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Author Topic: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...  (Read 12330 times)

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Offline Nick Graham

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My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« on: November 17, 2005, 11:15:19 AM »
Taped Mule last night, MK4>Sonosax>Microtrack (24/48), and while I ran into a few of the already documented problems - for the most part everything turned out okay.

1st Problem:
The battery life is nowhere near what was originally advertised, but I guess most of us knew that already. I got roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes on a full charge (backlight off, input monitoring off, no phantom, 1/4" TRS input), which was unfortunately about 10 minutes too litle, as my Microtrack died right before the encore. Luckily the file saved just fine, and was opened with no problems at all in Wavelab.

2nd Problem:
Just as I'd expected, at exactly the 25 minute mark, the level meters went ballistic. Looked like I was recording a fireworks display at close range. However the display had no effect on what was actually being recorded. One thing though, even when working properly the level meters suck. Practically useless. I clipped twice (red indicator light) at the start of the 1st set, but the actual level wasn't but about halfway up.

Overall a pretty good first go 'round. I rebooted between each set as per Skalinder's earlier post, and had no issues with the unit freezing. I also had the correct "Record Time Remaining" display the whole time, not one instance of it counting forward, showing an incorrect time, etc.

With a couple more firmware updates I think this unit can be what a lot of us have been waiting for, whether it be a 24/96 DAT replacement, all in one stealth box, or simply a digital dump. I've got my fingers crossed the bugs get worked out, and see no reason to believe they won't.

« Last Edit: November 17, 2005, 11:17:48 AM by Nick Graham »
Right now nothing...in the past: Schoeps CMC6, AKG 480, AKG 460, AKG 414, MBHO 603a, Neumann KM100, ADK TL>Schoeps MK4, Schoeps MK2, Schoeps MK41, AKG ck61, AKG ck62, AKG ck63, Neumann AK40, Neumann AK50, MBHO ka200>Lunatec V2, Lunatec V3, Apogee Mini-Me, Oade M148, Oade M248, Sound Devices MP2, Sonosax SXM2>Sony (mod)SBM1, Apogee AD500>D7, D8, D100, M1, R1, R4, R09, iRiver HP120, Microtrack

Offline svenkid

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2005, 11:33:25 AM »
similar to my first outing, except I never looked at it while recording, and my battery didnt die! And I only used it for a 1 set show. Well maybe NOT similar, but glad to hear another positive experience using this little machine  8)
Seriously, the band makes the music. Tapers just point mics in the right direction and hit "record".

That's good to hear!  The last patcher I had complained about my AKGs, fluffed schoeps for about 15 minutes, stayed patched in, and farted on me all night long.
rig: Neuman u89s > Lunatec V3 > MT(24)/JB3(16)
http://db.etree.org/svenkid

Um, in my room, one seam is a little off and I stare at it constantly. It's, like, destroying me.

Offline BC

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2005, 11:48:14 AM »
I got roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes on a full charge (backlight off, input monitoring off, no phantom, 1/4" TRS input),

CF media or microdrive? Just curious, thanks for sharing your experience!
+t
In: DPA4022>V3>Microtracker/D8

Out: Morrison ELAD>Adcom GFA555mkII>Martin Logan Aerius i

Offline svenkid

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2005, 11:51:47 AM »
I got roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes on a full charge (backlight off, input monitoring off, no phantom, 1/4" TRS input),

CF media or microdrive? Just curious, thanks for sharing your experience!
+t


Im also thinking that running analog eats the battery a bit more than spdif in
Seriously, the band makes the music. Tapers just point mics in the right direction and hit "record".

That's good to hear!  The last patcher I had complained about my AKGs, fluffed schoeps for about 15 minutes, stayed patched in, and farted on me all night long.
rig: Neuman u89s > Lunatec V3 > MT(24)/JB3(16)
http://db.etree.org/svenkid

Um, in my room, one seam is a little off and I stare at it constantly. It's, like, destroying me.

Offline Nick Graham

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2005, 12:07:12 PM »
Should've clarified I was running a 4GB Microdrive, so with a CF card it would've ran a little longer...though still far short of the originally advertised 8 hours.
Right now nothing...in the past: Schoeps CMC6, AKG 480, AKG 460, AKG 414, MBHO 603a, Neumann KM100, ADK TL>Schoeps MK4, Schoeps MK2, Schoeps MK41, AKG ck61, AKG ck62, AKG ck63, Neumann AK40, Neumann AK50, MBHO ka200>Lunatec V2, Lunatec V3, Apogee Mini-Me, Oade M148, Oade M248, Sound Devices MP2, Sonosax SXM2>Sony (mod)SBM1, Apogee AD500>D7, D8, D100, M1, R1, R4, R09, iRiver HP120, Microtrack

Offline tf

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2005, 12:29:38 PM »
Nick,

With my pmd 670, I get much much less powered time using a microdrive than a flash card.  I don't know how the two units compare in this respect but I would bet circumstances are similar.  I can get up to 1.5 hours more using the flash cards in the marantz unit.

Tom

Offline it-goes-to-eleven

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2005, 12:35:53 PM »
Clip light comes on at -1 dB.

I always run my USB bat box because I don't want to wear out the already feeble internal battery.


