M-Audio Fast Track Pro

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USB 1.1, this provides enough bandwith for high quality stereo sound recording (so 2 channels) with low latency. On each input channel you can use an insert, so when you want to use dedicated hardware compression, no problem.

The preamp quality is ok, but the gain switches increase a lot in power at the extreme right position, and then it's very noisy. You probably won't be bothered by this, but it's a strange feature in my opinion. The preamp doesn't work well with heavy distorted guitar sound, as you cannot regulate the input signal adequately anymore (although the input signal was not too strong or anything). Using the -20 db knob for example doesn't seem to work effectively then.
When used as an external sound card, it's a great improvement over 'regular' cheap soundcards, both on laptop as standalone pc's. I still hear details in music I thought I knew, that I never heard before. With a good headphone or monitor system, you clearly hear the advantage. The downside is that you're not quite happy as before with your other audio equipment :-).

Powered via usb, phantom power possible on both front inputs.

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I am very disappointed by the driver support, it's simply not good. In Windows XP it's ok, though sometimes the device is not recognized. You can resolve this by a reboot while the device is connected. On Windows Vista, the drivers are (already a few months) beta, and it shows. Vista complains about old cpl calls (?) and when you want to change settings via the control panel you get an error message saying the device doesn't work (although: it does fine). This is annoying because you can't work with anything else than the standard settings (no S/PDIF).

The software is Ableton Live Lite, which works fine, but I like Cubase a lot more (this is only a subjective comment). The other software that comes with it adds a lot of effects (displays a rack of instruments) but I never managed to work with it: there's no manual and for me, it was not intuitive at all, and looked like baby toys.

If you buy a power adapter, you can use it standalone.

When I bought it I was fairly happy with it, after the driver issues were resolved by an update on the m-audio site. As I bought a laptop with Vista installed, the problems started again, and they are very slow to release new drivers. I decided never to buy m-audio devices again, because the driver support is simply not good enough and for computer related recording, this is really part of the deal.

USB interface, USB powered, all features you need from an all-in-one interface. It is not as clean as M-Box, but it is FASTER, which IMO is more important if you are playing any kind of live instrument into your DAW. M-Audio products seem to have the latency issue solved. I get less than 8ms latency using the FTP in Live, running a guitar directly into the FTP and using an amp sim in Live. My M-Box 2 can't touch this speed.

very easy to connect and use. tray app is very handy. ASIO control panel is easy and handy

neutrik input jack is very nice - much nicer than M-box 2. very easy to connect and use. I like that it runs on USB power. midi IO is good, usable, no stupid quirks. once again speed is a big issue. it has a monitor mix knob like m-box, but it is unnecessary because it so fast.

USB powered. phantom power works fine

supports 48k at 24bit, which is plenty for contemporary recording. when CD sample rates go up you will need more, but not until.

can operate w/o a computer, but it's not the greatest pre in the world - no clue who would want this functionality. magazine reviewers, maybe

M-Audio interfaces are FAST, and this one is no exception. it is not going to impress anyone as the cleanest or most characteristic, but it is fast and has all the features; and for this reason it stomps the p*** out of the M-Box 2, which is slow. if you are trying to play music when you record, you need the lowest latency possible, and what i get from M-Box 2 is unacceptable. latency in fast track pro is much shorter, much more usable. the quality is clean *enough* which is all you need. nobody is going to listen to your record on good monitors, they are going to listen on cheap car speakers or on cheap ipod headphones where it is downsampled... get over the audiophile BS in audio production and get a cheap interface that works for MUSIC and not just for abstract ideas about engineering

This is a portable unit with clip and signal indicators, mic/line switch, -20db pad, trim control, combo 1/4"/XLR inputs per channel (X 2). The case is plastic but it seems well made and durable. Great to be able to just disconnect it and throw it in my computer bag.

Connects via USB 2.0. A tremendous device. 9 only because it's ONLY USB.

XLR/1/4" input jacks on front panel. USB powered (works best with USB 2.0 hook), S/pdif in/out on back panel, 1 MIDI in,1 MIDI out, 4 X RCA outputs, 2 TRS outs (1/2) and TRS inserts (1/2). Headphone out on front panel with trim control. Mix control on front panel with stereo/mono button, MIDI in/out indicators, master output trim. Cool blue power indicator and 48v phantom power indicator. 9 due to only being a USB interface (again... and if you want a Firewire one, they have a number of those too!!)

Can be either bus powered or AC with a wall wart (9V DC/500 mA). 48v Phantom power switch on back of unit with indicator on front panel.

Currently I have only used this as either 44 or 48K but can support up to 96K at 24 bit. Comes with driver CD-R.

Comes with M-powered Pro tools software (haven't tried it) and a lite version of Abelton Live. this is a computer dedicated interface. I am using this with Sonar 6 Producer and it works perfectly!

Overall I am very very happy with this interface. I've been watching M-Audio for years and am quite happy with the progress they've made in the digital audio field. This is the second M-Audio interface I own (I also have a Delta 1010LT in my big computer) and since I am in a position to influence some of the technology products that my company sells, I will be suggesting that they put this in the catalog. It loaded first time with no issues and I was up and running in minutes. I have recommended it to a number of my colleques and if it was stolen I would immediately purchase another unless I was upgrading to Firewire (and I would STILL CALL M-AUDIO for the next interface too!!) Very simple and straightforward to use and probably one of the best buys I've seen on this level. I use mine with my laptop but it's been suggested that I try connecting it to my Delta 1010LT via S/Pdif for an additional two inputs of live recording. The issue is that I need another one since I use this one to control my keyboard rack and my Flextone III and yes, it's on order.