Regarding external powerin systems for the microtrack, I noticed this
earlier today:
http://www.sonicstudios.com/batsys98.htm#bc-mt
I have a microtrack which I use for sound effects recording. I like
the diminutive size and extreme convenience, which often means taking
it with instead of having no recorder at all. I've used it with
decent results with Shure 183s via p-i-p and internal preamps. For
other mics I use an external pre (grace lunatec V2 or sound devices
mixpre). I find the quality satisfactory. I wish I found it
excellent, but I don't. I think it's most promising in conjunction
with a superb external preamp and A/D (apogee minime or grace v3).
But then you might as well buy a 722, right :)
Things that I really dislike about it: It takes about a month to
boot up (maybe 30 seconds, which feels like a month when the sound
you're going for is disappearing before your ears). There's no
prerecord buffer. Mini-in is mic level only, with no option for
p-i-p off. I find the record button is way too easy to press.
<rant>Any mission-critical button like that should take a little more
work to press - with a tiny, rounded little device like this, it's
too easy to mistakenly stop rolling while you're fumbling to place
the recorder somewhere so you can see the meters and have both hands
free. </rant.>
just another $0.02
-jeremiah
>I agree it is portable and handy this way, I have tried it with MKH-20's and
>the mics expose the recorders pre-amp. I have just used it outdoors with a
>pair of self powered ECM-55's, not too bad and maybe this should be the way
>to go with the recorder but I find the gain poor unless you boost the DB to
>27. I haven't tried the mini-phone plug, is the quality ok?
>Any samples you can play me Eric?
>
>Frustrated in Seattle even after the Seahawks won (for which I hate American
>Football) :(
>
>Martyn
>
>****************************************
>
>Martyn Stewart
>
>Bird and Animal Sounds Digitally Recorded at:
>http://www.naturesound.org
>Redmond. Washington. USA
>N47.65543 W121.98428
>
>e-mail:
>Tel: 425-898-0462
>
>Make every Garden a wildlife Habitat!
>
>*****************************************
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:
> On Behalf Of Eric Benjamin
>Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 10:45 PM
>To:
>Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] MicroTrack 24/96
>
>>"Martyn Stewart" wrote:
>> Has anyone actually used one of these in the field? I would be interested
>> to
>> find out other peoples opinions before I take the bloody thing back!!!
>
>Martyn,
>I have one and I've used it for quite a lot of field recordings. It does
>have flaws, it's true, but the small size, portability, and ease of transfer
>
>of files really work for me. I have used both the PIP with the mini-phone
>plug input and the phantom power on the TRS inputs. Mostly I use it with a
>pair of home-brew microphones which use the PIP supply. I have the recorder
>
>in one pocket and the microphones in another. It gives me unprecedented
>freedom of movement. Most of all, it increases the likelihood that I will
>actually have the recorder when I need it!
>
>I have experienced no problems with the low phantom voltage - and I wouldn't
>
>expect to. Most of the microphones that I used are rated to work from
>phantom supplies between 12 Volts and 48 Volts. I'm sure that there are
>some that don't work properly with 30 Volts phantom power; I just haven't
>encountered them. In any case I would be incredibly surprised (and
>disappointed!) if a microphone were to be damaged by low phantom power
>voltage. After all, every microphone is exposed to the intermediate
>voltages as the phantom power is switched on and ramps up.
>
>I have no doubt that the decision to use 30 Volts phantom power was a
>considered one on the part of M-Audio. Phantom powering is an inefficient
>way of getting power to the microphone. Consider the case of the Schoeps MK
>
>series microphones that I like. The internal supply is 6 Volts and 4.5 mA,
>which is achieved by drawing 4.5 mA from two 48 Volt supplies. Basically,
>that means that the whole setup consumes 8 times as much power as it has to.
>
>Dropping the phantom supply to 30 Volts results in the same performance, but
>
>only wastes half as much power. It's a compromise. I'm more concernted
>about the use of TRS connectors.
>
>I haven't done it, but it shouldn't be difficult to rig up an adapter to
>recharge the device through its USB port. If you would like for me to work
>up a schematic, contact me off-list.
>
>Eric Benjamin
>
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