Introducing: WildTrax Recording Engine

[Doc Justice]

 

WildTrax is here.

 

Record up to 512 tracks with unmatched metadata control.
Built for production sound, broadcast, and live events, WildTrax works with any audio interface and supports Dante and MADI.

Take control and tame your recordings.

 

WildTrax is available for download now.

 

Learn more at haltertechnical.com/wildtrax

[Jeff Wexler]

Good work Doc Justice!  WildTrax is so much more than just the successor to Gallery's Metacorder and Boom Recorder. I know you say in the video you don't care what people think of you or even what they think of the software, but I have to say I think you are brilliant and have been the all important shepard in developing this platform. I was very impressed!  I'm recommending that everyone who has any interest in making high track count recordings directly to Mac OS should watch the really good Gotham Sound video with Peter Schneider.

 

LINK to Gotham Sound video

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

This looks great.  Wish it wasn't Mac only.

I'm never going to pay for a subscription (I want to own it).  But I'm glad it exists.

[codyman]

Slick piece of kit.  I haven't had a chance to watch the video yet but any roadmap of features for down the road?  Would be stellar to be able to use a control surface, use dante or an interface to get audio into the box, and then "mix" with the tracks although I get it it if the focus is as a recorder only.

[Doc Justice]

On 5/2/2025 at 7:06 AM, Jeff Wexler said:

Good work Doc Justice!  WildTrax is so much more than just the successor to Gallery's Metacorder and Boom Recorder. I know you say in the video you don't care what people think of you or even what they think of the software, but I have to say I think you are brilliant and have been the all important shepard in developing this platform. I was very impressed!  I'm recommending that everyone who has any interest in making high track count recordings directly to Mac OS should watch the really good Gotham Sound video with Peter Schneider.

 

LINK to Gotham Sound video

Thanks Jeff. That really means a lot coming from you. You have been a huge influence on how I view this work and what it means to do it right. WildTrax was built with a ton of respect for the tools that came before, and with the belief that we could take things further. I am grateful for your support and for helping others discover what we are building.

 

On 5/2/2025 at 12:35 PM, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

This looks great.  Wish it wasn't Mac only.

I'm never going to pay for a subscription (I want to own it).  But I'm glad it exists.

Totally understand. Right now it is Mac only because that is the platform I know best and where we can deliver the best performance and stability. As for subscriptions, I hear you. We chose that model so we can continue to support and improve the app month after month and year after year. We have a full roadmap of features ahead and the subscription model allows us to keep growing WildTrax without compromise. I appreciate you checking it out either way.

 

On 5/3/2025 at 1:12 PM, codyman said:

Slick piece of kit.  I haven't had a chance to watch the video yet but any roadmap of features for down the road?  Would be stellar to be able to use a control surface, use dante or an interface to get audio into the box, and then "mix" with the tracks although I get it it if the focus is as a recorder only.

Appreciate it. You are right that the focus is on being a rock solid recorder first, but we do have a full roadmap for the future. Control surface support is something we are definitely exploring, along with expanded routing, monitoring, and more advanced workflows. Right now WildTrax works with Dante, standard audio interfaces, and anything Core Audio can see. If there are specific control surfaces or workflows you would want to see, let me know. We are listening.

 

-----

 

As it stands, WildTrax is truly the ultimate in recording that's synced to timecode and rich with metadata. It offers flexibility in routing and file export that other tools can't compete with. It's quick to navigate, efficient to work with, and customizable as hell. It's the app that I always wished I had on set.

For some, it will make a great backup recorder to their existing hardware. To others, it'll be the perfect primary solution to deliver files with ease. No matter how you'll use it, I encourage everyone to download the app (it's completely free to download and demo). The monthly subscription has no commitment and lets you hop on or off, upgrade or downgrade at any time depending on your job's requirements.

No matter what, I'm grateful for you all to even read this far and check it out. If you have any questions or feedback, you know how to reach me!

[Bouke]

Out of curiosity, what can it do that PT cannot?

 

[henrimic]

1 hour ago, Doc Justice said:

The monthly subscription has no commitment and lets you hop on or off, upgrade or downgrade at any time depending on your job's requirements.

 

This is great news. I couldn't justify an annual subscription to the pro version, but knowing that I can rent it on a project basis is a really good idea.

[Doc Justice]

1 hour ago, Bouke said:

Out of curiosity, what can it do that PT cannot?

 

Great question. The fun part is that WildTrax is built entirely around the needs of production sound, not post.

 

Where it really shines is in metadata and sound report creation. You can tag and update metadata in real time, but also go back and edit the metadata of existing files after recording. No extra software, no conversions, no jumping through hoops.

 

It also handles file routing in a way that just makes sense. You can send different groups of tracks to different files, choose polyphonic or monophonic, and record them to separate folders or drives. If you want to keep your ISOs on a local drive and your mix in a folder that auto uploads to the cloud, you can set that up in seconds.

 

The interface is fully customizable too. You can choose what you want to see and hide what you do not. Keep it simple or load it up, whatever works for your flow.

