27Jun/0913
M-Audio Fast Track US44010 USB Audio Interface with GT-Player Express Software
If you record music with Apple's GarageBand or other software applications, Fast Track USB is your new best friend. The USB interface lets you easily record your guitar onto the computer with professional results but without buying several clunky adapters. Simply connect Fast Track USB to the USB port on your computer and you're ready to rock. The device sports an input for such instruments as guitar, bass, and keyboards, plus a microphone input for recording vocals and other acou (more...)
June 27th, 2009 - 18:59
3.0 out of 5 stars
Works but not shipped with driver for Vista
I bought this to interface with Sonar 6 because my laptop’s soundcard is just not that great for recording real instruments.
June 27th, 2009 - 21:16
I read several reviews of this product before buying it – so I knew what I was getting into. It seemed like the mix of comments were either the product was really good or really horrible. The horrible comments seemed to center around difficulty with the setttings. Hopefully what I write here will help someone else get it up and running b/c I think it really is a nice product for the $.
This product works great with my MacBook using garageband. It sounds really good too and the price is definitely right. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it does take some time to fiddle with the settings to get working. Once you know what to do though, it’s a snap.
First off, my mac recognized the box right off the bat since its USB compliant. I didn’t have to do anything for it to recognize the box. However, two settings must be configured properly on the mac to get it to work the rest of the way: the input and output settings in the “sound” settings of the “System Properties” need to be set to “Fast Track USB.” Make sure to crank the volume on the input setting all the way up (to the right). Second, you have to set your garageband settings properly…
Go into Garageband’s “Preference” menu item and set the input and output to “Fast Track USB” as well. Then, plug your guitar into the 1/4″ jack on the box. Finally, create a “real instrument” in garageband. You have to set the real instrument’s track to read CHANNEL 2 and set the “monitor” to “on.” That way you’ll be able to hear the guitar through your speakers connected to the box (Incidentally, the XLR input on the box s/b considered channel 1 and the 1/4″ input channel 2).
On the box, set the “mix” knob all the way to the right (full “playback” mode). Set the XLR “input” knob on the box all the way to the left. Set the “Output” knob high to the right. Now start playing your guitar. You should now be able to hear your guitar just fine through your speakers.
The extra software that comes with the box is awesome too – expecially the GT effects software. This stuff has really great sounds. With this, you won’t need all the effects pedals; it’s all right there with GT.
Now, the manuals are really poor. You’ll find no help in them. In trying to get this thing working I poured over the forum comments on m-audio’s site. Review comments their gave me some idea of what to do, but not completely. I had to do a little google searching before I got the other answers to the puzzle. Therefore, I only gave the product a total of 4 stars: 4 stars for the great sound and awesome software, but a ding for the crappy manuals and website support. I would buy the product again though.
June 27th, 2009 - 23:02
Like one reviewer noted I too experienced an extremely high noise level plugging an electric guitar into the 1/4″ jack. The direct box into the XLR input is the way to go. I hope this is limited to just our interfaces and not the whole batch produced. This product when using Windows ONLY works with XP It wouldn’t install on my Millenium Edition computer. I have set up my laptop with Sonar Home Studio 4.0 and the Fast Track works great for laying down ideas on the road. Latency is minimal, and works well as an external sound card. I’m surprised that M-Audio didn’t include a software mixer like other interfaces. It’s a value for an interface less than $100.
June 28th, 2009 - 00:38
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for my needs!
Quick preface: I don’t play with a band, I simply write/record songs using Garageband, on an iMac. This audio interface is perfect for my needs.
June 28th, 2009 - 03:39
I have had ZERO problems with this unit. It’s plug and play on my Apple G4 tower running OS X (Panther) as well as my PowerBook G4. I use the Fast Track with Audio Hijack Pro, Detour , Soundflower, Audacity and it works like a charm. The only thing lacking is phantom power for a microphone, which I solved with an ART tube preamp which you can get on Amazon for about $50 U.S.
June 28th, 2009 - 05:29
2.0 out of 5 stars
Wasn’t too impressed
First off, this thing is small. I didn’t realize how small it was until I received the item.
I own the M-Audio Fast Track USB Pro, and thought that the Fast Track…
June 28th, 2009 - 05:40
1.0 out of 5 stars
Didn’t work for me
It was a pain to install. The instructions said 2 different things, and I had to download a large file (after a lot of searching) from the M-Audio website to make it work.
June 28th, 2009 - 10:37
3.0 out of 5 stars
not what I expected
it isn’t the best, The start-up software does not work for all platforms im running windows vista 32 the software does not run with vista.
June 28th, 2009 - 14:46
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not so easy
I have a few issues/problems:
-m-audio on line registration does not seem to work.
-i tried to call for tech support – was on the phone for more then 60 minutes – no…
June 28th, 2009 - 16:36
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bad deal all the way around
I purchased the M-Audio FAST TRACK from Amazon because it had SESSON software. I received the unit without SESSON and I sent it back.
June 28th, 2009 - 23:28
1.0 out of 5 stars
have the right operating system
I CANNOT SAY THIS IS A BAD PRODUCT BECAUSE I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO USE IT.
I WANTED TO RECORD MUSIC FROM MY WIFE’S CLAVINOVA.
June 29th, 2009 - 04:03
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Product
After having used this product extensively for strictly voice recording, I can say that it is very good for the price.
June 29th, 2009 - 10:00
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exactly what it is supposed to be
I was thinking of a fancier one when I bought this, and so was expecting two mic jacks and two instrument jacks. This model has only one of each.