M-Audio MicroTracker details **PART II**

[udovdh]

hi from france ;o)
the specs for microtrack are online on m-audio site...
it looks interesting, no?

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

Hmmm. looks OK, slightly better than the older portable Sony DAT-decks.
These 1/4" specs are true for both with and wthout pre-amp engaged?
Frequency response at 96 Khz?
Would these THD+N figures be enough to try 24-bit? (combined with noisier than 100 dB mics?)
I.e.: in the situation of louder shows, etc. (I doubt it but I ask the experienced users)

[azama]

Hello,

Excuse my poor English, I'm French.

I'd like to know if there will be a preroll recording function on the MicroTrack.

This is a very usefull function (for people who intend to use it on shootings with a mixer for example).

I saw nothing like a preroll function in the MicroTrack specifications and it would be a pity it doesn't have this function.

[Ray76]

vous savez autant que nous faisons à son sujet. J'espère tellement aussi. Itll soit gentil.

[udovdh]

Hello,

Excuse my poor English, I'm French.

I'd like to know if there will be a preroll recording function on the MicroTrack.

Preroll requires RAM. RAM costs and adds to the total price.
Just use a 4GB CF card and record more? (although I would welcome preroll as well!)

[Ray76]

Hello,

Excuse my poor English, I'm French.

I'd like to know if there will be a preroll recording function on the MicroTrack.

This is a very usefull function (for people who intend to use it on shootings with a mixer for example).

I saw nothing like a preroll function in the MicroTrack specifications and it would be a pity it doesn't have this function.

Aussi,.....ne laissez pas les bâtards ici vous descendre. 

[kmageau]

Crazy question: I i like the tracker but i like the marantz pmd 660, I need opinions on which would be better for a novice to purchase? Both are around the same price range..

Thanks,
Keith

[Ray76]

well.....you know as much about the mtracker as we do.

the marantz has been out for a bit yeah?

mtracker looks to be better for stealth i would think...looks smaller...the feature set is similar...

[kmageau]

One large advantage to the PMD 660 IMO is the XLR inputs. This leaves you with more flexibiity. Does anyone know of an official release date?



Keith

[Ray76]

One large advantage to the PMD 660 IMO is the XLR inputs. This leaves you with more flexibiity. Does anyone know of an official release date?



Keith

i think Doug Oade mentioned a release date on his forum...www.oade.com

[d5]

One large advantage to the PMD 660 IMO is the XLR inputs. This leaves you with more flexibiity. Does anyone know of an official release date?



Keith

A release date for the 660 or M-Audio? ...the 660 has been out since spring and Doug's been providing a pre-amp mod since end of June.

660 plus's
- XLR inputs
- available now
- phantom power
- w/Oade mod, makes a practical all-in-one solution

660 minus's
- no 24 bit, on 16
- no digital input
- larger than the M-Audio

I chose a 660 because I needed a deck for the summer, wanted solid state and didn't want to spend alot of money. The Oade mod makes it usable as an all-in-one unit solution, but running phantom with my mod 460's drains the batterys fairly quick (~90 min's). I usually tape solo with my own mic's, so the lack of digital input wasn't a big consideration. I don't do much stealthing anymore also, but size isn't bad although quite a bit bigger than M-Audio appears to be.

[Ray76]

thanks man...maybe it was a different marantz....650 perhaps??670??

that hadnt been released yet..

[OFOTD]

I would say that obviously the biggest factor in prefering the M-Audio over the Marantz is the availability of a digital input.  While 24 bit is certainly another positive it is (IMO) not as pressing a need as a digital input.   XLR really are a great feature but it is not a make it or break it feature as you can get from XLR to any other type of connection fairly easy.  Adding a digital input/output may not be so easy.

One thing that we are unable to tell yet (duh!) is any sort of reliability with the MicroTracker.  Several folks I know that own one of the Marantz products all like them but each one has had several frustrating things happen with each unit.  Hopefully the MicroTracker will be easy to use and easy on the problems.

[d5]

Can you do phantom without XLR? I assume no, but don't know for sure.

It was phantom more than XLR that was the draw for me, but ironically, this was the biggest disappointment as it puts a big drain on the batteries.

[keepongoin]

thanks man...maybe it was a different marantz....650 perhaps??670??

that hadnt been released yet..

maybe the 671?

http://www.cascademedia.net/products.asp?catid=94&prodid=1771

[nic]

Can you do phantom without XLR? I assume no, but don't know for sure.

yes...the MicroTracker can do phantom over 1/4 TRS jacks