 

And the app itself is lightweight. It opens fast, runs smooth, and gets out of your way so you can stay focused on the sound.

 

WildTrax is not just a recorder. It is a workflow tool for people who care about clean files, smart organization, and not wasting time on the stuff that should already be handled.

 

2 minutes ago, henrimic said:

 

This is great news. I couldn't justify an annual subscription to the pro version, but knowing that I can rent it on a project basis is a really good idea.

Appreciate that. That was exactly the goal.

 

We know not every job needs 512 tracks, and not every month is stacked with projects. Being able to scale up or down depending on the gig keeps things flexible and fair. You get what you need when you need it.

 

Glad it works for you. I hope you got a chance to download the app and put the demo version through its paces. Let us know how it goes once you try it on a project.

[sciproductions]

Cant wait until is available for windows

[Bouke]

13 hours ago, sciproductions said:

Cant wait until is available for windows

I don't get this.
It's promoted to make a dedicated machine for this.
A refurb mac is a few hundred bucks, cheap compared to the licence fee. (And since you seem to be a windows fan, the mac will stay dedicated :- )

 

[codyman]

4 minutes ago, Bouke said:

I don't get this.
It's promoted to make a dedicated machine for this.
A refurb mac is a few hundred bucks, cheap compared to the licence fee. (And since you seem to be a windows fan, the mac will stay dedicated :- )

 

Yeah I agree.  Go get a base model MacBook Air with the M series chips and it would be way faster than needed for countless tracks.

[Doc Justice]

The baseline Mac mini with the M4 chip and 16 GB RAM is a powerhouse for WildTrax. It's on sale from Amazon for $495. Gotham Sound has just posted pictures on its first modification to run the Mac mini off of DC power, and there are a few YouTube tutorials to do it yourself.

Even if you're not an everyday Mac user, the M4 is very compelling as a standalone recorder, no matter if it's your primary or backup.

• M4 chip handles multichannel recording (more than capable of handling 512 tracks) and fast metadata writing with ease
• 16 GB unified memory keeps everything responsive, even in large sessions
• Thunderbolt 4 ports support fast SSDs and high channel-count interfaces
• Compatible with Dante, AVB, and USB audio workflows
• Silent operation makes it ideal for carts and studio environments

• It measures 2" x 5" x 5" and weighs only 1.5 pounds

 

Though I suppose this talk is more appropriate in the Recording Direct To Computer forum...

 

[BAB414]

What kinds of receivers or mixers/interfaces are people using to get high track counts of audio into the mac?

 

How is WildTrax for sound playback? I use Reaper.

[Wyatt Tuzo]

16 minutes ago, BAB414 said:

What kinds of receivers or mixers/interfaces are people using to get high track counts of audio into the mac?

 

How is WildTrax for sound playback? I use Reaper.

Ben, you’re on an 888, right?

Dante Virtual Soundcard is very reliable for I/O and would require no additional hardware beyond what you already have/use. 
The only thing to consider if you go that route- you’ll want to cable your LTC to an input or return so you can route and embed it in the Dante stream to be read by your recording software of choice

Still hoping that SD gives you the option to route or read TC internally one of these days. 

[johngooch]

I was thinking about adding an AVIO type POE adapter to input TC to the DANTE network for Wildtrax.. 

[codyman]

It seems a base model Macbook Air (maybe even earlier model like the M2 since I routinely see them for $7xx USD) + a Yamaha DM3 would make great use of Wildtrax.

[Jim Feeley]

1 hour ago, codyman said:

It seems a base model Macbook Air (maybe even earlier model like the M2 since I routinely see them for $7xx USD) + a Yamaha DM3 would make great use of Wildtrax.

 

I don't know. For live streaming, which I think has has similar real-time processing needs over a long period of time, MacBook Air computers didn't work well in the M1 processor era (the last time I looked into this). Mainly because the lack of an internal fan would lead to thermal throttling of performance and dropped frames. Also because they only have two USB-C ports. I use Ecamm Live fairly regularly (it's good enough for plenty of jobs) and here's what Ecamm says about the MacBook Air (including I think current versions):

 

Why MacBook Air Might Not Be the Best Choice for Ecamm Live (and What to Use Instead)

https://ecamm.com/blog/why-macbook-air-might-not-be-the-best-choice-for-ecamm-live-and-what-to-use-instead/

 

But MacBook Pros (even older Intel models) and Mac Minis (cheap but yes you'll want an external monitor of some sort) work great for live-streaming and according to Doc, who should know, for WildTrax. 

[codyman]

3 minutes ago, Jim Feeley said:

 

I don't know. For live streaming, which I think has has similar real-time processing needs over a long period of time, MacBook Air computers didn't work well in the M1 processor era (the last time I looked into this). Mainly because the lack of an internal fan would lead to thermal throttling of performance and dropped frames. Also because they only have two USB-C ports. I use Ecamm Live fairly regularly (it's good enough for plenty of jobs) and here's what Ecamm says about the MacBook Air (including I think current versions):

 

Why MacBook Air Might Not Be the Best Choice for Ecamm Live (and What to Use Instead)

https://ecamm.com/blog/why-macbook-air-might-not-be-the-best-choice-for-ecamm-live-and-what-to-use-instead/

 

But MacBook Pros (even older Intel models) and Mac Minis (cheap but yes you'll want an external monitor of some sort) work great for live-streaming and according to Doc, who should know, for WildTrax. 

