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

[WiFiJeff]

 
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
 

100 dB dynamic range is under 17 bits.  The old M1 claimed 87 dB
dynamic range.  What's happening to the rest of the bits?  And if
I go in with levels set too low, will this mean I'm still screwed?

Jeff

[JasonSobel]

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

The Marantz PMD-671 has been released and available for a little while now.  actually I was very close to buying one, but the week it was released, talk about the M-Audio device started up, so I decided to wait it out.  If the Microtrack doesn't work out, for whatever reason, the 671 is a good alternative to get S/PDIF input and record 24 bit onto flash cards (although more expensive).

[Kevin Straker]

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

Or rather, it hopes to..

[Chanher]

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

The Marantz PMD-671 has been released and available for a little while now.  actually I was very close to buying one, but the week it was released, talk about the M-Audio device started up, so I decided to wait it out.  If the Microtrack doesn't work out, for whatever reason, the 671 is a good alternative to get S/PDIF input and record 24 bit onto flash cards (although more expensive).

I just got an email from Doug a few days ago, and he is busy "with the 660, R1 and 671." if he can work out his extensive mods for the 671, then the non-stealth crew could have a mighty fine single box 24/96 > flash solution...

[Chanher]

good work, I missed that.

[Kelso]

 
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
 

100 dB dynamic range is under 17 bits.  The old M1 claimed 87 dB
dynamic range.  What's happening to the rest of the bits?  And if
I go in with levels set too low, will this mean I'm still screwed?

Jeff

100 dB of dynamic with 55 db of gain for the analog mic input is really good, specially for such small (and affordable) portable device. Hope there's no trick (like phantom power leak).
The 24 bit purpose for recording is to have headroom so there's a good definition at medium level (which mean the average level don't have to be too close to the 0dbFS). And of course the analog noise floor is more than the digital noise floor.

[udovdh]

 
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
 

100 dB dynamic range is under 17 bits.  The old M1 claimed 87 dB
dynamic range.  What's happening to the rest of the bits?  And if
I go in with levels set too low, will this mean I'm still screwed?

You can make a good 16-bit recording I guess with just the microtracker.
The other bits, if you are recording at 24 bit, are noise I guess.
With a good A/D (don't know any small ones for consumer level line in) you can record more than 16 bits of signal.

[greenone]

You have to wonder, at this stage, how many would-be 24-bit stealthers there are, though...I think most folks will be happy with this as long as it takes 1's and 0's flawlessly...and if it makes a decent 16-bit recording through the analog ins, gravy.

[Brian Skalinder]

100 dB dynamic range is under 17 bits.

For reference, A-weighted dyn range specs for some other gear:

Dyn Range | Corresponding bit-depth | Device
114 | 19.0 | Sound Devices 722
110 | 18.3 | Grace Design Lunatec V3
105 | 17.5 | Apogee MiniMe *
100 | 16.6 | M-Audio MicroTrack
 87 | 14.5 | Sony M1
 83 | 13.8 | Edirol R1

* no indication in their specs if this is A-weighted or not.

So, I'd say given the competition, the MicroTracker dyn range specs fare quite well.  And remember - specs are not the be all end all.

And if I go in with levels set too low, will this mean I'm still screwed?

No, not screwed - it just won't have quite the resolution it would have if you'd nailed the levels right on.

[udovdh]

100 dB dynamic range is under 17 bits.

For reference, A-weighted dyn range specs for some other gear:

Dyn Range | Corresponding bit-depth | Device
114 | 19.0 | Sound Devices 722
110 | 18.3 | Grace Design Lunatec V3
105 | 17.5 | Apogee MiniMe *
100 | 16.6 | M-Audio MicroTrack
 87 | 14.5 | Sony M1
 83 | 13.8 | Edirol R1

* no indication in their specs if this is A-weighted or not.

Thanks for for this table to put things into perspective.
I think we can say that the M-Audio can be a (evry) good 16-bit recording, better than the average DAT?

[Brian Skalinder]

better than the average DAT?

We'll know once members here have an opportunity to run it in real life situations.  Until then...we wait.

[Kelso]

24 bit isn't only about dynamic, it has a better resolution and sounds better even if the analog stage doesn't have so much dynamic

[detroit lightning]

so it really can't record 24bit on its own?  or it needs an external a/d to do it?

there isn't a way to connect a sbm-1, is there? 

[Ray76]

yes it will record 24 bits on its own.

yes you can connect a sbm1 but sbm1 is only good for 16 bits.

[JasonSobel]

so it really can't record 24bit on its own?  or it needs an external a/d to do it?

as BigRay said, it can record 24 bit on it's own.  the question is, are the internal components good enough to make it worthwhile to record at 24 bit over 16bit.  We've speculated all along that it's pre-amp and A/D converter will not be as good as external devices, such as the V3 or whatever.  however, at this point, it is all speculation, as none of us have ever heard what the unit sounds like on it's own.