Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)1.- This is primarily an USB External Soundcard, so don't ask more than a simple soundcard can deliver for you. If you want a multitrack recorder, or a high-end amplifier, or a 256 mixing console, then buy them, but not this one.
2.- The installation is the simplest. Don't use the CD. C'mon! This machine has been in the market since (I think) 2005, so don't expect 2010 drivers in the box. Forget about the CD and go directly to the M-Audio website and download the drivers that you need.
Don't forget to uninstall all previous drivers associated with older soundcards and physically extract your old soundcard from your computer.
And, beware: first of all install the M-Audio drivers, reboot your machine and just then, you can turn in your Fast Track Pro, never ever before (!).
3.- Maybe the interface it's a little enigmatic to understand - because the manual isn't that explicit - but not impossible to master. An advice... You`re surely gonna need some Y adapters because the only cable that comes in the box is the USB connector. In my case - only my case - I needed one Y adapter to connect my speakers (crappy ones) that have a 1/8 male connector (just enough for my old soundcard), so I needed a 1 stereo TRS 1/8 female to 2 mono RCA male Y adapter (lot of letters, uh?). Besides, I use an old second hand V-AMP with my guitar, so I needed a 1 stereo TRS female to 2 mono TRS male Y adapter, to connect my V-AMP in stereo and not mono. If you don't do this your instrument signal will be in mono and at one side.
4.- Some people complain that the sound is not that loud, but it depends of the kind of speakers and headphones you use. Bad ones, weak output - Good ones, strong output. With this dude, the bad stuff really sounds bad! So don't blame the Fast Track Pro for any weak sound.
5.- Some people - believe me - gets confused with the front, with all the knobs and buttons, but it's not that hard. The "signal" knobs at the side of the XLR/TRS inputs are exactly for that, for them only. The fun it's in the right side... The "mix" knob has two functions:
- When your're using the XLR/TRS inputs, for guitars, basses or microphones, just to mix them left and right. The upper bottom (inst/line) it's to select between a guitar signal or a synthesizer signal. The lower bottom (pad) is to cushion your soundcard from a too strong signal (maybe an amplified one). I use it to connect stuff I don't know how powerful could be.
- When you're not using those XLR/TRS inputs, and you just want to hear music (because, after all, it's a soundcard), then turn the "mix" knob all the way to the right, so then you can use the other two knobs, the "output" knob and the "level" knob.
The "output" knob is for turning up or down your speakers level or anything you have connected to the RCA outputs in the back. The "level" knob is for the same function, but only if you connect a pair of headphones to the TRS input in the front, exactly below the "level" knob.
6.- By the way, I haven't used the two TRS output, nor the TRS inputs, nor the secondary RCA outputs, nor the S/PIDF RCA connectors, nor the MIDI in/out connectors either. I don't have that many necessities, but they may come in handy for somebody else. And the MIDI connectors really come in handy when you need to plug a synthesizer or sampler that needs dedicated midi in/midi out messages; so there's no need to connect via USB first to your computer, then again via USB to your Fast Track Pro, and then again via USB to your PC to hear the results (!). So it's kind of common sense, to connect MIDI directly to the MIDI in the Fast Track Pro, isn't it?
Other thing, this device doesn't have an synthesizer chip inside, so don't expect to hear any MIDI sound if you connect your controller keyboard to it. You'll have to use softsynths for that, be it standalone or plugins (VST, DX, RTAS) in your Sequencer.
7.- This soundcard doesn't have a software interface as a Soundblaster or the likes, your equalization and volume depends only of the player or program you use, so don't look for a virtual mixer, equalizer or F/X board to modify the sound. I use Winamp or Windows Media Player, so I modify the sound in those programs.
8.- To configure it with your favorite software, you'll need to look on internet to find the right way, because it's not in the manual (the manual is basic hardware description and some instructions to configure it in your OS). I highly recommend The M-Audio forums to find your way in the different configurations, but usually - in any software - it's inside the "properties" or "audio hardware" menu, where you can assign the M-Audio hardware and drivers to make a software work.
In my case, I use Sonar 8 Producer Edition - a monster that I spent weeks trying to make it emit a sound in a humble Soundblaster - and Adobe Audition 3.0 (far easier to configure). And I had to read a lot in internet to make them work with Fast Track Pro, because the experience - without that valuable information - was really disheartening, something that made me understand absolutely all the people that put 1 star on this product. This dude is not for people with little or any patience, or for people that is not PC or Internet savvy, or for people that is not familiarized with Music Software.
9.- Finally, the hardware is really simple to master, just some knobs and buttons with double functions, some different connectors, inputs and outputs (believe me, you will need some Y adapters), and that's it. But on the software side, the one that makes your Fast Track Pro interplay with your Sequencer, your Softsynth, or your Audio Editor... You'll need some time to learn.
In my case, I had to navigate a lot in the M-Audio forums, the Cakewalk Sonar forums and the Adobe Audition forums, to get the information I needed.
PS: Remember that this soundcard (never forget this is a soundcard) doesn't have a CPU or RAM of its own (technically, a DSP), so you'd better have a new and powerful machine (not less than an Intel Core i3), because all the weight of dealing with audio, softsynths and special effects is gonna be on your CPU and RAM... That's why a lot of people with old and weak computers complain about the latency and cracking supposedly "caused" by this soundcard.
Click Here to see more reviews about: M-Audio Fast Track Pro 4x4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface with Preamps
The M Audio Fast Track Pro delivers all the mobile recording flexibility of the Fast Track USB, plus evenmore professional features. You get 2 front-panel mic/line inputs complete with phantom power for condenser microphones, inserts for outboard effects, balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, S/PDIF digital I/O, MIDI I/O, and more. Fast Track Pro also features near zero latency direct hardware monitoring and low-latency ASIO software monitoring, plus an A/B source switch and dual output pairs for DJ-style cueing. Fast Track Pro is compatible with most popular PC and Mac music software. USB connection and bus power along with class-compliancy for Mac OS X make it a breeze to set up. M Audio Fast Track Pro Features 4 x 4 24-bit/44.1kHz audio interface 2 front panel mic/instrument preamp inputs (Neutrik XLR/ 1/4-inch TRS) with: Gain controls Signal/peak lights Pads for each input Insert jack (1/4-inch TRS) for outboard processors 2 balanced outputs (1/4-inch TRS) 4 unbalanced outputs (RCA) SPDIF digital I/O with 2-channel PCM SPDIF out also supports pass-through of AC-3/DTS surround-encoded content 1 x 1 MIDI I/O with activity LEDs Headphone output (1/4-inch TRS) with level control> headphone A/B source switch for DJ-style cueingLI>Input/playback mix control for hardware direct monitoringLI>Mono switch for input/playback direct monitoringLI>Master output level controlLI>Near zero-latency hardware direct monitoringLow-latency ASIO software monitoringLI>USB connection to computerLI>Powered via USB or optional AC power adapterLI>Kensington lock portLI>Mac and PC compatible; class compliant with Mac OS X 10.3.9 and higher/UL>
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