham]

Well, Round 2 with the Microtrack was last night....turned out exactly the same as Wednesday, minus the battery issue. The show was an opening gig, so knowing the show would be no longer than an hour, I said to hell with it and ran 24/96....

Came out amazingly well. Still had the issue with the levels going haywire, but luckily the peak indicator lights still work even after the levels are shot. Listening to a sweet DVD-A right now.

I'm gonna do one or two more "trial runs", if everything goes as well as the first two nights, I'm gonna start leaving the M1 at home permenantly. While I can't speak for anybody else, if M-Audio would just hurry up with this much talked about firmware update, this will be the solution I've been looking for.

[mmedley.]

here's the one I use...

http://www.bixnet.com/usbbatterybox.html

how long have you been getting with one of these? 

I've got lithiums in mine and after about 7-8 hours they are still kickin.

[Scooter]

good to know.  I haven't done a full on time test yet w/ mine...

[detroit lightning]

I've got lithiums in mine and after about 7-8 hours they are still kickin.

+t

there are still flaws with the MT...but for me, there have been enough solutions.  thanks for the info

[udovdh]

While I can't speak for anybody else, if M-Audio would just hurry up with this much talked about firmware update, this will be the solution I've been looking for.

Just email them kindly and ask them for the update or at least a loose firmware release schedule.
I did. If more people do it, they might get the idea.
Mention the 2GB issue, the metering, stability, etc, etc.

[silentmark]

You can also use a walmart batt and a VR box (ToddR or leegeddy), which is what I use currently ...

Do you have to get a special cable made for the walmart battery?

Yes, the out to mini usb ...

[Nick Graham]

While I can't speak for anybody else, if M-Audio would just hurry up with this much talked about firmware update, this will be the solution I've been looking for.

Just email them kindly and ask them for the update or at least a loose firmware release schedule.
I did. If more people do it, they might get the idea.
Mention the 2GB issue, the metering, stability, etc, etc.

Did just that a few minutes ago...hopefully if enough requests come in they'll expedite their efforts.

[sanaka]

hopefully if enough requests come in they'll expedite their efforts.

And so they have:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.drivers&product=196cc4c35a380d800a80448f139bcfe7&showbeta=1