Rockbox Technical Forums

Rockbox Development => New Ports => Topic started by: bipton on October 28, 2007, 09:32:43 PM

Title: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: bipton on October 28, 2007, 09:32:43 PM
I have one, I can't program, but i can tear it apart and scan it, and hunt down any datasheets for it.
The software that comes with it is terrible, battery life sucks, it just seems like too good of hardware to be so held back from terrible programming. Email me if you want to start something with it, I can get pcb scans and test. bipton101 at gmail dot com
Title: Re: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: karashata on October 28, 2007, 09:45:59 PM
This would be a rather interesting device to port to, considering it's not a DAP but a recorder...  Good luck with it though.
Title: Re: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: bipton on October 30, 2007, 04:03:56 PM
Here are some scanned images of the unit.
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=vgxwdxx8kjb
Title: Re: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: Chronon on October 31, 2007, 01:07:32 PM
If you want to get a port going you should start a wiki page.  No one is going to want to deal with that hosting site.  You should also tell us which hardware it uses.  This will give some indication as to how hard a port will be, or whether it's even feasible.

I downloaded the file anyway and didn't find much useful information in the scans.  The main identifiable chip on the first pic (inside.png) is an AKM AK5365VQ which appears to be the 24-bit/96khz ADC.  I can't make out any of the markings on the chips on the "inside2.png" image.

It sounds like this unit is very underpowered.  I've seen reports of 25 second boot times and 3 second lag after pressing the record button.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: linuxstb on October 31, 2007, 01:36:39 PM
The Microtrack has a PortalPlayer CPU - as listed here:

http://daniel.haxx.se/sansa/mi4.html
Title: Re: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: bipton on October 31, 2007, 03:34:29 PM
I'll get a magnifiying glass out this evening and see if I can read the markings on the, what i believe is the firmware or tsop, all I can tell from it is it starts with MX. I'll also start a wiki, after I find out how ; )  It does take forever to boot, like I said, it is a neat piece of hardware, but lacks in areas. Thanks fellas.
Title: Re: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: Chronon on October 31, 2007, 04:08:16 PM
For info on twiki registration check out its front page linked in the side panel.  You'll find a useful link near the top of the page.   ;)
Have you already read the NewPort (http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/NewPort) wiki page?

It is fortunate that we already know something about the PP5020.  It's basically the same chip that's used in several of the iPods.

You should also try to get some support for this porting effort by recruiting people from user forums for this device.  I doubt that many people here have that device currently.
Title: Re: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: bsmiller on March 19, 2008, 12:31:27 AM
I'd be interested in this too. I've got basic programming experience, but not much hardware expertise. I suspect I'd be able to help more with debugging than bootloaders and firmware.
Title: Re: Microtrack 24/96 port?
Post by: Chronon on March 19, 2008, 08:13:37 PM
Unfortunately, I don't know who here has one of these.  I don't have one, though I have been watching one in my campus bookstore to see if they drop the price on it now that the MicroTrack II has been released.  They're still listing it at $335.00 and I'm not going to shell out that much money for one when I can get an iRiver H1xx for much less.  As I suggested earlier, you're probably better off recruiting help from existing MicroTrack owners than here.