Micro Track 2

by M-Audio

Product Features

• 2-channel WAV (BWF) and MP3 recording and playback for pro recording, capturing live shows, songwriting, training, education, worship and more
• Extended input gain range
• Analog input limiter with bypass
• 48V phantom power
• Faster data transfer rate via USB 2.0

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000VXKPZ6
• Item model number: 9900-52278-00
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,963 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

The redesigned MicroTrack II brings even more professional features to the original high-fidelity mobile digital recorder thats been embraced by audio and film professionals worldwide. With an extended input gain range, analog input limiter, 48V phantom power, faster file transfer rate, seamless recording of files beyond 2GB in size and other enhancements, MicroTrack II delivers the highest quality mobile recording experience available today. Simply record WAV (BWF) and MP3 files to CompactFlash or Microdrives through balanced line inputs or built-in microphone preampsthen drag and drop recordings to your computer via high-speed USB 2.0 for immediate editing or Web posting. MicroTrack II is perfect for a wide variety of applications including field recording, capturing live shows, songwriting, education and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For some uses, the ONLY digital recorder, June 22, 2008

By 

Doug Lipman "Storytelling Coach" (Marshfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Micro Track 2 (Electronics)

I am a professional storyteller. As such, I have long been looking for a digital recorder that meets these requirements:

1. Is small enough to fit into my pocket when I perform.
2. Is easy to use in a performance (or practice) situation.
3. Is reliable enough for recording can't-be-repeated performances and workshops.
4. Has low enough hiss that I can make a saleable professional recording from it.
5. Makes it easy to transfer files to my computer.
6. Works well with pro mics.
7. Is affordable ($400 or below).

Until the Microtrack II came along, there were no digital recorders that met all those requirements. I know; I tried several of them and researched the rest. All failed in one way or another, most noticably in ease of use (requiring digging into menus to set the record levels, for example), in low hiss (this model's predecessor, for example, was just too noisy for pro recording), and in compatibility with pro mics, which requires true phantom power.

In fact, there is, as of this writing, no other small digital recorder that provides true phantom power for under $500. Period. Excellent performance recordings require a pro headworn or earset mic that is close enough to my mouth to screen out most room noises. No recording can be better than the sound of the mic used to record it! For people like me, therefore, phantom power is a must-have feature.

So you can imagine that I was excited when I read the specs and early reviews of the Microtrack II.

Initially, I was cruelly disappointed: the first units shipped with a bug in the firmware that caused most recordings to be lost. Major problem!

Fortunately, the 1.0.3 firmware update solved that major problem, completely. Now the Microtrack II is blessedly reliable.

At least one other review faulted the Microtrack II for having the record level controls on the top surface where they could be accidentally hit during a recording. This WOULD be a problem except for the excellent and convenient hold switch. And, for my purposes, the accessible record-level buttons on the Microtrack II are more than okay; they're a part of fulfilling my criterion number 2 (above). When I'm trying to perform and record myself, I need record-level buttons that I can adjust easily. I can't manage digging in a menu to adjust the levels, for example; I have enough on my mind and too little time, as it is.

By the way, the defeatable limiter on the Microtrack II seems to work great. It keeps loud sounds from being clipped, as it should. And it does that without creating distortion of any kind that I can hear. This is essential to my use, since I don't watch the record levels while performing (just while setting up). A good limiter means that, if I talk louder than expected during a recording, the recording won't be ruined, even if I have set the levels a tad too high.

The background hiss on the Microtrack II is not as low as I'd ideally like it. But it is low enough that I can easily edit it out. (The Noise Removal on the free Audacity editor, versions 1.3.5 and higher, for example, removes this level of hiss completely and without introducing artifacts.)

The biggest drawback in the Microtrack II's design is its lack of a removeable battery. Other recorders manage to work on removeable AA's. I wish this one did, too. But the workaround isn't too hard to find: use an external USB charger when you want more than about 3 hours of recording before charging. (I like to be able to record an all-day workshop, for example.) Two good choices are the APC UPB10 Mobile Power Pack for charging mobile devices, which will run the Microtrack II for 11 hours or more on a single charge, if the Microtrack II is fully charged at the start, or the MobilePower USB Power Bank, which uses 4 AA batteries; to keep recording, just change out those batteries during a break after about 3 hours.

Other minor issues are the lack of a storage card (you have to provide your own), the use of Compact Flash cards instead of the cheaper SD cards, the absence of a belt-clip case, and the absence of XLR inputs.

To be fair, XLR jacks are so large that I can't imagine where they could be put on a machine this small. And the included 1/4" TRS balanced jacks are much more reliable than the usual 1/8" jacks. So this seems like a reasonable trade-off for small size, even though you'll have to search the web for a short adapter cable (to go from the XLR output of your pro mic to the 1/4" TRS input). A 3-foot adapter cable adds too much bulk for my pocket! Fortunately, I found a 1-foot adapter by Rapco.

For my requirements, all the drawbacks to the Microtrack II are minor or can be worked around easily enough. I use my Microtrack II to record many of my performances and workshops, since it's inconspicuous enough not to be distracting to my audience, even in small spaces and results in great recordings.

All in all, then, this is the first recorder to meet all of my requirements. I have been using my Microtrack II for over 6 months and can say that I love it. I have even taught a course in using it, for non-techie storytellers. If they can learn to love it and I (a high-techie storyteller) love it, you can love it, too. If you need a pocket recorder that works with pro mics, this is really your only choice on the market.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What the 24/96 should have been, August 8, 2008

By 

Mooner "The spice must flow" (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Micro Track 2 (Electronics)

While my first Microtrack 24/96 delivered amazing live-audience recordings, it was plagued with drawbacks that needed diligent attention. The Microtrack II smoothes all those bumps. Improved battery performance (if it's charged properly the first time!!), added analogue peak limiter, seamless recording beyond 2Gb, improved file management, improved volume sensitivity, the list goes on... It's well worth every penny I paid for it here at Amazon.
After reading some prior reviews, I believe it's essential that a new buyer become thoroughly familiar with the machine before and after purchase. For example, this unit accepts both CF Card and microdrive storage units, but a microdrive will consume up to 20x more power. Hmmm. Another example: this machine records MP3's just as an RS $30 unit will, but for the Microtrack price tag it will also record 24bit audio at 96kHz. Will you want to pay the Microtrack price to record MP3's? And will you want to record full-depth audio with the supplied $10 electret microphone? Hmmm.
The Microtrack II does everything I want it to but only because I've done my homework. And it does it extremely well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good upgrade, February 1, 2008

By 

Tucci Mario (Firenze, Italy) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Micro Track 2 (Electronics)

I already use a Microtrack 24/96. This MicrotrackII is an actual upgrade for several reasons: 48V phantom power, real attenuation on recordin gain, broadcasting wave format for impressing bookmark in the recording and so on.
Only yougth problem on the firmware. It often hangs while closeing recording, under external power. Need reset but the file is not corrupted