Topic: MicroTracker Corrupts Files On CF Card

[sickrick43]

So I got my replacement MT from Doug (first one had an issue witht the backlight) and go run the first night of Panic @ the Philips.

Usually, I put the card in, format it, power the unit down & up, then write a quick file and check it in FILES to make sure it wrote.  At that point I then record the set, write the file, check in FILES to make sure it's there, power down the unit & pop the card.

I get back to the hotel, and put the card in my reader (which works fine on all recordings made on the previous MT, and all my camera stuff) and the folders/files are gobbledygook.  I attempt a chkdsk (probably a BAD MOVE) and it converts everything to filexxx.chk (the total size of all the .chk files is the correct size for the .wav file that should be on there).

1 - there any way to recover the .chk files?
2 - It did it AGAIN, first set of the CodeTalkers in Gadsden, NYE.
3 - Any way to recover the corrupt card I HAVEN'T RUN chkdsk on yet?

Anyone have this happen to them yet?  Of COURSE I was running without a backup deck, as the previous MT worked like a charm.

Needless to say, I'm about FED THE FUCK UP with this thing, and I'm ordering a 722 this week...

Rick

[Weazel]

and iof you read it from the mt it self it is good?
try another usbport for your external reader.

else rename the .ck files to wav and cdwav can repair the header i believe,

[udovdh]

I don't know how many chk files were created but maybe you can find the one containing the recognisable RIFF headers?
That is the start of the file, which could be valid.
Then use the other files as raw to listen and see where they fit.
Was it a 16 or 24-bit recording? (in case of offset issues)
What samplerate? (maybe it is a bug?)
How long did you record?

[sickrick43]

Never tried it from the tracker.  I have a thunder reader that I've used numerous times.  It read the 2nd sets, and all my photo cards without an issue.  I haven't chkdsk'd the card from the codetalkers, I'm hoping there's a recovery utility that I can read it with.

Rick

[Todd R]

Yea, I have no idea how to recover the files at this point, but if you keep with the MT you might try reading the files thru the MT.  I have several times put my CF card in my reader and it only comes up saying "format card now?" or something -- can't read them at all.  Then I put the card back in the MT and it reads them fine. 

Also, I think I'm leaning towards only taking out the CF card when really necessary -- longer shows, festivals, etc when I need to use more than one card to record the show.  Otherwise, I'm just planning on leaving the CF card in there.  Record with it in, transfer the files back thru the MT.  That way I minimize the possibility of somehow bending those pins in the CF slot.

[JasonSobel]

Yea, I have no idea how to recover the files at this point, but if you keep with the MT you might try reading the files thru the MT.  I have several times put my CF card in my reader and it only comes up saying "format card now?" or something -- can't read them at all.  Then I put the card back in the MT and it reads them fine. 

Also, I think I'm leaning towards only taking out the CF card when really necessary -- longer shows, festivals, etc when I need to use more than one card to record the show.  Otherwise, I'm just planning on leaving the CF card in there.  Record with it in, transfer the files back thru the MT.  That way I minimize the possibility of somehow bending those pins in the CF slot.

I really don't think the card reader is the issue.  to date, I have never hooked up the MT directly to my computer, I have always used my USB 2 card reader.  I see Todd's logic, in that, the less you put the card in and out, the less chance you have to bend the pins, but that is a seperate issue altogether.

[sickrick43]

Yea, I have no idea how to recover the files at this point, but if you keep with the MT you might try reading the files thru the MT.  I have several times put my CF card in my reader and it only comes up saying "format card now?" or something -- can't read them at all.  Then I put the card back in the MT and it reads them fine. 

Also, I think I'm leaning towards only taking out the CF card when really necessary -- longer shows, festivals, etc when I need to use more than one card to record the show.  Otherwise, I'm just planning on leaving the CF card in there.  Record with it in, transfer the files back thru the MT.  That way I minimize the possibility of somehow bending those pins in the CF slot.

I really don't think the card reader is the issue.  to date, I have never hooked up the MT directly to my computer, I have always used my USB 2 card reader.  I see Todd's logic, in that, the less you put the card in and out, the less chance you have to bend the pins, but that is a seperate issue altogether.

Not a pin issue at all.  I swap cards in all my devices 1,000's of (cameras, etc.) and have never screwed up a pin.  I also used a number of different cards, and it did this on 2 different ones.

As mentioned earlier, all cards were formatted in the MT, and a test file was written to make sure it was working.  This MT also started on a freshly formatted card, started recording the first set (after it showed the card was blank) then ran out of space within 3 minutes.  I had to reformat the card AGAIN, and then it wrote the set.

I just think I have (another) screwed up MT.  I'm calling around looking for a 722 now (or mebbe even a 744, for those matrixes).


