M-audio FAST TRACK PRO user guide

Fast Track Pro

User Guide

Legal Notices

This guide is copyrighted ©2010 by Avid Technology, Inc., with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid, M-Audio and Fast Track Pro are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Product features, speciﬁcations, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice.

Guide Part Number 9329-65014-00 REV A 05/10

Documentation Feedback

At Avid, we are always looking for ways to improve our documentation. If you have comments, corrections, or suggestions regarding our documentation, email us at techpubs@avid.com.

Table of Contents

English

1 › Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2 › Fast Track Pro Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

3 › Minimum System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Operating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Mac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Mac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

4 › Controls and Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

5 › Hardware Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

6 › The Software Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Bandwidth Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Sample Depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Maximum Sample Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Conﬁgurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Latency Tab (Windows XP only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Latency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

About Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

7 › Using the Fast Track Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Setting Up Your Recording Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Using the Mic/Inst Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Using the Coaxial S/PDIF Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Setting the Sample Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Monitoring Your Inputs for Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Using the Input/Playback Mix Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Selecting Your Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Headphone Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Stand-alone Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

8 › Warranty Terms & Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Warranty Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Warranty Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

9 › Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

10 › Product Specs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

English

1 › Introduction

Thank you for choosing the M-Audio Fast Track Pro. The Fast Track Pro has been designed to give you a professional, portable audio and MIDI interface for your Windows or Macintosh laptop or desktop computer. Using the convenience and dependability of the industrystandard USB bus, the Fast Track Pro provides your computer with an exceptionally ﬂexible audio interface offering unequalled routing power and versatility, while delivering high-resolution 24-bit audio to and from your computer at sampling rates up to 96kHz. The Fast Track Pro also gives you sixteen channels of MIDI in and out—all in a sleek, rugged, lightweight and highly portable design. It connects to your computer with a single USB cable—no tools needed, no cards to install, and no bulky external power supply.

The Fast Track Pro was created with the home or portable studio user in mind. With two high-quality microphone/instrument preamps, the Fast Track Pro gives you a great sounding, easy-to-use interface for your digital audio software. The convenient front panel hybrid XLR/TRS inputs can accommodate balanced or unbalanced line or instrument levels, with switchable phantom power and individual –20dB pads. The rear panel offers you insert points for inputs one and two, two balanced TRS analog outputs and four unbalanced RCA connectors, as well as dedicated S/PDIF inputs and outputs, for a total of four inputs and four outputs.

The front panel is also set up for easy monitoring, with a variable Input/Playback knob and mono switch, dedicated headphone level control and A/B switch for headphone signal source selection. Signal and clipping indicators, MIDI input and output LEDs, and phantom power indicators make the Fast Track Pro an ideal solution for beginning and advanced computer recording users.

Even if you’re an experienced musician and digital recording enthusiast, please take some time to read through this owner’s manual and familiarize yourself with the Fast Track Pro’s features and operation. You may also want to refer to your audio software’s documentation to better understand how the Fast Track Pro’s features may be integrated with the program. Your experience and enjoyment of your Fast Track Pro will be greatly enhanced by a good working knowledge of your audio software.

2 › Fast Track Pro Features

< Two front-panel balanced/unbalanced mic/instrument/line inputs on combo XLR/TRS jacks, with individual instrument/line level

switches and –20dB pad switches

< Two balanced/unbalanced outputs on TRS jacks < Two inserts on TRS jacks < Four unbalanced outputs on RCA jacks < S/PDIF digital I/O on coaxial jacks < Signal and Clip indicators for inputs 1 & 2 < Two mic pre input level controls < Supports sample rates up to 96kHz with full 24-bit resolution < Functions as a stand-alone 24-bit/44.1kHz A/D converter < MIDI Input and Output with front-panel MIDI I/O indicators < Power LED < Phantom Power switch with indicator LED < Mono switch for input monitoring < Variable Input/Playback control for input monitoring < Output Level control < A/B switch for headphone source selection < Headphone Level knob < Front-panel headphone output < Output Level control < Rear-panel Kensington < Driver support for WDM/MME (Windows XP), CoreAudio (MacOS X (v10.3.9 or later), and ASIO2.

lock port

3 › Minimum System Requirements

Operating Systems

Windows

The Fast Track Pro is supported under Windows XP, with Service Pack 2 or later only. It is 98, 98SE or Windows ME. Visit the Windows update web pages to make certain you have the most current updates and ﬁxes supplied by Microsoft.

