M-Audio MicroTrack 2496 - *actual* real-life experiences thread

[jhirte]

I mentioned before that SPDIF is a consumer interface and the specs do not go to 24/96

You are plain wrong.

Just got an email from M-audio and they told me all issues would be resolved in the next firmware to be released next week. He said there are instructions in the box relating to these issues...backwards switches, battery, etc. Didn't go into much more detail than that, so we shall see.

once again, why not just wait the extra week and release it w/ the GOOD firmware!

I can see your point. But..... what if they already had them produced and packaged for shipment? Would you crack open everysingle one to update? If they're putting notices in that says "ya, we're aware of xxxx issues, check our site for an update.. blah blah" then whats the big deal, other than having to wait?

Oh, and damnit, I want mine! 

[Ed.]

How many people do you thing will be using 24/96 external a2d, s hardly any.

umm, no, you are wrong sir.

From M-Audio's point of view, they can ship it, and work on the firmware while the unit's are in transit.  IF they actually do release a working firmware next week, it will still be before the vast majority of people actually get their units.

Let's just cross our fingers and hope it gets resolved shortly.

+t

add to it the point that I made when the 722 came out...this is how most SW is introduced to the world...a stable load goes out and the first group of customers use it and prove it in...while also in the process identifying bugs that would have taken much longer in a lab environment to create.  This being said, keep in mind the first load is usually the most stable, until a few additional "fix" loads go out to fix errors, and the new errors that the new load creates.  The SW will get back to being stable after that.

Bottom line, be happy that the manufacturer is willing to admit its a problem and fix it....in consumer devices (and this is not a knock on the MT, just a general statement) you are lucky if a manuf will even take your call after it is released.  Hopefully they can get the issues resolved and stable...but I would think it is good news they recognize and admit the problem...

+t

I think a collective deep breath would do some good.

+t

honestly people, a week before it was supposed to be released, you were all going nuts over it.  then when the speculated date wasn't hit, you all hated it.  then it was released, and everyone went nuts.  now theres a few problems with it and everyone hates it again.  i'm gonna take a wild guess and say that when the firmware update hits and it does everything its supposed to do, everyone is gonna go nuts again.

i think you should all just remain calm, and make your final decision on the product in a month or two when the kinks are worked out.  until then, i don't think yelling at m-audio is really gonna do much good.

[oleg]

some people make a living with that stuff 
i'm not saying that is coming substitute the 744 , but ....

if you plan on making a living than I would never even look into the tracker.
There are better options that you should be using. For one putting the house on cutting edge tech that has not even had a week to test in the field is ludicrous.
All it will cause is lost of money and customers imo if you plan on using it to make money right away and not wait for the unit to get tested thoroughly in the field.

1- i like your name :-) , since I'm a Guinness fun 2
2 - make a living with micro tracker for me - is to have another tool that can bring few pints .i never intended to make the micro track be my main recorder ,i have few better.
3 about testing ,the 99 % of people who lark in that forum cant test the recorder for my applications - we are just not use it in the same way , so if i wont or not i have to do tests or wait for people from my industry to do it for me , what can take adages since these dont like changes and the penetration and feed back very slow .
the reason i sit here and reed revues is  to decide if i wont to check it at all , the mt will be here about a week from now , so it better be prepared for what to  look for .
best

[gewwang]

I got an email confirm from another user that the MT does lock up and require a reboot when you try to do SPDIF 24/96 in, so this is not just my cluelessness.  He also reports that while it seems to record SPDIF in at 24/48, the resulting file is labeled 16 bit.  No idea of what it sounds like.  I am not going to do anymore digital-in testing, since this feature is absolutely in need of a fix and the experimentation should be done with the fixed firmware.

Jeff,

Is there any chance you tried 16/44 or 16/48 digital in? I'd at least like to run v3>mt@16/44 vs v3>r1@16/44 at my next show.

Thanks.

[Simp-Dawg]

so much for only actual real life experiences...it turned into aq bitch thread like all the others!!!  mods, can you delete anything that isn't from one of the people that actually have a microtrack? 

