M-Audio Microtrack II

OK - for me, ease of use for a recorder, means that after I've set up my gear to play a gig, I can quickly, almost as an afterthought, get the recorder out of my bag, position it, and hit record with minimal fuss. Unfortunately, that is not the case with the Microtrack. Time and time again, I've finished playing a great set, checked out the Microtrack, and found that I didn't get anything recorded because I forgot to switch on phantom power, or forgot to change the input source, or the +20db thing was on and everything came out horribly distorted. There are too many things that can go wrong EVEN IF THE THING IS WORKING. It seems to me that it would have been pretty simple to install some code on this thing that would automatically detect what input you're using, for one. Also- the T-mic they ship with the thing, while good for strumming an acoustic in your living room, cannot handle the SPLs of a live band. It distorts very quickly. I guess it never occurred to the developers that musicians might use this to record their live performances?

When I did manage to get a recording, the sound quality is good. No complaints there.

Undoubtedly one of the most frustrating pieces of equipment I've ever spent money on. I bought the MT1 when it first came out, dropping double the amount of $ that the unit currently sells for. Right away, I noticed the battery didn't last as long as it was supposed to, and it gradually held less and less of a charge, until finally it would only work for about 5 minutes. I managed to get some decent recordings by always using it plugged in. But version one had a very bizarre recording level indicator that made no sense whatsoever, and no limiter. I called their customer service, explained the situation re: the battery, and to their credit, they sent me a new unit. I used this for awhile, and had the same issue with the battery again, and eventually the unit kind of froze up, and wouldn't work anymore. I contacted M-Audio, and to their credit, once again, they sent me a new unit, this time version2. Better. The built in limiter has been helpful. Unfortunately, I started having problems where the unit would not connect to my mac via the USB cable. I salvaged a couple of recordings by playing back through the SPDF cable and recording real-time into the computer, but what a pain when it should be as simple as drag and drop. In the past couple of days, I was trying to get the thing to mount to the computer, and it kept freezing up. Finally it froze, the battery ran down, and now I cannot even get the thing to start while plugged into the wall. It's been plugged in for 12 hours. No charge, and wont boot up.

To their credit, M-Audio has been helpful and responsive through all of this, but I'm done with it. I don't have the energy to pursue getting yet another unit.

One of the most frustrating items I've ever dealt with.

It's as easy to use as a digital dictation recorder, very similar. Manual is good but the whole manual is on a disc for the readme file. After you charge the battery, then you go online to get the firmware update 1.01. Download, connect, update. Don't forget to buy a Compact Flash card if you don't have a spare. It comes with everything you need but the card.

I used it to record live band to be sure we are keeping sharp, was using a cassette but can't transfer files, right? With the T mike it records very good after you get the input volume set right. Too low and it's too low, too high and you know you are up against the limiter. Play it back through the PA and wow, almost like the real thing except, you get to hear every little sloppy noise like clearing throats, bumping mike stands, etc. That's why we record.
It works as well as I expected, and it's not hard to figure out. Next time I'll run it direct line in from the PA but it won't be much different except the handling noise at the beginning will be gone.
Use it right and it will do the job. BTW, it's a clean recording, no noise. Works good.

Unless you crush it it seems like the controls are made to last and be used over and over.

Upgrades are on the M-audio website

I bought the right one, just what I expected and I am very pleased. IMHO, the price of all of the 2-track digital field recorders is way higher than it needs to be, but I wanted it now. BTW you get everything you need except a compact flash card. I said that already.