M-audio FAST TRACK ULTRA Quick Start Guide

Fast Track Ultra

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Quick Start Guide

Quick Start Guide 1Fast Track Ultra

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Introduction

Thanks for choosing M-Audio Fast Track Ultra, the professional, portable audio and
MIDI interface for your Windows or Macintosh computer. Using the convenience and
dependability of the industry-standard USB 2.0 bus, Fast Track Ultra offers unequalled
routing power and versatility, high-resolution, 24-bit audio at sampling rates up to
96 kHz, sixteen channels of MIDI in and out and on-board DSP for flexible routing/mixing
and a useful selection of reverb and delay effects.

This Quick Start Guide is designed to give you a basic overview of Fast Track Ultra, to
get you up and running quickly. Even if you are an experienced computer user and digital
recording enthusiast, we suggest you take the time to read the accompanying User
Guide, included on the Fast Track Ultra CD. It will help you get the most out of your
Fast Track Ultra.

What’s in the Box

Your Fast Track Ultra package contains the following:

‣ Fast Track Ultra
‣ Printed Quick Start Guide
‣ Fast Track Ultra CD, including drivers and the User Guide
‣ Ableton Live Lite CD
‣ USB Cable
‣ 5VDC 2000mA power supply

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Quick Start Guide2 Fast Track Ultra

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Compatibility

Windows

Fast Track Ultra is supported under Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later, or
Windows Vista (32-Bit editions). It is not supported under Windows Media Center
Edition, Windows 2000, Windows 98, 98SE or Windows ME.

Mac

Fast Track Ultra is supported by PowerPC-based Macs running Mac OS X

10.3.9 / 10.4.10 or later, as well as Intel-based Macs running Mac OS X 10.4.10
or later.

Please see the User Guide for specific Minimum System Requirements.

Important Note about Bus Power: Fast Track Ultra can be powered via the
included AC power supply or via bus power from the host computer. However,
when running on bus power, Fast Track Ultra will be limited to four inputs and
four outputs. These are mapped to inputs 1 and 2, outputs 1 and 2, and the
S/PDIF I/O.

Important Note about USB 1.1 Ports: Fast Track Ultra has been designed as
a USB 2.0 device. It may be used with a USB 1.1 port, but will only function as a
2-in/2-out device with sample rates limited to 44.1 and 48kHz. This is due to the
limitations of the USB 1.1 bus bandwidth.

If your computer does not have a native USB 2.0 port, you will see the following
alert during the installation process:

“Because this computer has no USB 2.0 ports,
Fast Track Ultra functionality will be limited.”

Important Note about System Upgrades: Please check the M-Audio driver
download page at http://www.m-audio.com/drivers for

the availability of an

updated driver before you decide to install operating system updates.

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 updates 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.

Quick Start Guide 3Fast Track Ultra

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Installing Fast Track Ultra

Installation Instructions For Windows XP and Vista

PLEASE NOTE: Make sure Fast Track Ultra is detached from your computer
when beginning the installation. The following instructions will indicate when you
should connect the interface to your computer.

1. We recommend that you download the most recent Fast Track Ultra drivers
by going to the Support > Drivers page at www.m-audio.com. This ensures
that you have the newest drivers available. If you do not have Internet access,
insert the Fast Track Ultra CD-ROM into your computer to install the drivers
that came with the interface.

a. If you are installing drivers from

the Fast Track Ultra CD-ROM, the
computer will automatically display
the interactive install screen

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when the CD-ROM is inserted. If
your computer fails to launch this
application, you can manually start it
by clicking on Start > My Computer*
> Fast Track Ultra. Next, select Fast
Track Ultra from the menu and click
“Install.”

*My Computer” is named “Computer” in Windows Vista.

b. If you are installing drivers from www.m-audio.com, simply double-click the

file once it has finished downloading.

2. Follow the driver installer’s on-screen instructions.

3. At various points in this installation process, you may be notified that the driver
being installed has not passed Windows Logo Testing (Windows XP), or
asked whether the program you wish to run is a trusted application (Windows
Vista). Click Continue Anyway

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or Install

3

to proceed with installation.

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Quick Start Guide4 Fast Track Ultra

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4. Once the installer has completed, click “Finish.”

