Topic: M-Audio's response to 48v phantom power bug

[Jonny Durango]

Here's a copy of an email I sent to M-Audio. Please send email to sales@m-audio.com and/or info@m-audio.com if you are also concerned about this problem.

<<

A rep from your company recently addressed the list of bugs associated with the Microtrack 2496. Among them, was the underperforming phantom power supply. Here is a copy of the reply as posted to rec.audio.pro and rec.arts.movies.production.sound

"BUG:
- 30v max on Phantom on stead of advertised 48v

ANSWER:

I believe our marketing mentions "Phantom Power", but never states
48v.  We took a prototype down to an equipment rental store, and they
let us go through their mic closet.  The MicroTrack provided enough
power for everything we tried, from the U87 to Sennheiser shotgun mics
and some esoterics.   So, is this a complaint that a mic didn't work,
or is it a complaint that the Volt-Ohm meter needle didn't go where
they wanted?"



In fact, your marketting DOES specifically state 48v phantom power as is apparent from page 6 of your own 2005 Product Guide.

http://www.m-audio.com/images/global/media/M-Audio2005Catalog.pdf

Likewise, every retailer and M-Audio dealer's website had advertised 48v phantom power before the MT's release (while they were still taking pre-orders) and most still advertise it even though it has been found that the unit may only deliver 30v of phantom power (according to Len Moskowitz of core-sound.com and others, see taperssection.com archives).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=389807&is=REG&si=feat#goto_itemInfo
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:aKjfIljToEUJ:www.audiomidi.com/Micro-Track-24-96-P6906.aspx+microtrack+48v&hl=en
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:YUjbMmFMSFgJ:www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MicroTrack/+microtrack+48v&hl=en
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:EbZh4NftKBYJ:www.minidisco.com/microtrack.html+microtrack+48v&hl=en
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:gqAJ7pUb-X4J:www.bananas.com/productdetail.asp/PID_8927+m-audio+microtrack+2496+48v&hl=en
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:4SWOO0xgbGgJ:www.torcomp.com/products/product_detail.cfm%3Fproductid%3D48251%26ProductPriceID%3D208734+m-audio+microtrack+2496+48v&hl=en

Even such major retailers as Sweetwater, BH Photo Video and AudioMidi.com are advertising 48v Phantom Power.

As such, I believe this is a product defect that should be fixed and addressed in later revisions. Despite what your own testing indicates, it is true that many mics will not function properly with highly underrated phantom power supplies. Schoeps has confirmed that it's 12-48v phantom mics will only operate properly when powered by 12v OR 48v, not 12 TO 48v..

I'd like to thank you for making such a great product. I'm sure if you can work out most of the firmware bugs, and bring the phantom power supply up to it's rated voltage, it will be a VERY succesful machine. Please let me know how, or if you plan to address this issue. Thankyou!

--

Jonny Durango

www.jdurango.com

"If the key of C is the people's key, what is the key of the bourgeoisie?"

>>

Will post more when/if I get a response.

Jonny Durango

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Well done!

[Brian Skalinder]

Nicely written, Johnny, good stuff.

[pfife]

I'd love to see someone with some influence at M-Audio join this board.   I have a feeling he/she would get completely swamped though!

Good letter man.

[blackmikito]

"We took a prototype down to an equipment rental store, and they
let us go through their mic closet.  The MicroTrack provided enough
power for everything we tried, from the U87 to Sennheiser shotgun mics
and some esoterics."

You would think that a company dedicated to manufacturing audio recording equipment would have their own set of microphones to test with...

[pfife]

And would know that the amount of power probably affects the performance of the mics.

[musicsherlock]

"Works great with these mics! Let's release it!"

[blackmikito]

I can just see the next response....

"We're sorry, we couldn't update the firmware on our website because we can't get to a computer. The internet cafe down the street is closed on Thursdays."  

[BLOODYJACK]

This is a common problem on many budget sound boards and Especially on battery powered equipment, has anyone checked the other portable devices? eg R1 UA5 etc
http://www.rycote.com/products/pdf/The%20Feeble%20Phantom.pdf

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Excellent article, thanks!

[scb]

You would think that a company dedicated to manufacturing audio recording equipment would have their own set of microphones to test with...

what if this prototype fried every mic?  that would have sucked for them. 

i don't know how i'd feel as the rental place being the guinea pig for things like this

[wbrisette]

Here's a copy of an email I sent to M-Audio. Please send email to sales@m-audio.com and/or info@m-audio.com if you are also concerned about this problem.

<<

A rep from your company recently addressed the list of bugs associated with the Microtrack 2496. Among them, was the underperforming phantom power supply. Here is a copy of the reply as posted to rec.audio.pro and rec.arts.movies.production.sound

"BUG:
- 30v max on Phantom on stead of advertised 48v

ANSWER:

I believe our marketing mentions "Phantom Power", but never states
48v.  We took a prototype down to an equipment rental store, and they
let us go through their mic closet.  The MicroTrack provided enough
power for everything we tried, from the U87 to Sennheiser shotgun mics
and some esoterics.   So, is this a complaint that a mic didn't work,
or is it a complaint that the Volt-Ohm meter needle didn't go where
they wanted?"

As has been pointed out here already by way of that excellent article BloodyJack posted, there is a lot more to phantom power than 48v. OK, so they give me 30v, but what sort of current draw can I expect. I already ran into a problem with a piece of professional gear that couldn't give me the full 10mA that my Earthworks mic required. Is the MicroTrack going to give me 10mA at 30V? Anybody seen specs or tests on the current draw?

Wayne

[F.O.Bean]

great point wayne

[oleg]

Here's a copy of an email I sent to M-Audio. Please send email to sales@m-audio.com and/or info@m-audio.com if you are also concerned about this problem.

<<

A rep from your company recently addressed the list of bugs associated with the Microtrack 2496. Among them, was the underperforming phantom power supply. Here is a copy of the reply as posted to rec.audio.pro and rec.arts.movies.production.sound

"BUG:
- 30v max on Phantom on stead of advertised 48v

ANSWER:

I believe our marketing mentions "Phantom Power", but never states
48v.  We took a prototype down to an equipment rental store, and they
let us go through their mic closet.  The MicroTrack provided enough
power for everything we tried, from the U87 to Sennheiser shotgun mics
and some esoterics.   So, is this a complaint that a mic didn't work,
or is it a complaint that the Volt-Ohm meter needle didn't go where
they wanted?"

As has been pointed out here already by way of that excellent article BloodyJack posted, there is a lot more to phantom power than 48v. OK, so they give me 30v, but what sort of current draw can I expect. I already ran into a problem with a piece of professional gear that couldn't give me the full 10mA that my Earthworks mic required. Is the MicroTrack going to give me 10mA at 30V? Anybody seen specs or tests on the current draw?

Wayne

didnt you read , they did check some" esoterics"
might work , probably not :-)

[wbrisette]

didnt you read , they did check some" esoterics"
might work , probably not :-)

yeah. I'm holding my breath (right!) since my esoteric QTC1 and SR-77 mics aren't owned by a single person other than a handful of people in NH who make them and me. 

Actually if they would simply fix the digital input problem I would buy one simply so I could do a rough down and dirty two-track mix in the field from the Deva IV ... Of course this also assumes that it will handle a real AES signal.

Wayne