Offline Scooter

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2005, 12:43:09 PM »
agreed, the runtime is a bit too short without the USB batt box.  It's essentail for the Microtrack.
MBHO 603a(ka200n/ka500hn) >
R-44, or H120

LMA Recordings

Offline Nick Graham

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2005, 12:53:36 PM »
agreed, the runtime is a bit too short without the USB batt box.  It's essentail for the Microtrack.

Clip light comes on at -1 dB.

I always run my USB bat box because I don't want to wear out the already feeble internal battery.



Where can I get a USB battery box? I'm sure a simple search would pull it up, but I'm feeling incredibly lazy ;)
Right now nothing...in the past: Schoeps CMC6, AKG 480, AKG 460, AKG 414, MBHO 603a, Neumann KM100, ADK TL>Schoeps MK4, Schoeps MK2, Schoeps MK41, AKG ck61, AKG ck62, AKG ck63, Neumann AK40, Neumann AK50, MBHO ka200>Lunatec V2, Lunatec V3, Apogee Mini-Me, Oade M148, Oade M248, Sound Devices MP2, Sonosax SXM2>Sony (mod)SBM1, Apogee AD500>D7, D8, D100, M1, R1, R4, R09, iRiver HP120, Microtrack

Offline it-goes-to-eleven

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2005, 01:05:52 PM »
Dealsonic did okay by me.  $3.99 + $5.99 shipping via USPS priority and fast ship.. but they're back ordered and now they're $6.99...   I no longer see any cheap ones on froogle  ???

One downside with these units is the exit of the USB cable is out the side.. very dumb. I have two and I've been going to mod mine to just hardwire the cable so the connector doesn't stick out.  I also want to mod one to take AAA cells.  But bottom line, they work well otherwise.

Try searching google for usb power battery pack








Offline Scooter

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2005, 01:09:40 PM »
MBHO 603a(ka200n/ka500hn) >
R-44, or H120

LMA Recordings

Offline mmedley.

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #11 on: November 17, 2005, 03:03:29 PM »
Nick, if you need an external batt box I ordered an extra one (I got 2) and it is sitting at the house. Where did you guys run from last night? Turn out okay besides the battery issue?

Edit:

It is exactly like the one right above this post.
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can

Offline Nick Graham

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #12 on: November 17, 2005, 03:17:37 PM »
Nick, if you need an external batt box I ordered an extra one (I got 2) and it is sitting at the house. Where did you guys run from last night? Turn out okay besides the battery issue?

Edit:

It is exactly like the one right above this post.

We all ran from the section (last 3 rows of the balcony on either side of the board) except John Callery, who handheld MK4s in the front row of the balcony. Turned out really good, the back of the Ryman sounds better than FOB/DFC in 99% of other venues. I don't think the Microtrack's A/DC is as nice as the M1's, but for 24bit I'll take it.

Nice section, we had my Schoeps MK4s, AKG 451s, AKG 480s, Neumann TLM-103s, Neumann KM184s, Studio Projects C4s, and a couple other pairs I didn't recognize.

Right now nothing...in the past: Schoeps CMC6, AKG 480, AKG 460, AKG 414, MBHO 603a, Neumann KM100, ADK TL>Schoeps MK4, Schoeps MK2, Schoeps MK41, AKG ck61, AKG ck62, AKG ck63, Neumann AK40, Neumann AK50, MBHO ka200>Lunatec V2, Lunatec V3, Apogee Mini-Me, Oade M148, Oade M248, Sound Devices MP2, Sonosax SXM2>Sony (mod)SBM1, Apogee AD500>D7, D8, D100, M1, R1, R4, R09, iRiver HP120, Microtrack

Offline silentmark

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #13 on: November 17, 2005, 07:43:40 PM »
You can also use a walmart batt and a VR box (ToddR or leegeddy), which is what I use currently ...
Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. - Howard Zinn, not Thomas Jefferson ...

Mics: Neumann AK50/AK40/AK30/AK20(1 for M/S), AKG568eb's (gathering dust)
Decks: R-44 (OCM), Fostex FR2LE (OWM), Microtacker (semi-retired), D8 (retired), D7 (retired)
Pre-amps: Apogee Minime (semi-retired), Sonosax SX-M2 (semi-retired), Oade mod SBM-1 (retired)
Cables: LC3 actives (older lemo style x2), Audio Magic Hyper Conductor interconnects

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3qrWOOposQ

Offline svenkid

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Re: My 1st night out with the Microtrack...
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2005, 03:58:13 AM »
I used the MT tonite for a 2 set show
V3 > sony 7pin > spdif > mt

no battery pack. Ran fine and stopped  and restarted for set 2, no probs. I might look into a battery pack for this thinng though, as towards the end of second set I started to fret over battery power.
Seriously, the band makes the music. Tapers just point mics in the right direction and hit "record".

That's good to hear!  The last patcher I had complained about my AKGs, fluffed schoeps for about 15 minutes, stayed patched in, and farted on me all night long.
rig: Neuman u89s > Lunatec V3 > MT(24)/JB3(16)
http://db.etree.org/svenkid

Um, in my room, one seam is a little off and I stare at it constantly. It's, like, destroying me.

 

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