In terms of price, the $369 retail on offer if certainly more than a top-end MD. The controls are much larger than those on my MD recorder, which is great. It won't win any design awards, but is practical. When purchased, the MicroTrack comes with a 64MB CompactFlash card (which you will immediately want to replace with something larger), an electret microphone, and power supply.įrom the available pictures I like the look of the device, and its ergonomics. This means that as long as you have a power outlet nearby you can record until your media runs out. The unit can also be powered via USB and (thank you!) a standard power supply. This is similar to a MD with the highest-capacity battery. The built-in rechargeable Lithium ion battery has a stated life of 8h (3h when using phantom power).
Although most of the disadvantages of Sony's SonicStage software are disappearing over time, it's still cumbersome to use.įor audio output there are dual RCA in addition to the usual 1/8" headphone socket, with a level control. To get files off the unit, it mounts as a normal USB 2.0 mass storage device: no drivers or special software needed. The final input is S/PDIF coax for direct digital transfers. There are separate left and right level controls, signal and peak indicators, and a mic/line switch. This means you will need plug adaptors for your mic cables.
In an apparent space-saving measure the MicroTrack only accepts 1/4" TRS inputs, not standard XLR. But unlike MD, it also has phantom power for use with professional condenser mics. Like MD units, the MicroTrack has an 1/8" input with 5V plug-in power for electret microphones. You will be able to record about one hour of 24-bit 44.1KHz audio on a 1 GB card. Personally I would like the dynamic range of a 24-bit recording but don't see the value in enhanced sampling rate. If you need the extra resolution there's no choice between the two devices. However, MD recorders capture uncompressed PCM files at "only" CD quality: 16-bit and 44.1KHz. The price of this media is a lot more than similar capacity 1GB minidiscs: $70 versus about $7. Here I will do a feature comparison against the current generation of Hi-MD recorders.įor a list price of US$500 you get a box "about the size and weight of a deck of cards" (actually 187 x 175 x 55 mm and 502g) that can record stereo audio at up to 24-bit 96kHz, storing it to a CompactFlash or microdrive card. It will also go head-to-head with minidisc recorders (which is what I currently use). The M-Audio MicroTrack is set to compete with other solid-state portable recorders from the likes of Marantz and Fostex. There is a new device on the market that may be just the thing for location recording.
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