BEWARE - M-Audio's "Ipod Killer" Fizzles Fatally

[kopfhorer]

Newer isn't always better.

I recently purchased one of M-Audio’s Microtrack 24-96 flash recorders (it was advertised at Minidisco.com, in case you're wondering why I'm posting about it here). I bought it (from another firm) thinking that here, finally was the affordable alterative to the now-obsolete mini-disc or to the less-than-impressive and/or overpriced offerings from Marantz. After using it for only a short while, I can see that I made a terrible mistake. What M-Audio sold me is a product which was not properly readied for market.

When I first got it, I made some test recordings with it using the included “T” microphone. I must say, the results were outstanding. Although I found the unit rather tricky to use, I was nonetheless looking forward to using it for general recording jobs. Until one night last month.

I attempted to use the device to record a friend’s DJ gig at a local club. As I have done with other kinds of recording gear, I connected the Microtrack 24-96 to the “tape” outputs of the mixing console. I used a perfectly functional dual-RCA to dual-1/4-inch (mono) cable which had previously been used in my home sound system. I powered up the recorder and operated it according to its instructions. That’s when things got complicated real fast. Even though music was already playing through the DJ system, not only did I not get any readings on the unit’s VU meters, the “overload” lights over the level controls on the front panel of the unit were glowing steadily. I repeatedly tried to correct the situation, but to no avail.

I later took my Microtrack 24-96 recorder home to try and determine what had gone wrong. I double-checked the revised instructions that M-Audio had recently posted on the web, and evidently I had done everything properly back at the club. Using the aforementioned audio cable and a 1/8-inch-stereo to RCA adapter, I connected the recorder to the output of a portable CD player to the recorder’s inputs, and a pair of Sennheiser headphones to its monitoring jack. At first, I heard nothing, even with a CD playing. Repeatedly removing and reinserting the 1/4-inch plugs into the unit’s input jacks had no effect until, with no warning, I heard loud, distorted hash through my headphones. The overload lights above the input level controls glowed steadily. Then several seconds later, for no apparent reason, the unit responded normally to the incoming signal. It sounded normal through my headphones. But that was not the end of it. Despite the fact that I heard signal coming through both channels, only the right level meter registered any signal. Just to ice the cake, I tried to play back the files I’d just recorded from the CD player. Again following M-Audio’s instructions, I could not get the unit to play back what it had just recorded. M-Audio had a beta firmware update on its web site to correct this issue, but why did they send an inadequately-tested model to market in the first place? That strikes me as terribly irresponsible and bad business practice.I paid $399.00 for what? The opportunity to be M-Audio’s guinea pig?

This is not the only issue that I find unacceptable with this unit. If the battery in my old mini-disc recorder runs down and I don’t have time to recharge it, I can either insert a spare Li-ion battery which I keep at the ready or run it from line current on its “wall wart”. If need be, I can switch it to “mono” to double the capacity of its recording media. Why can I do none of those things with this supposedly “advanced” unit, at least not without installing a **BETA** firmware update? If the Microtrack 24-96's non-user-serviceable battery fails in the middle of a job, I’m just out of luck (I understand that Ipods have this problem too, but they’re not pro-sumer recording devices like the Micro Track). Why does my “obsolete” MD unit (or a $39.95 portable cassette deck) have more functionality in this regard?

My computer has an M-Audio sound card in it, and I’ve had very little trouble with it. M-Audio is part of Avid, which I understand markets equipment for the film and television industry, where reliability and functionality are absolutely crucial. So what’s the problem with what should have been an innovative and useful product? After my experience, I believe that any professional who uses a Microtrack 24-96 is putting his business in jeopardy. Never in my life have I ever used a product that is so quirky, so poorly designed and so unreliable right out of the box. If this is M-Audio's "Ipod Killer", then Apple has absolutely nothing to worry about. If this is an example of what the future holds for us from M-Audio, then I'll definitely think twice about buying recording gear from them ever again.

[Syrius]

Sorry about your troubles. Seems you got a lemon.

*Kisses his Nh900* <SMOOCH!>

[robin726]

Newer isn't always better.

If you want to be on the bleeding edge, you've made your choice.

M-Audio had a beta firmware update on its web site to correct this issue, but why did they send an inadequately-tested model to market in the first place? That strikes me as terribly irresponsible and bad business practice.

Um, you had problems with a device that were corrected by readily available firmware on the company's site and you are complaining? Have you never used any computer gear whatsoever? Don't you know the first thing you do is install all the newest updates?

I paid $399.00 for what? The opportunity to be M-Audio’s guinea pig?

Yes, apparently. It's the first device of its kind from the company and you expect perfection out of the box? SonicStage only got usable one version ago (when they got rid of the upload limit and added conversion to WAV). That took how many year compared to the weeks the MicroTrack has been out?

If the Microtrack 24-96's non-user-serviceable battery fails in the middle of a job, I’m just out of luck (I understand that Ipods have this problem too, but they’re not pro-sumer recording devices like the Micro Track).

What the heck are you talking about? Both are consumer goods. Professionals wouldn't be caught dead using either. But then they'd be paying five times as much. Do you have any idea how much you're getting for your money?

Why does my “obsolete” MD unit (or a $39.95 portable cassette deck) have more functionality in this regard?

Well then use the portable cassette deck and enjoy its CD quality audio. Not.

I believe that any professional who uses a Microtrack 24-96 is putting his business in jeopardy.

Unless they understand the compromises in using consumer gear.

But obviously you don't.

My own web site has a far more balanced account of the device, though I still tend to prefer MiniDisc. The audio engineering category page is your best starting point.

[atrain]

can you return it?

[tekdroid]

What M-Audio sold me is a product which was not properly readied for market.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. How old is the unit? Can you get it fixed? How is their service? Thanks for sharing your experiences with this unit and comparing it with what we're used to. Often it's hard to find stories from a user perspective out there with all the noise from the manufacturer propaganda machines. Hopefully you get the issues resolved and you don't have further trouble with the unit.

There are some glaring weaknesses that you brought up, so thanks. I believe the perfect (affordable) model might be around the corner, but I don't know what the hold up is - and it's any guess as to who'll make it.

[janicewhaley]

I specifically joined this community to see what other people thought about the microtrack... I thought I would "upgrade" from my netMD minidisc and bought this frustrating little microtrack device myself. I just thought it would be nice to be able to listen to mp3s as well as record field sounds where ever I was. I am going to try recreating your issues on my device and see if I get the same results.

I am wondering... can you sort your files???? M-Audio touts this thing as a field recorder as well as an mp3 player so I thought I would give it a try. I hooked the microtrack to my computer, loaded some mp3s in thier own file on the the microtrack's compact flash. When I remove the microtrack from the computer, the mp3s appear in some random order. I hook it back up to my computer, sort the files by name, but it never changes the order on the microtrack. As far as I can tell, the mp3s are not in order by track, size, date modified, date added, track#. It is so frustrating.

I just got off the phone with m-audio tech support who told me, "Nobody else seems to be preoccupied by sorting files." He said he would get back to me in a couple days to tell me how the microtrack files ARE bein sorted. WHY SHOULD THAT TAKE DAYS????? And I just can't believe that people don't mind listening to mp3s in random order all the time. Sometimes things need to be in succession!

Can you tell me if this happens for you?