Topic: Microtrack II - Part 2

[Chuck]

FWIW, GuySonic got back to me and said the wiring drawing I posted a few posts ago is the way to wire the TRS plugs for use from an unbalanced source into the MTII.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=106690.0;attach=94665

Thanks GuySonic!

[spaceboy_psy]

So I've got my MTII with me here in Nepal, minus UA5 cos my walmart battery pooped itself just before  left, and I still haven't hardly used my MTII cos I've had nothing but problems!! maybe someone recognises symptoms?

First problem seems to be faulty internal battery. Every time I come back to it, it won't turn on, I plug it in to charge and after an hour or so it might turn on, after some silly messing about plugging and unplugging power and pressing buttons in random orders... Shouldn't it be able to power up immediately with an external power source, even if the internal battery's dead?

So then I charge it fully (which takes hooouuuurs) and try to get my files on to my laptop, and that won't work. I go to Connect To PC, and when I press the Nav switch to connect as it asks, it reboots! Every time. Then I put it away (fully charged of course), come back to it later and it won't turn on, again, and again.

Just a thoroughly faulty unit? Or something I'm doing wrong? I bloomin hope it's my fault because I want to record some traditional Nepali musicians but don't want to waste their time with faulty equipment!

*sad*

Cheers peoples!

[Carlos E. Martinez]

So I've got my MTII with me here in Nepal, minus UA5 cos my walmart battery pooped itself just before  left, and I still haven't hardly used my MTII cos I've had nothing but problems!! maybe someone recognises symptoms?

First problem seems to be faulty internal battery. Every time I come back to it, it won't turn on, I plug it in to charge and after an hour or so it might turn on, after some silly messing about plugging and unplugging power and pressing buttons in random orders... Shouldn't it be able to power up immediately with an external power source, even if the internal battery's dead?

So then I charge it fully (which takes hooouuuurs) and try to get my files on to my laptop, and that won't work. I go to Connect To PC, and when I press the Nav switch to connect as it asks, it reboots! Every time. Then I put it away (fully charged of course), come back to it later and it won't turn on, again, and again.

Sorry if I dont'know the equipment at all, just interested in getting one. But here go some questions considering basical electronic matters.

1) Could you take the battery out of the MT2? If you do did, then plugging an external source, be it battery or AC, should work immediately. If not then something is wrong with the MT2.

2) Is there a chance something could have gone wrong with the supply when powering abroad, that could have sent higher voltages to MT2?

[nathan_g]

It sounds like you have a bad unit to me. Are you in an extreme climate; cold, snow, dust/sand, humidity etc.? I personally haven't had any problems with mine - not since updating to the latest firmware...1.0.7.

As to charging taking an excessively long time, I read somewhere (M-Audio forums maybe?) that there was an issue with the charge indicator (little battery icon in the upper right corner of the screen) not accurately representing the battery level while charging. For instance, plug in MT2 to charge > unit indicates full charge > unplug then immediately re-plug and it will show as charging for the time necessary for a full charge cycle.

Replacing the battery in a MT2 is supposedly a pretty daunting task. The link below has some great info on battery replacement for the original MT. I'd think the process would be about the same for the MT2...it does not look fun.

http://www.greendog.co.uk/microtrack/index.htm

If it's still under warranty I would contact M-Audio and shoot for a replacement unit.

[engorgement]

Hey,

New here and to taping as well.
Today I have ordered my start kit for taping and I need to ask you people here if I did buy the right things.
The things I have ordered is: a Microtrack II, a 8GB card, a SP-SPSB-11 battery box w. bass roll off  and a cable to use the batterybox Line-in.
I already got a Sony ECM-719 mic laying around unused for two years.
My main goal is to tape is Death- & heavy metal, but maybe something other as well.
Is this going to work well for my primary goal, or have I missed something?

Cheers

[TNJazz]

Hey,

New here and to taping as well.
Today I have ordered my start kit for taping and I need to ask you people here if I did buy the right things.
The things I have ordered is: a Microtrack II, a 8GB card, a SP-SPSB-11 battery box w. bass roll off  and a cable to use the batterybox Line-in.
I already got a Sony ECM-719 mic laying around unused for two years.
My main goal is to tape is Death- & heavy metal, but maybe something other as well.
Is this going to work well for my primary goal, or have I missed something?

Cheers

Will it work?  Sure.  Will it work well?  That's debateable.  The weak link is definitely the mic.  You may want to investigate other options in that area at some point, but as a starting point you're probably going to be OK.  Record a show or two and see what the results yield.

[nathan_g]

I'd definitely get new mics. If you're looking to go cheap, the links below are about as cheap as you can get a decent set for. There are plenty of other options as well - they just cost more. I'd think any of these would be better suited for your purposes than the Sony.

cards:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-CMC-20

omnis:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-BMC-1
or
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-BMC-2
or
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-BMC-9

[engorgement]

The mic problem isn't something I can do anything about right now. All this was expensive enough for this month.
But I have been thinking about buying Church Audio CA-11, if you guys don't know anything better in the same price-range(~$100-200)?

But anyway, you don't see any problem with my set-up? I don't want to toast anything the first thing I do when I get the stuff home.
I'm a total novice when it comes to these kind of things.
Is there anything more I should have for a better result, except experience?

[nathan_g]

Nothing will fry. The CA-11's are nice...I had a set and was completely pleased with them. Be sure the phantom power switch on the Microtrack is turned OFF. I don't know if that would fry anything or not but I imagine it would at the least drain your battery faster.

[engorgement]

Okay. Thanks a lot for the help nathan_g!

[nathan_g]

You bet 

[Chuck]

Does anyone happen to know the mAh capacity of the Microtrack II battery?

[Husker Du]

Microtrack II for $129.99 at Comp-U-Plus:

http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?sid=p3b6f8f004n594h&id=1011225&utm_medium=refer

[Chuck]

I got mine the first week of July for $180... I thought THAT was a good deal...

[jbell]

I bought mine for $230 a few months ago and then a week later the same seller had them for $189   Now I wish I held out longer.