M-Audio has just announced the MicroTrack II handheld digital recorder. Building on the legacy of the original MicroTrack 24/96 recorder, the new version features an extended input gain range, analog input limiter, 48V phantom power, headphone monitoring of S/PDIF, and other enhancements to deliver a quality mobile recording experience. A high-speed USB 2.0 connection yields a faster file transfer rate, while the ability to place markers in BWF files during recording makes it easy to find a specific event while editing. Like its predecessor, the compact MicroTrack II recorder lets users record WAV and MP3 files to CompactFlash cards or Microdrives through balanced line inputs or built-in microphone preamps. then drag and drop recordings to a computer for immediate editing or Web posting. The MicroTrack II is currently expected to ship in December and carries an MSRP of US$499.95.