Define constantly.
No, you're right - you've not constantly harped on the negatives. Apologies, FL - I replied while in a cranky mood based on what I perceive (whether it's true or not) as the increasing negativity on the board as a whole, not just regarding the MT (though there's a fair amount of it specific to the MT, sometimes with good reason, sometimes not).
Curious thing, when the problems are resolved, the bitching stops.
Nothing curious about it, no surprise there.
And yet we still have experienced tapers who have owned and used their micrtracks for quite a while get bitten by those bugs. Simply because they aren't familiar with every undocumented quirk and work-around.
Every high-tech piece of gear I've ever used (especially field gear) has undocumented quirks of some sort (some more serious than others). I think it's incumbent upon users to utilize unofficial resources (like the boatloads of MT threads and FAQ here at TS) and, more importantly,
their own testing to identify and address undocumented quirks - especially when it comes to a first-generation device. We can lament all we wish the fact that designers and manufacturers of highly complex devices do not produce perfect first-generation products. But the fact remains: complex first-gen devices have bugs. Every single one. (Though I suspect you'll point out the R-1, and if it did not have bugs - which I doubt - then it's the exception, not the rule). Users - especially tapers - should be aware of that fact, and take steps accordingly (as mentioned above). Those who do not take these steps use the device at their own risk. Sounds like your local buddies got dinged on this one. It's a shame, not entirely surprising, and IME basically avoidable with a little effort on the user's part.
I know of two local tapers who had that happen very recently. I guess I should have just told them they're being negative and not otherwise mention it. They both seemed pretty PO'd at their MT's.
That's the pits. I've been there. I was frustrated by my MT problems before TS identified the workarounds to the two major bugs of which I'm aware, both now listed in the Archive forum's MT FAQ:
[191] When recording at 24 bits, my MT2496 shuts off early or cannot record for as long as i thought it would. What is wrong?
Brian Skalinder has reported various tests in regard to this matter... please refer to his response in the following thread:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=53572.0
And this one not yet assigned an issue # in the FAQ:
[###] My MT sometimes locks up when I try to start or stop a recording. What's going on?
It appears the MT is sensitive to its start-up and file-stop conditions. If the MT is not receiving a live S/PDIF signal when powering up or stopping a recording, the MT will sometimes freeze, i.e. lock up. The only resolution to the freeze seems to be a re-set (hold down the power button until it powers off, then start over again). Workaround: ensure your MT is receiving a live S/PDIF signal before powering on or stopping a recording.
