M-audio FAST TRACK user guide
M-AUDIO
Fast Track
English
User Guide
Fast Track User Guide 3
1 Introduction
When M-Audio first introduced Fast Track, it quickly became one of the world’s most popular portable audio
interfaces. Now M-Audio is pleased to present the newly redesigned Fast Track, with the additional features
and improvements requested by our customers: Phantom power for condenser microphones, enhanced gain
on the guitar input for use with lower output guitar pickups, and a new ergonomic design with larger, topmounted control knobs for convenient desktop use.
Fast Track works with your favorite music software to deliver professional-quality recordings. You can use it to
capture your guitar and vocal performances, voice-overs, podcasts, or anything else you need to record.
Furthermore, its lightweight compact design allows you to take Fast Track anywhere.
Please take the time to read this User Guide. It will explain how to get the best performance out of your Fast
Track audio interface.
2 What’s in the Box
Your Fast Track package contains the following:
Fast Track Audio Interface
Printed Quick Start Guide
Fast Track CD-ROM, including drivers and documentation
Software Bundle Disc
USB cable
3 Fast Track Features
2-input, 2-output audio interface
Up to 24-bit, 48kHz operation
1/4" guitar input
XLR microphone input
48V phantom power for condenser microphones
1/4" stereo headphone output
RCA stereo line outputs
Direct Monitor button
USB bus powered operation
Class compliant operation
Pro Tools M-Powered compatible
4 User Guide Fast Track
4 Minimum System Requirements
Minimum system requirements can be found on the Fast Track product packaging as well as at
www.m-audio.com.
Before Updating Your Mac or Windows System: Please check the M-Audio driver
download page at www.m-audio.com/drivers for the availability of an updated driver
before you decide to install operating system upd ates.
Before new M-Audio device drivers are released, they are tested for use with the
operating system versions that are available at that time. When update s for an operating
system are released by Microsoft or Apple, all M-Audio device drivers have to be
re-tested and possibly updated to ensure proper operation.
M-Audio recommends refraining from installing operating system updates until a driver
has been posted to the M-Audio website for that specific operating system.
5 Controls and Connectors
1 2 6 7543 3
Front Panel
1. Phantom Power Indicator (48V) - This red LED illuminates when the Phantom Power switch (14) is
set to the "on" position.
2. Microphone Input - This jack is used for connecting a microphone using a standard XLR cable.
3. Signal/Clip Indicators - The green LED indicates the presence of a signal at the corresponding
input while the red LED indicates "clipping" or distortion at the input.
4. Guitar Input - This 1/4" jack is used for connecting an electric guitar, bass, or other instrument.
5. Direct Monitor Button - This button enables Direct Monitoring. When this button is set to the "in"
position, the direct signals from the Microphone and Guitar inputs are mixed with the output of your
music software to create a latency-free hardware mix. When this button is set to the "out" position,
your Microphone and Guitar signals are not mixed with the output of your software through the Fast
Track hardware. In this case, you must use your music application's software monitoring option to
hear your Microphone or Guitar inputs while recording. For more information on Direct Monitoring,
see the section titled "Direct Monitoring" on page 7.
6. Headphone Output - This 1/4" stereo jack is controlled by the Output knob (10).
7. Power Indicator - This blue LED indicates that Fast Track is receiving power from the computer’s
USB port.
Fast Track User Guide 5
Top Panel
8 9 10 11
Mic Gain Guitar Gain Output
8. Mic Gain - This knob controls the Microphone Input gain.
9. Guitar Gain - This knob controls the Guitar Input gain.
10. Output - This knob controls the output level for both the Line Outputs (12) and the Headphone
Output (6).
11. Kensington
your device from theft.
®
Lock Port - This connector is compatible with Kensington
®
security cables to protect
Back Panel
12
12. Line Outputs - These RCA jacks are used for connecting a pair of powered studio monitors, a mixer,
or amplifier. These outputs are disabled when headphones are connected to the Headphone Output
(6) on the front panel.
13. USB Port - This port is used for connecting Fast Track to your host computer, using the supplied
USB cable.
14. Phantom Power Switch - This switch applies 48V phantom power to the Microphone Input (2) for
use with condenser microphones that require external power. The Phantom Power Indicator (1) LED
illuminates when power is being sent to the Microphone Input.
13
14
6 Installing Fast Track
For instructions on installing Fast Track, please refer to the printed Fast Track Quick Start Guide.
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