Mac

The Fast Track Pro is supported under Mac OS X version 10.3.9, 10.4.2 or later. Earlier versions of Mac operating systems are not supported.

Hardware

Windows

< Pentium 3 – 500 MHz (higher speed CPU may be necessary for laptops) < 256MB RAM < DirectX 9.0c or higher < Windows XP (SP2)  (Windows 2000, 98, 98SE, ME & NT not supported)

Mac

< Macintosh G3** 600 / G4** 667MHz (higher speed may be necessary for laptops) < 256MB RAM < OS X 10.3.9 or later (earlier versions of Mac operating systems are not supported)

* M-Audio suggests that you also check the minimum system requirements for your software, as they may greater than the

above.

** G3/G4 accelerator cards not supported; native FireWire ports required.

not

supported under Windows 2000, Windows

4 › Controls and Connectors

Front Panel

1. Signal Indicator LEDs (Signal) – The Signal LED will illuminate green when an input signal of –24dBFS is detected.

2. Clip Indicator LEDs (Clip) – The Clip LED will illuminate red when the input signal reaches 1dBFS below the clipping point. If the red

Clip LED lights often or stays lit for any period of time, lower the input gain level on that channel.

3. Input Gain Level Knob (GAIN) – Controls the input level of the associated Mic/Inst input (6). The variable gain range is >40dB.

4. Instrument/Line Selector Button (Inst/Line) – This button selects the input level of the front panel 1⁄4” inputs. In the out position,

the inputs are set to accept an instrument level signal (such as that from a guitar or bass) while in the in position they are set to accept a line level input (such as that from a keyboard or drum machine). Please note that the XLR input level is unaffected by this switch.

5. Pad Button (Pad) – With this switch in the in position, a –20dB pad is inserted into the input circuit, lowering the input level. Use

this pad when the input level of your analog signal is too hot (as indicated by illumination of the Clip LED (2)), even with the GAIN knob (3) at or near minimum.

6. Microphone/Instrument Inputs (Mic/Inst) – These Neutrik hybrid connectors will each accept a low-impedance mic level signal

on a standard three-pin balanced XLR or TRS plug, or a high-impedance instrument level signal on an unbalanced 1/4” TS plug.

7. Stereo/Mono Button (Stereo/Mono) – This button toggles the direct input monitoring between stereo and mono operation. In

Mono mode, an input will be heard equally in the left and right of the headphones. In Stereo mode, input 1 will be heard in the left while input 2 will be heard in the right.

8. MIDI Input/Output Indicator LEDs (MIDI In/MIDI Out) – These LEDs display MIDI input and output activity. They will light whenever

MIDI data is seen at the rear panel MIDI output (20) or MIDI input (21).

9. Input/Playback Mix Level Knob (Mix IN, PB) – This knob controls the audio mix sent to the Line Outputs, fading between the

input signals (input monitoring) and the output signal from your audio application software. When turned fully counter-clockwise (IN position), only the input signals are heard at the line outputs. When turned fully clockwise (PB position), only the output signal from your DAW software is heard at the line outputs.

10. Output Level Knob (Output Level) – This knob controls the signal level at the line outputs. This control is independent from the

Level knob (14).

11. A/B Monitor Selector Button (A/B) – This switch selects the output source sent to the Level knob (14). In the A (out) position, the

main line output signal is sent to the headphone outputs. In the B (in) position, the signal assigned to the S/PDIF output is sent to the headphone outputs.

12. Phantom Power Indicator LED (48V) – This LED lights to indicate the presence of 48V phantom power at the front-panel XLR

inputs, as activated by the rear-panel Phantom Power switch (22).

13. Power Indicator LED (Power) – This LED lights when the Power switch (16) is activated, with the unit receiving power from either

the host computer’s USB bus, or from the (optional) external power supply.

14. Headphone Output Level Knob (Level) – This knob controls the output level to the Headphone output (15). It is independent of

the main Output Level control knob (10).

15. Headphone Output – This is a 1⁄4” stereo TRS jack, designed to drive a pair of stereo headphones. The output level is controlled

by the Level knob (14), and its source is selected by the A/B button (11).

+ 11 hidden pages