5. Connect Fast Track Ultra to a power outlet and to an available USB 2.0 port
on your computer.

6. Turn on Fast Track Ultra. If you are using Windows Vista, your Fast Track Ultra
installation is now complete. If you are using Windows XP, proceed to
steps 7-10.

7. Windows XP will identify the interface and will ask if you want to search the
Internet for a driver. Select “No, not this time” and press “Next.”

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8. Windows XP will display a Found New Hardware Wizard. Choose “Install the
software automatically” and click “Next.”

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9. Once the Wizard has completed, click “Finish.” You may be presented with a
second Found New Hardware Wizard. If so, then repeat steps 7-10.

10. When the installation is complete, you will see a message stating “Your new
hardware is installed and ready to use.”

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Installation Instructions For Mac OS X

1. We recommend that you download the most recent Fast Track Ultra drivers
by going to the Support > Drivers page at www.m-audio.com. This ensures
that you have the newest drivers available. If you do not have Internet access,
insert the Fast Track Ultra CD-ROM into your computer to install the drivers
that came with the interface.

a. If you are installing drivers from the Fast Track Ultra CD-ROM, a CD-ROM

icon will appear on your desktop once the disc is inserted into your
computer. Double-click this icon to view the contents of the disc. Next,
double-click “Open Me.” Finally, select your product from the drop-down
menu on the welcome screen

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and click “Install.”

b. If you are installing drivers from www.m-audio.com, the downloaded file

should automatically mount and display its contents on the desktop. If this
file does not mount automatically, simply double-click the file once it has
finished downloading to view its contents. Next, double-click the installer
application.

Quick Start Guide 5Fast Track Ultra

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2. Follow the driver installer’s on-screen instructions. During installation,
Mac OS X will ask you to enter your user name and password. Enter this
information and click OK to confirm. If you have not configured a password
for your computer, leave the password field blank and click OK. If you are not
the computer’s owner, ask the owner or your Administrator for the missing
information.

3. When the installer has completed, click “Close.”

4. Connect Fast Track Ultra to a power outlet and to an available USB port on
your computer.

5. Turn on Fast Track Ultra.

Using Fast Track Ultra

Recording Analog Inputs

Connect microphones or electric instruments via the front-panel inputs, or line level
sources via the rear-panel line inputs, making sure the front/rear selector switches
are set to the correct input type. Use the gain pots to set the recording levels,
making sure that the LED level meters are never lit red. Engage phantom power via
the rear panel slider if using condenser microphones. If using the line inputs, the
gain pots for the associated mic inputs should be turned down to avoid unwanted
noise. See the User Guide for more information on recording input sources.

Recording Digital Inputs

Connect a digital S/PDIF source to the rear-panel S/PDIF input. Go to the
Settings tab in the Fast Track Ultra Control Panel and select S/PDIF as the clock
source to ensure proper digital clocking. See the User Guide for more information
on digital synchronization.

Quick Start Guide6 Fast Track Ultra

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Adjusting the Output Level

Connect the Fast Track Ultra rear panel line outputs to a mixing console, amplifier
or powered monitors. Outputs 1 and 2 can be directly controlled by the front-panel
main output level knob. Other outputs are controlled via your DAW application or
the Fast Track Ultra Control Panel.

Headphone Monitoring

The two front-panel headphone outputs are assigned to line outputs 1/2 and 3/4,
respectively. Select the Monitor 1/2 or Monitor 3/4 tab from the Fast Track Ultra
Control Panel and adjust the monitoring levels for the desired hardware input
channels and for signals returning from your recording software (software returns).
Adjustments made here will only affect monitoring (listening) levels. Recordings are
not affected by level settings made in the Fast Track Ultra Control Panel.

Warranty

Warranty Terms

M-Audio warrants products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship,
under normal use and provided that the product is owned by the original,
registered user. Visit www.m-audio.com/warranty for terms and limitations applying
to your specific product.

Warranty Registration

Immediately registering your new M-Audio product entitles you to full warranty
coverage and helps M-Audio develop and manufacture the finest quality products
available. Register online at www.m-audio.com/register to receive FREE product
updates and for the chance to win M-Audio giveaways.

WARNING: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of
California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands

after handling.

Fast Track Ultra

Tested to comply with
FCC standards

FOR HOME OR STUDIO USE

© 2007 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications,
system requirements and availability are subject to change without notice. Avid,
M-Audio and Fast Track Ultra are either trademarks or registered trademarks of
Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their
respective owners.

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