Comments on: M-Audio Compact Flash Portable

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:15:38 +0000

I don’t understand why so many of these manufacturers are using Flash drives. I understand that it allows for smaller recorders with less power consumption. But HDs are so cheap these days and they are getting smaller. I’d rather have 40gigs.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 04:06:03 +0000

Hi,

See this post:

http://podcastrigs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=340

-ptfigg.

By: Seshu

Seshu — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 03:57:10 +0000

Someone asked about how this new device compares with the Edirol R-1. Any ideas? That sort of comparison would be helpful and will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

By: memobug

memobug — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 06:46:27 +0000

I have had one of these M-audio Microtrack 24/96 for just around three weeks and I have found it performs very well in most respects. The sound quality I found much superior to the Marantz 660 I own.

My only disappointments was with the power - it runs only about 3 - 3-1/2 hours on a full charge with no phantom power. If you let the power run out it will need to charge a bit before it will turn on, even if you have the adapter plugged in.

The nav “wheel” is a little dodgy - it’s actually a switch The unit is so light it’s kind of silly. It would be nice if it stood up or had a lug for a lanyard or something, but I’ve found a digital camera bag that works for carrying it around.

The background “hiss” is so much better than the marantz! It sounds clean and quite usable with even the included stereo microphone. I used a couple of inexpensive $24 lavalier mics from ratshack plugged in through 1/8 to 1/4″ adapters, switched in the “boost” record option and got great results.

By: herb

herb — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 04:47:30 +0000

Update: Re-engineer the nav wheel. I’ve had a day or two to play with it and it simply doesn’t function properly.

They way I have to keep squeezing it to get it to work, I keep thinking I’m going to break it. Try buttons on the next go around or a true wheel and not a toggle switch.

By: robin

robin — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 19:43:36 +0000

I am tracking the responses, testing, and reviews of this device on my website. My first article is here with another due later today. I hope this helps anyone considering it.

By: scott

scott — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:59:04 +0000

The m-audio microtrack will be able to record in mono in a later filmware update, keep checking the website and it will be up in a couple of months to update to the latest filmware.

By: herb

herb — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 15:44:31 +0000

I just received three I ordered. I’ve noticed the same issue as Larry Payne with the nav wheel. However, you don’t need to go to the file option. From the main screen, you can use the nav wheel to jog thru the files you’ve saved.

I must say, the sound quality is very good.

The people who write the documentation, however, must have been working for another company ’cause it doesn’t match up with what’s on the actual unit.

Also, it doesn’t let you record in mono, only stereo. Did the engineers forget that option?

I’ll check the microdrive part later.

By: Larry Payne

Larry Payne — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 02:39:30 +0000

I purchased a Microtrack 24/96 last week. I’ve had some problems with it. Although the lit. says it supports microdrive, I plugged in a Hitachi 2 Gb microdrive and the unit froze up. It wouldn’t boot, and had to be shut down. When I plugged in a 1 Gb CF card, it did fine. Tech supp had not heard of this issue, and had no suggestions other than saying they’d post it as a possible incompatibility.

The navigation wheel has a cheap feel to it. When I navigate to the “file” option, highlight a file and press the wheel to “select” it, it doesn’t consistently play the file. I think it’s a problem in the switch in the nav wheel. I used it to record an outdoor rally, and the sound was actually quite good. You can hear a sample of the sound in Podcast #2 at http://www.anothernightshift.com. The Wav file has been software compressed and normalized prior to mp3 export, but the sound was surprisingly good.

I’m returning the unit tomorrow, and will check out another to see if the same problems exist. If they do, I’m gonna try to find another alternative.

By: Jace Nuzback

Jace Nuzback — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 16:50:10 +0000

Here is all of the info for the MircoTrack 24/96:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrack2496-main.html
You’ll see these in stores the first week in September.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 13:41:09 +0000

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrack-main.html

By: Administrator

Administrator — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 17:19:15 +0000

Steve,

Being located a ’stone’s throw’ from “Crooklyn’, I appreciate your advise and I totally agree. I can tell you a few stories…

-paul.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 17:15:21 +0000

I bought my PMD660 from http://www.marteldirect.com. they seem to have the best deal going. I got a free Carrying case and 2 professional conferernce microphones worth $79.00 each for free. The mics also had the XLR pro jacks already on them so I was ready to podcast right away. They had the unit in stock which alot of companies say they do did but you have to call them to make sure. Martel had over 100 of the pmd660 in stock. Beware of Crooklyn companies, I mean brooklyn.
Steve

By: Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 02:10:59 +0000

I recently purchased the pmd 660 and had to return it after a test drive. It’s all true about the noisy preamps. I called tech support and got no sympathy. Too bad cause otherwise it was perfectly what I needed. I upgraded to the pmd 671 and grabbed a 2gb card from tiger direct for @$165. I’m very pleased with it’s quality and added professional features above and beyond the 660. I’m waiting for marantz to release the Nimh rechargable battery. The size of this unit is a little bigger than I had hoped for, but it sure does feel alot more professional when you show up for a gig.

By: Austin

Austin — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 00:29:51 +0000

The jump up to Fostex units is a 3 to 4X leap in price so I consider them bananas and oranges as far as comparsions. And, I think you have to put hard drive units like the Edirol R4 in a different class of recorder than a CF drive palm-sized recorder. Being as though I have a bunch of location sound gathering to do in the next four months, I’m not in that always favored position of waiting until the next best and greatest device comes out, although, I may be willing to wait until the M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96 appears if we’re talking days or weeks and not months before a US sale can be made. And if it is a worthy performer.