Uhh why does that article read like / regurgitate like it was written by AI?  Red flag with an author with no bio / single generic name etc. too.

[Jim Feeley]

2 hours ago, codyman said:

Uhh why does that article read like / regurgitate like it was written by AI?  Red flag with an author with no bio / single generic name etc. too.

 

I don't know if Katie Hawkes used AI to write or help write that article. But it's an issue Ecamm has talked about for years through their tech support team. And Katie Hawkes is a real person. Ecamm Live is a pretty good tool (somewhere between vMix and OBS, but when we were choosing it was way more stable than OBS), but I think these days they see their market being less-technical users; YouTubers and the like. So perhaps they wanted a simple article that would turn up near the top of any google search.  

[Johnny Karlsson]

FWIW, I'm on an M2 MacBook Air since when they were first released, and I can say that it's plenty more capable than the (bigger and heavier)  Intel MacBook Pro that I previously had. 

 

Chip:    Apple M2
Number of Cores:    8 (4 performance and 4 efficiency)
Memory:    24 GB

[Doc Justice]

If you are deciding between an old Intel MacBook Pro and a new MacBook Air with Apple Silicon, get the Air. No question.

 

WildTrax runs smoother, faster, and cooler on Apple Silicon. We have a version built just for it, and it takes full advantage of everything the chip can do. The Universal version works too, but if you are on M1, M2, M3, or M4, go with the native one.

 

Old Intel machines are loud, hot, and chew through battery. The Air stays quiet, lasts all day, and handles WildTrax like it is nothing.

 

You do not need a tank. You need something that gets the job done and does not get in your way.

 

I have a Mac Studio M1 Max at the office, and an M4 MacBook Air for the road. I have no problem running the MacBook Air with hundreds of tracks for hours on end. I highly recommend it.

[Bouke]

13 hours ago, Doc Justice said:

it takes full advantage of everything the chip can do.

Eeh, what would that be?
Perhaps I'm missing something, but recording sound requires putting data to disk. And that data is generated outside your software AFAIK.
So, unless there is filtering / compressing or alike, the chip has nothing mathematical to do.

 

[Jim Feeley]

15 hours ago, Doc Justice said:

I have a Mac Studio M1 Max at the office, and an M4 MacBook Air for the road. I have no problem running the MacBook Air with hundreds of tracks for hours on end. I highly recommend it.

 

Great to hear!

[Doc Justice]

4 hours ago, Bouke said:

Eeh, what would that be?
Perhaps I'm missing something, but recording sound requires putting data to disk. And that data is generated outside your software AFAIK.
So, unless there is filtering / compressing or alike, the chip has nothing mathematical to do.

 

Great question. I get where you’re coming from.

 

You are right that audio is being generated outside the software. WildTrax is not applying effects, filters, or compression. But it is definitely not just passively saving files to disk.

 

The app is handling input routing, real-time metering, metadata tagging, file formatting, disk writing, interface communication, timecode stamping, and managing multiple file types at once. That means writing mono and poly files simultaneously, to different folders, possibly across different drives, with different naming structures, all while staying responsive and stable.

 

On top of that, the UI is fully customizable and resizable, the app responds instantly to track arming and layout changes, and it all has to happen without dropping samples. That takes processing.

 

So no, it is not a DAW pushing plugins and effects, but there is plenty of heavy lifting under the hood. Especially when you start scaling to higher track counts or more complex workflows.

Appreciate the curiosity. Happy to dive deeper if you want.

[borjam]

On 5/23/2025 at 4:05 PM, Bouke said:

Eeh, what would that be?
Perhaps I'm missing something, but recording sound requires putting data to disk. And that data is generated outside your software AFAIK.
So, unless there is filtering / compressing or alike, the chip has nothing mathematical to do.
 

Well, it's not only a matter of sheer number crunching that can cause problems.

In the 90s I worked on the development of multitrack audio recorders for phone conversations (call centres, and such, not James Bond stuff) working on 486 processors and up to 15 MB (yes, I said 16 MB) of memory. It was 48 / 64 tracks per unit, with transfer to DAT, network access to files...

In our case uptime was around one year, when the DAT recorders' heads worn out (we had two per machine) and they had to be replaced.

Doing memory management, writing files , and handling all that properly so that it would not crash is much more challenging that it seems. General purpose operating systems must adapt to many different scenarios and sometimes they get in the way of what seems to be a trivial job: writing data to a disk.

A piece of software developed with that single purpose as a priority is much harder to develop than it seems. There are only two applications I know that focus on that: Metric Halo recording software for Mobile I/O and Wildtrax. 

 

And no, I am not affiliated at all to the developers. But I really imagine the crazy scenarios they must face sometimes. A DAW crash is often harmless, you just restart and resume work. If recording stops it's a really different story.