[Brian Skalinder]

mods, can you delete anything that isn't from one of the people that actually have a microtrack? 

Yes and no.  Yes, it's easy to do.  No, I won't.  PITA.

[Colin Liston]

Just got mine!  Hell yeah!

So does this count as real life?  Right now it is charging.  Won't be a productive day at work today.....

But holy cow, this thing is freakin tiny, it's about the size of a blackberry.

[marc0789]

so much for only actual real life experiences...it turned into aq bitch thread like all the others!!!  mods, can you delete anything that isn't from one of the people that actually have a microtrack? 

[jhirte]

Just got mine!  Hell yeah!

So does this count as real life?  Right now it is charging.  Won't be a productive day at work today.....

But holy cow, this thing is freakin tiny, it's about the size of a blackberry.

the phone one? 7750 I htink? hehehe

[WiFiJeff]

I got an email confirm from another user that the MT does lock up and require a reboot when you try to do SPDIF 24/96 in, so this is not just my cluelessness.  He also reports that while it seems to record SPDIF in at 24/48, the resulting file is labeled 16 bit.  No idea of what it sounds like.  I am not going to do anymore digital-in testing, since this feature is absolutely in need of a fix and the experimentation should be done with the fixed firmware.

Jeff,

Is there any chance you tried 16/44 or 16/48 digital in? I'd at least like to run v3>mt@16/44 vs v3>r1@16/44 at my next show.

Thanks.

I just plugged a Denecke inbox into it at 16/44.1, and it works fine.  I also tested plugging in and removing the USB power while recording from SPDIF, and I don't hear (or see, in Wavelab) anything.  Wavelab sees it as 16/44.1. everything looks and sounds fine.

Jeff

[Tenn Man]

Has anyone tried the 1/8" mic in?

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Just spoke with Chris at Sound Pro to ask whether they'd tested any mics in the 1/8" input.

He said they haven't done much testing because there is so much demand for the few units they have that they haven't had time. But he did say that a line in signal into the 1/8" doesn't work because the levels are too high. He suggested either going into the 1/4" or running an attenuator.

This wasn't consistent with what I've read in the docs.  The docs say that of the L, M, H gain settings, only the High gain setting is *not* avail on the 1/8".  The docs suggest that the Low gain setting is avail on the 1/8".

So this is helpful but confusing.  I'll have my MT today and will hopefully have enough charge time to record tonight and answer this question one way or another. But now I've gotta run out and get some TRSes to be ready in case I have to go that route..

[gewwang]

This wasn't consistent with what I've read in the docs.  The docs say that of the L, M, H gain settings, only the High gain setting is *not* avail on the 1/8".  The docs suggest that the Low gain setting is avail on the 1/8".

Everything I've read has led me to conclude that the 1/8" is not intended for line in.

From http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrack2496-focus.html:

professional balanced 1/4" TRS inputs with mic/line switch 

1/8" TRS input with 5V power for use with stereo electret microphone (microphone included) 

then in the specs:

1/8" Mic Input

and

1/4" Mic/Line Inputs

[Colin Liston]

Alright, so mine is currently charging, and the battery light is flickering, not rising and falling, just quickly blinking.

Anyone know if this is normal?

[soundpro]

Just spoke with Chris at Sound Pro to ask whether they'd tested any mics in the 1/8" input.

He said they haven't done much testing because there is so much demand for the few units they have that they haven't had time. But he did say that a line in signal into the 1/8" doesn't work because the levels are too high. He suggested either going into the 1/4" or running an attenuator.

This wasn't consistent with what I've read in the docs.  The docs say that of the L, M, H gain settings, only the High gain setting is *not* avail on the 1/8".  The docs suggest that the Low gain setting is avail on the 1/8".

So this is helpful but confusing.  I'll have my MT today and will hopefully have enough charge time to record tonight and answer this question one way or another. But now I've gotta run out and get some TRSes to be ready in case I have to go that route..

Sorry for the confusion, let me clarify one point: If you want to use any reasonably sensitive mic with a power module in a loud situation, you have to plug into a line level input. A mic input, even on "low gain", would likely overload (brickwall) in this senario.

Hope that helps!

Chris