Topic: Microtrack Bug Report

[jefflester]

i just had a weird one after last nite.
I had NO problems starting it up or anything like that, but in both sets at exactly 598,281kB file size it would stop recording!!??  I found that extremely strange to have it happen twice with the exact same file sizes.
I am using the Dane-Elec card.  It would start back up immediately when i hit record tho. 

Fortunately i was running backup DAT so i can splice it, but how bizzare. 
oh yeah...this file size was at 16/44.1 which is 57:34 time

I had *exactly* the same problem exept I was using a hitachi 4gb microdrive. I was trying 16/48 via the spdif input.  I have not retried again with the new firmware.

which part was exactly the same?  The file size stoppage?

bump since no answer posted

My old trading buddy Josh can probably answer for himself, but pretty much the exact same thing:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=51241.msg667305#msg667305

[plucks]

thanks

some good news:
I was able to record for 96 minutes straight, so maybe the new firmware has corrected this? 

Bad news:
There are little skips in the samples.  This only seems to occur after 1hour.  They are not drops, but for example i recorded the tv (simpsons)  Homer says "Your're right...it is Christmas"  On the recording you hear "You're right...it is Ch....as" There is no gap, but more of a skip.

Any idea what could be causing this?  Using the Dane-Elec4GB compact Flash card.
I have a microdrive on the way so maybe it will cease?

[jbraveman]

i just had a weird one after last nite.
I had NO problems starting it up or anything like that, but in both sets at exactly 598,281kB file size it would stop recording!!??  I found that extremely strange to have it happen twice with the exact same file sizes.
I am using the Dane-Elec card.  It would start back up immediately when i hit record tho. 

Fortunately i was running backup DAT so i can splice it, but how bizzare. 
oh yeah...this file size was at 16/44.1 which is 57:34 time

I had *exactly* the same problem exept I was using a hitachi 4gb microdrive. I was trying 16/48 via the spdif input.  I have not retried again with the new firmware.

which part was exactly the same?  The file size stoppage?

bump since no answer posted

My old trading buddy Josh can probably answer for himself, but pretty much the exact same thing:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=51241.msg667305#msg667305

the recording stopped at the same file size.  This is fixed with the new firmware.

[jbraveman]

thanks

some good news:
I was able to record for 96 minutes straight, so maybe the new firmware has corrected this? 

Bad news:
There are little skips in the samples.  This only seems to occur after 1hour.  They are not drops, but for example i recorded the tv (simpsons)  Homer says "Your're right...it is Christmas"  On the recording you hear "You're right...it is Ch....as" There is no gap, but more of a skip.

Any idea what could be causing this?  Using the Dane-Elec4GB compact Flash card.
I have a microdrive on the way so maybe it will cease?

I had some skips on my scofield recording from last night.  I was running 24/96 via the line in to a 6gb microdrive. I thought it was the microdrive.  What sample rate were you recording?

[plucks]

16/44.1

[F.O.Bean]

damn, thats not good hope those skips cease and desist

[jcrab66]

i put this in the other thread, should of put it here:

ok, finally had a chance to actually use this thing in a real situation and unfortunatly i let someone use my JB3 who promptly messed it up by injecting 48v into the line in so i had no backup. Heres what happened:

10/12 - recorded 3 bands, all at 24/48 analog in (C4's > UA5 > MT). The first thing i noticed is the meters seemed to act normally for the first 10 minutes or so of each set but then started acting real buggy so as has been mentioned they are pretty worthless, i just set the input to where the red lights would flash( i did get varying intensities)  every once in a while which put all three recordings at around -3db when i looked at them with CEP. The biggest problem is all 3 have some rather annoying noise that is especially noticable during quiet times, almost like some hardrive noise even though there is nothing mechanical going on there. Its not overbearing but its definitly there.

10/13 - same room, mics in exact same  place (never took them down from night before), got there early enough for soundcheck because i wanted to try some different 1/4" adapters and rca cable, i also wanted to try recording at 16/44.1 and 24/48 to see if there was a noise problem as there was the night before. I recorded part of the soundcheck at both settings and when listening afterwards there was no noise present so i chocked up the night before to a bad adapter or something. When the show started i decided to record at 24/96, nothing including level adjustments were changed from soundcheck earlier. The thing recorded fine, level meters did the same as the night before. I got bitten by the 2 GB bug but fortunately it was right after the "thank you, good night" so i just started another file to get the encores. The big problem was after i transfered it later. This thing is unlistenable, sounds like they are playing underwater and its all broken up and distorted. I am thinking that maybe this Dane-Elec 4GB CF card cant keep up with the write speed required for 24/96, thats the only thing i can think of unless there is an actual flaw recording analog in at that sample rate. I have to do some testing of this now with a diff card to see if thats the problem, anyone else have this happen yet?

