M-AUDIO MicroTrack 24/96

Sep 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Rudy Trubitt with Bruce Koball

           

Speaking of which, noise performance of the mic preamp is respectable. We did fairly extensive measurements and found the MicroTrack to be 5 dB quieter than an older Sharp MD702 MiniDisc recorder, 3 dB noisier than a Sony D3 DATMan, and about 8 dB noisier than a Fostex FR-2 (albeit, this recorder costs substantially more than the MicroTrack). We also found the MicroTrack's ¼-inch inputs to be a bit (2 dB) quieter than the ⅛-inch inputs.

The balanced ¼-inch inputs clip when confronted with +4 dBu line levels. Even a -10 dBV signal from a CD recorder or cassette deck can push the MicroTrack into the red. However, if you can keep signal levels within the unit's operating range, you will get fine-sounding tracks. We made some clean live rock-band recordings using a Shure VP88 microphone plugged into the ¼-inch inputs, and we got excellent results recording a loud jazz combo and a choral group in a lively hall using a Røde NT4 (which can run on an internal 9V battery) patched into the minijack mic input.

The MicroTrack's level meters do not indicate a decibel scale, but our tests determined that each of the ten major tick marks represents about 4 dB, with the last tick measuring -39 dBfs. The unit's green signal-present LEDs pop on at -40 dBfs; the red clipping LEDs illuminate at about -1 dB before digital clipping. Unfortunately, the metering feels a little slow when recording and erratic on playback; a sine wave with identical levels in both channels showed the left channel bouncing from 2 to 4 dB higher than the right. In general, my MicroTrack recordings ended up with somewhat low overall levels, due to my uncertainty as to exactly what the metering was trying to tell me.

Happily, the MicroTrack appears to be digitally transparent. Recording from the S/PDIF input, we tested for dropped samples and found none. Next, a sample-for-sample comparison of a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz audio recording revealed no change in sample values. The unfortunate limitation is that you cannot monitor audio while recording from the digital input. This significantly compromises the utility of the recorder as a storage device for an external A/D converter.

In the Field

Cool sounds often happen with little advance notice, and fortunately the MicroTrack is pretty quick on the draw. Once powered up, it takes only a second to start a recording and about five seconds to close the recorded file before you can record new audio.

Each new recording creates a new file. File names are numbered sequentially, starting with file0001.wav (or file0001.mp3). The WAV format limits the maximum size of an audio file to 2 GB. When you reach this limit, the latest MicroTrack firmware is able to switch to a new file automatically, with only a brief interruption in the recording.

My favorite thing about the MicroTrack is that now I can have a decent audio recorder on my person at all times. For example, while running an errand, in the distance I heard a very loud, rapid metallic pounding sound. I had been right in the middle of a sound-design project in which we were simulating the sound of a diesel locomotive engine throwing a rod. Although we were almost done, we were still looking for something more. Three blocks away, I found the source of the sound: a jackhammer so big it was mounted on a mobile crane. The behemoth was busy busting open a huge concrete slab. I whipped out the MicroTrack and captured what turned out to be a key sound element in the final project.

The MicroTrack is equally useful as a musician's notepad. The last three songs I wrote all started out as MicroTrack recordings. Over the course of this review, the recorder served me well as a second deck on assignments for the public radio program Weekend America, and it was used to record numerous production rehearsals and concerts. With the right mic in the right position, the MicroTrack delivered fine recordings.

Get Rev'd

Up until M-Audio released firmware revision 1.4.0, the MicroTrack had a couple of deadly bugs. One occasionally caused the loss of the current recording; the other prevented new recordings from being made until you reformatted your CompactFlash card. However, these serious bugs appear to have been fixed. If you're using a MicroTrack with an earlier firmware version, we urge you to upgrade. The process is simple, and the upgrade is free.

Other details we hope will be improved in firmware upgrades include a new screen layout so that the record-level graphic indicators do not obscure the peak-level graphics, and a graphics display that is easier to read — a big uppercase RECORD message that can be seen without squinting would be great. Adding the ability to drop markers while recording would make it easy to find specific events in a long recording as well as ease navigation, since the fast-forward and rewind controls are difficult to manage.

In the Pocket

Overall, the MicroTrack 24/96 is a capable semipro recorder. It has become a regular part of my toolkit, accompanying me as a second deck on all of my field-recording gigs this year. Although I wouldn't recommend it as a primary deck for a professional sound recordist, it is an appropriate choice for musicians who want to record rehearsals and song ideas, as well as artists who want to have a digital recorder that they can carry around in their pocket. With the latest firmware installed, the MicroTrack is certainly worth its modest price.

GUIDE TO EM METERS

5 = Amazing; as good as it gets with current technology
4 = Clearly above average; very desirable
3 = Good; meets expectations
2 = Somewhat disappointing but usable
1 = Unacceptably flawed

MICROTRACK 24/96 SPECIFICATIONS

PRODUCT SUMMARY

M-AUDIO
MicroTrack 24/96

portable 2-track recorder
$499.95

RATING PRODUCTS FROM 1 TO 5

PROS: Very portable. Records high-resolution audio. Analog and digital inputs. Attractive price.

CONS: Easy to overload analog inputs. User interface is occasionally awkward.

MANUFACTURER

M-Audio
www.m-audio.com