Pinnacle Systems Session User Guide

User Guide

Session with Fast Track USB User Guide

| 1

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of M-Audio Session with Fast Track USB: an
audio interface and software package designed for easy integration with your
computer.

The M-Audio Session software for Windows contained in this bundle allows you to
make professional-sounding songs and remixes the first time you open the software—
even if you’ve never played a note before. If you have some musical experience,
Session can take your ideas to the next level with a built-in virtual synthesizer and
studio quality effects.

The included Fast Track USB is a quality audio interface for Windows or Mac
OS X. It features an XLR microphone input, a TRS line/instrument input, stereo RCA
outputs, and a headphone output. It uses the convenience of USB connectivity, so
there’s no need to disassemble your computer and no bulky external power supply.
Fast Track USB gives you full 24-bit digital audio, supporting popular 44.1kHz and
48kHz sampling rates. With its lightweight form factor and compact design, you can
carry it with you anywhere.

We recommend you spend a few minutes reviewing this User Guide to ensure
proper setup.

Session with Fast Track USB Features

Session Software (PC only):

 CD-quality multi-track audio and MIDI

recording software

 built-in studio quality effects

 built-in virtual synthesizer with

hundreds of instrument sounds

 includes over 3.5 GB of content

for professional music creation

Fast Track USB Audio Interface:

 single USB connection for input,

output, and power

 convenient front-panel headphone

output

 balanced XLR and 1/4” inputs

 two line-level RCA outputs

 signal and peak LED input

indicators

 high-quality 24-bit/48kHz recording

Session with Fast Track USB User Guide

2

|

M-Audio Session Software (Windows Only)

What’s in the Box?

Your M-Audio Session with Fast Track USB bundle should contain the following
items:

 M-Audio Fast Track USB audio interface

 M-Audio Session DVD-ROM

 USB cable

 This User Guide

If any of the above listed items are missing, please contact the retailer where you
purchased the product.

About This Guide

This guide covers installation of the Session music-creation software for Windows
and the setup and features of the Fast Track USB audio interface for Windows
and Macintosh OS X. The Fast Track USB audio interface contained in this bundle
can also be used with many Macintosh and Windows third-party music software
applications like GarageBand, Logic Pro, and Ableton Live. Consult your software’s
documentation for more information on this.

Minimum System Requirements

Windows XP

 Windows XP (SP2) or higher *
 1.6 GHz processor

( CPU speed requirement may be higher for laptops)

 512MB R AM
 4 GB free HD space for complete installation of Session
 DVD drive
 AGP 4X or faster graphics * *
 32MB video RAM
 1024 x 768 video resolution (1280 x 1024 recommended)
 One native USB port

Windows Vista (edition) 32-Bit

 Windows Vista (edition) 32-Bit
 1.6 GHz processor

(CPU speed requirement may be higher for laptops )

 1024 MB RAM
 4 GB free HD space for complete installation of Session
 DVD drive
 AGP 4X or faster graphics * *
 128MB video RAM
 1024 x 768 video resolution (1280 x 1024 recommended)
 One native USB port

Session with Fast Track USB User Guide

| 3

Fast Track USB Audio Interface

Windows XP (SP2) or higher *

 Intel Pentium / AMD Athlon 1 GHz or higher

 512 MB RAM

 DVD drive

 One native USB port

Windows Vista (edition) 32-Bit

 Windows Vista (edition) 32-Bit

 Pentium III – 1 GHz or higher

 1024 MB RAM

 DVD drive

 One native USB port

Macintosh OS X

 G4 1 GHz or higher

 Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later

 512 MB RAM

 One Native USB port

*Home and Professional Edition only. Windows Media Center Edition is not
currently supported.

**Session does not support video cards based on any of the following chipsets:
S3/VIA UniChrome, SiS EL315, Matrox

Please also check the minimum system requirements for third party software
applications that are to be used with your new M-Audio hardware, as they may be
greater than the above.

Installation and Setup Overview for Windows

It is important that installation and setup take place in the following sequence (these
steps are explained in detail in following chapters):

1. Install the Session music creation software. This software enables support for
the Fast Track USB audio interface, and must be installed before Fast Track
USB is connected.

2. Connect the Fast Track USB audio interface. This device not only serves as a
high performance USB audio interface, but also as the copy protection key for
Session. Fast Track USB must be connected for Session to launch.

Session with Fast Track USB User Guide

4

|

Session Installation for Windows

NOTE: If you have already connected your Fast Track USB audio interface to your
computer, please disconnect it before beginning the Session software installation.
Leave the Fast Track disconnected until instructed to connect it.

1. Insert the M-Audio Session DVD-ROM into your computer’s DVD-ROM drive.

2. The computer will automatically display the install screen. If your computer fails
to launch the installer, manually start it by clicking on Start > My Computer >

Session.

3. Follow the software installer’s on-screen direction prompts.

4. Session comes with a
large library of loops and
instrument samples for
music creation, known as
Session Content. During the
installation process, you will
be asked if you would like to
install this content, as well
as the Session Application,
and the driver for the Fast
Track USB audio interface.
You must select the Session
Application and the Fast Track
USB options in order to use
Session.

NOTE: Session’s Factory Content Library requires approximately 4 GB of disk

space and may take as long as 30 minutes to install. This behavior is normal.
If you do not have 4 GB of disk space available, you can choose not to install
the Session Content, but you will then have to place the Session DVD in your
DVD-ROM drive whenever you run Session. Accessing Session’s content via
the DVD-ROM drive results in slightly slower computer performance, and if the
required hard drive space is available, installing the Session Content on your
computer’s hard drive is recommended.