M-Audio Fast Track USB
M-Audio is becoming one of my favorite musical equipment companies. I've been using Cakewalk Sonar 7 Producer Edition and Fast Track USB audio interface. When I bought the interface, I thought it was just some kind of digitizer that would allow me to connect a microphone or plug in a guitar or a keyboard. It turns out that it is like an external sound card, and has very good latency with ASIO drivers. I've been very happy with the purchase. There are better, higher priced solutions for this sort of thing, with more inputs, but this unit was really just right for my notebook/studio projects. The mic input is an XLR connection, and has worked well with my choice of microphones. Basically, for the price of a digital vocal mic, you get an interface that also handles my keyboards well.
I've recorded some Moog Prodigy lines and a few vocal tracks with it so far. The low latency means that I can play soft-synths without any problems. I've been using Moog Modular and Mini Moog soft-synths with great satisfaction.
My latest recordings are online at SoundClick
9 comments:
I have been having trouble recording keyboards on the gast track. How do you connect the keyboard? 1/4" plug or midi cable? What the the settings? IWhen I try to lay down the keyboards over my guitar tracks, there is a lot of noise, like it is breaking up badly. Thanks.
The thing to keep in mind is that the Fast Track USB is a sound card. When I use it, I make it the main card in Sonar for example, using the ASIO drivers that come with it. You can also download drivers from M-Audio if yours are out of date, or if you continue to have problems.
I have recorded my Moog Prodigy using a 1/4" jack without any problems. The levels on the M-Audio device are a bit low so I have to turn things up a bit just to get a good level.
When you use the Fast Track, use it's audio output to monitor with. Do not use another sound card, that is where problems begin to emerge. In my setup, it was easier for me to plug into the Fast Track's headphone jack for my studio monitor. Then you can use the volume control on there for adjustments. It has RCA jacks on the back if that is easier. Keep in mind that this unit is geared towards a home studio user who either is going to have headphones, or will be plugging this into a home stereo.
But again, the way to get the most out of this thing is to make it your default sound card in whatever recording platform you're using, and use its ins and outs to record and monitor things.
hey...I'm actually trying to use that exact setup. Fast Track USB with Sonar 7 Producer...can you tell me how you have it set up? I can not get it to record a clean track without picking up the backing tracks. ie drum track. say i have a drum track and I want to record my guitar over it. faintly in the background it is picking up the drum track somehow. i'm fairly savvy at recording and have tried all the obvious...have you had this problem. thanks in advance. jeff
Do you possibly have a microphone plugged in at the time you're recording your guitar or keyboard?
The weird thing about the fast track is that the microphone and the 1/4" jack share the same track, so if you record something from the 1/4" side, be sure to turn completely down the microphone level.
You can also avoid this if you click on the sonar input selector for your audio track and choose the right track from the fast track.
If you use the default of stereo, you'll be recording microphone on left and whatever else on right channel. I know this is bizarre. It forces you to record your new tracks in mono.
hey...thanks for the response..I was wondering why I had to use the right channel and not the left for direct guitar recording...I actually don't have a mic plugged in and my level is all the way down...I can not figure this one out...I swear they must all do it an no one has noticed except me. lol. import a drum track and record a new track along with it on another track. Then solo the new track and boost the volume even if you have to take it to a wave editor to boost it. I'll be blown away if you tell me its completely clean and you can't hear the drums. lol. I don't know man. I'm calling m-audio today AGAIN about this second unit doing the same. I have a feeling I know the answer already. Thanks again. Jeff
i just got a fast track for my latop as ive been asked to play a couple shows and cant bring my desktop. so far, using ableton live has worked great. but when i tried placing some vocals over the audio i cant hear anything. do i need a preamp or something to get the mic working correctly with the fast track? it doesnt seem to have phanton power like my mixer :/
If your microphone requires phantom power then it wont work with fast track usb. It only works with microphones like sm-57, etc.
I JUST BOTH A M-AUDIO FAST TRACK USB AND A MXL 990 MIC AND I JUST CANT GET IT TO RECORD. THE SOFTWARE IAM USING IS THE G LIVE LITE 6 THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE FAST TRACK................. I NEED SOME HELP!!
Cmon idiot read the posts above... Fast track USB dosnt have phantom power. Thats why u cant record with ur MXL
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