[gewwang]

I am thinking that maybe this Dane-Elec 4GB CF card cant keep up with the write speed required for 24/96, thats the only thing i can think of unless there is an actual flaw recording analog in at that sample rate. I have to do some testing of this now with a diff card to see if thats the problem, anyone else have this happen yet?

FWIW, me and at least one other friend have been using the Dane-Elec 4GB CF reliably at 24/44.1 in the R-1 since May. If I ever get my MT back, I will test it out with my 4GB Dane Elec and 4GB Kingston Elite @ 24/44.1 or 48 and see what I get.

[jcrab66]

FWIW, me and at least one other friend have been using the Dane-Elec 4GB CF reliably at 24/44.1 in the R-1 since May. If I ever get my MT back, I will test it out with my 4GB Dane Elec and 4GB Kingston Elite @ 24/44.1 or 48 and see what I get.

yeah, mine worked flawlessly at 24/48 the second day, i would be curious as to what happens if you try 24/96 with that dane card, that is if you ever get your MT back

[Steve J]

Barely started testing (hell...I rec'd the MT on Monday, but left it unopened until yesterday, as I debated with myself all week whether to return it after reading everything here). First thing I did was update the firmware. Then, I just did a basic charging / discharging test, to see if I had the same experience everyone else did on initial charging. I did.

The bug part: once "fully" charged, I left the MT on till it reached the low charge level and shut down. I plugged it in to recharge; and after about 30 minutes or so, I checked the charging status. The battery icon was flickering, not giving the normal "cascading" charge icon. I diconnected, allowed the unit to boot, shut it down and reconnected to the charger. It went back to charging, with the "cascading" icon reappearing.

Later today, I expect to put it through the general testing using all my gear. This is, of course, after I've made a visit to RS or similar to get some connectors / adapters for my S/PDIF and RCA cables. Honestly, whoever was responsible for the design/engineering for the S/PDIF & RCA jacks must have done their testing with the cheesiest RCA plugs they could find to get the tolerances so tight.

[plucks]

thanks

some good news:
I was able to record for 96 minutes straight, so maybe the new firmware has corrected this? 

Bad news:
There are little skips in the samples.  This only seems to occur after 1hour.  They are not drops, but for example i recorded the tv (simpsons)  Homer says "Your're right...it is Christmas"  On the recording you hear "You're right...it is Ch....as" There is no gap, but more of a skip.

Any idea what could be causing this?  Using the Dane-Elec4GB compact Flash card.
I have a microdrive on the way so maybe it will cease?

I had some skips on my scofield recording from last night.  I was running 24/96 via the line in to a 6gb microdrive. I thought it was the microdrive.  What sample rate were you recording?

I finally got through to M-Audio.  there are only 2 people working in there right now!! 
Anyways, this problem is not a known issue, so they didn't have much.  There was 1 case of this, but a new card fixed it.  The only thing they came up with is it could be a bad card...
They did suggest trying a new card, which i already have one on the way so hopefully i will be able to test this out sooner than later. 

I would suggest calling MAudio and reporting this since i am sure they would like to hear about it. 

No update on the next firmware, but the 2GB file split is on their priority list. 

[F.O.Bean]

was that the dane-elec card you scored off of ebay phil? wasnt there word they didnt play nice w/ some devices

[SClassical]

I also use a 4GB dane-elec CF card. A few days ago I recorded city noises just to test if this card work with 24/96 setting via mic in using the supplied mic. The recording was so bad it was not listenable. There were cracking noises and distortion in the recording. It was fine when I recorded at 24/48. So I guess dane-elec CF card is not compatible with MT at 24/96???

[keepongoin]

i am just going to use it for 24/48... either way it puts me into the 24-bit recording business without a laptop.

actually, in listening to my recording from saturday, i have all kinds of weird dropouts in places. fuck... this dane-elec card may not be working properly.

[udovdh]

I also use a 4GB dane-elec CF card. A few days ago I recorded city noises just to test if this card work with 24/96 setting via mic in using the supplied mic. The recording was so bad it was not listenable. There were cracking noises and distortion in the recording. It was fine when I recorded at 24/48. So I guess dane-elec CF card is not compatible with MT at 24/96???

What characteristic of the card does make it incompatible?
Sustained write speed?
24/96 is only 576 KB/second or so?
Anyone?