KVR Audio

junebug · Post by **junebug** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:20 pm

AWWW HECK!

I JUST got the new M-Audio microtrack recorder yesterday. i did my 1st field test with the included stereo mic last night, and was pretty dissapointed to hear an audible HISS bleeding thru the entire recording, EVEN when the input level is at it's lowest setting!

looking to use this recorder to record sound fx and nature sounds - cant use ANY recordings with HISS on them...

the recorder has 1/4 inputs as well....
but i'm not familiar with portable micing equip at all...
ARGH!!

anyone able to get "HISS-FREE" recordings with this recorder? any advice?
thanks peeps!
JUNEBUG

C00kie · Post by **C00kie** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:30 pm

At what dB level is the hiss actually, compared to the maximum level it can cope with before clipping? Can you transfer some wav file with the hiss to PC and use an audio editor to measure this?

What level is it at when the mic is unplugged? So it's solely the included mic to blame?

junebug · Post by **junebug** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:17 pm

on my first testing, the noise level with the included mic plugged in and at the lowest record level setting comes in at -42db!!

UGH!

with NO MIC plugged in at all, and the recorder set to the 1/8' input - the noise floor records at -66db!

whaaaat!? i can hear hiss/noise when NO MIC is even plugged in?

anybody actually USING this unit with any success?
is anybody out there getting a better noise floor level with THEIR portable recorder system?

i still need to test the noise floor level if the input level is recording from the 1/4' inputs instead of the 1/8 input. i'll post those results when i've completed them as well.

thanks for listening -
i dont want to bash M-Audio -
BOTH of our studio suites here are running M-Audio sound cards and we love them!
what's up with THIS unit???

JB

xsub · Post by **xsub** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:03 pm

probably stupid reply, but you tried using a compressor to remove hiss?

GW · Post by GW » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:01 am

junebug wrote:with NO MIC plugged in at all, and the recorder set to the 1/8' input - the noise floor records at -66db!

Hmmm. Something doesn't sound right here. I would have expected much better performance from MAudio. I was thinking of getting this device to replace my MD recorder, but I think I'll hold off now until this is clarified. I'm interested in the 1/4" input test because I was going to use those.

GW

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:33 am

Sounds like the built-in mic preamp isn't so good, maybe?

junebug · Post by **junebug** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:15 pm

ok peeps -

i am VERY dissapointed in this recorder

with the 1/4' inputs selected, the boost set to "OFF", and the input set to "LINE"

i'm getting a noise floor of between -72db and -66db, with the noise level jumping around a bit, not staying steady at -72db...

UGH!

i tried this test with 1/4' patch cords plugged in and with NO CORDS plugged in and got the same results....

what to do?
any ideas welcome - should i try to return the recorder?

thanks for listening!
JUNEBUG

toine6 · Post by **toine6** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:21 pm

Not what I wanted to read, as I too was thinking of buying one to replace my MD recorder... Wait a little longer to see if anyone comes up with an answer, as it looks now, I'd take it back.

junebug · Post by **junebug** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:41 pm

can you tell me what level of noise floor your MD system records at?

JB

toine6 · Post by **toine6** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:55 pm

Actually, I've never measured it, it seems like it's about the same as my home studio's noise though. The only problem with my Minidisc, is that I have to re-record it into my computer (versus just trasfering an mp3 or wav file etc.) and that my minidisc makes a fairly noisy mechanical noise when it starts recording (aboue 2 seconds) and then it calms down into a semi-quiet hum sorta noise the rest of the time.

I think Edirol made a recorder too, might want to check that out. Why yes they do http://www.edirol.com/products/info/r1.html... Seems like there might be another one out there as well... can't remember it right now.

GW · Post by GW » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:18 am

I Googled around a bit with "microtrack hiss" and found reviews referring to the problem. I checked the Edirol one and it appears to be the same. The theory is that the mic preamps are not up to a high standard. I also ran across an article at:
http://www.core-sound.com/microtrack_2496/7.php
I'm not promoting this company or anything, but their explanation is quite amazing.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:34 am

toine6 wrote:http://www.edirol.com/products/info/r1.html... Seems like there might be another one out there as well... can't remember it right now.

I wanted an R-1 really badly, but there was a months-long waiting list.

toine6 · Post by **toine6** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:49 am

This is the other one I was thinking about.

http://www.samsontech.com/products/prod ... &brandID=4

Oh, and I forgot to say, that on my MiniDisc recorder, I bought me a small 9v mic preamp, think it cost me about $75 or so. Something similar to this http://store.yahoo.com/minidisco-store/sp-spsb1s.html There are also more expensive (better) portable preamps out there too.

toine6 · Post by **toine6** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:09 am

Actually this is the one I was really curious about, made my Tascam.

http://www.tascam.com/Products/hdp2.html

GW · Post by GW » Fri Oct 21, 2005 1:58 am

Can you test out recording to the line in? If that's not too bad maybe the Microtrack can be upgraded with a better portable mic preamp.

"Hiss-free" recording with M-Audio Microtrack - HO