It WOULD be nice to recover the Panic 1st set, as I liked the way the 2nd set came out.  The 1st set of CodeTalkers, I also had the sbd patch, and they were doing a mult-trak at the club, so I have a copy of that also (but I REALLY like they way my stage pull sounds, even when compared to the multi-track.)

Rick

[jcrab66]

if the files are already on your puter then try opening them as raw files with CEP then resave them as wavs...if they arent on the puter then put the card back in the mt and transfer via usb to puter and do the above...

[macdaddy]

"That way I minimize the possibility of somehow bending those pins in the CF slot."

is this really an issue (it is not on pda devices)..? are the pins exposed in the microtracker..?

as for the messed up files, hopefully it is simply a header issue, and those you can repair without harming the wav data...

good luck

ps - i still wanna buy that c-s card from you (when you have the time)...

[Todd R]

Sorry Rick, didn't mean to imply it might be the pins -- separate issues.  I just feel like the less I pull the card in and out, the better.  But as I said, I have several time had my card reader (that I use all the time for dumping files from my Digital Rebel) not be able to read my 4gb card from the MT, even though the files have been completely readable thru the MT.  Jason -- I don't understand it, but it seemed my reader doesn't like the MT .wav files, even though the files and the reader  both seem to be fine.

[mmedley.]

Needless to say, I'm about FED THE FUCK UP with this thing, and I'm ordering a 722 this week...

Exactly what I did. I didn't encounter as many problems as you though.

[sickrick43]

Needless to say, I'm about FED THE FUCK UP with this thing, and I'm ordering a 722 this week...

Exactly what I did. I didn't encounter as many problems as you though.

Actually, I think as many acts as I get patches for, and run the stage rig to do post-matrix's - I'm getting a 744.  A friend in Atlanta had an engineer buddy of his compare the pre&A/D of the 722 with the V3 and told him there was no reason to keep the V3.  I have a buyer for me V3 and that will almost offset the difference between the 722 & 744.  I'm ordering Tuesday from whoever has one in stock to ship.  Maiden voyage will be ARU in Boulder.  I ran my mics thru the snake (not the most preferable cable) so I could run both decks at the board NYE (instead of running back & forth all night).  Doing it that way with a 744 ought to be cake.

Really wish the MT would be more consistant.  The first one (with the backlight issue) was nearly flawless after I figured out the minor issue.  I'm not into running a truncated backup "in case" my main recorder screws up.  I've heard enough good things about the 722/744's consistancy in operation (and have the extra $4 right now) to make the move...

Rick

[MattD]

A friend in Atlanta had an engineer buddy of his compare the pre&A/D of the 722 with the V3 and told him there was no reason to keep the V3.

While I'm a 722 fluffer and love 402x>722, I did hear a small, but noticeable improvement the one show where we did a direct comp with a pair of 722s, one taking the analog out from the V3 and the other taking the digital out. To me the improvement wasn't worth an extra box, cables, and battery, but you may disagree. At this level, we're mostly splitting hairs here.

[Brian Skalinder]

I'm getting a 744.  A friend in Atlanta had an engineer buddy of his compare the pre&A/D of the 722 with the V3 and told him there was no reason to keep the V3.

I know you already know this, Rick, but I'm gonna say it anyway (if only for others' sake):  you really should listen before making your decision.  They're both excellent pres/ADCs, but that's a lot of cash to chuck into gear without listening for yourself.  There's a distinct, but fairly subtle, difference between the two boxes, IMO - both great boxes, but different sonic characteristics.

[sickrick43]

I'm getting a 744.  A friend in Atlanta had an engineer buddy of his compare the pre&A/D of the 722 with the V3 and told him there was no reason to keep the V3.

I know you already know this, Rick, but I'm gonna say it anyway (if only for others' sake):  you really should listen before making your decision.  They're both excellent pres/ADCs, but that's a lot of cash to chuck into gear without listening for yourself.  There's a distinct, but fairly subtle, difference between the two boxes, IMO - both great boxes, but different sonic characteristics.

In a recent (tonight) phone conversation with someone else here - he related a sit-down with the guy from SD and Nutter, where the premise was that they were shooting for a V3 "clone" type situation on the 7 series pre's.  While I love the V3, I already have a buyer for it, and that will make up more than 1/2 the difference in price between the 722 vs the 744 - $$'s I can spend to get the flexibility of the extra 2 channels.  I don't REALLY have to sell the V3, but the prospect of going with a 1-box solution is very appealing.  The only downside is the more generous amount of LED's on the V3 in the -12 to 0dB range, allowing for finer peak adjustments.

Food for though though Skilander.  I guess I'll have to go run some back-2-backs before I let the V3 go...

Thanks,

Rick

OTOH - none of the recovery utils I'm trying seem to want to grab the files off these cards.  My matrix of the CodeTalkers set 2 is SCHWEET.  I'd love to be able to pull the 1st set off these fuckers.