1. Introduction and Overview
The M-Audio Fast Track Pro is a 4x4 mobile USB audio/MIDI interface designed for professional recording applications. This device offers a comprehensive set of features for musicians and producers, including high-quality audio capture and playback, flexible monitoring options, and MIDI connectivity.
Key features include two front-panel microphone/line inputs with phantom power for condenser microphones, insert points for external effects processing, balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, S/PDIF digital I/O, and MIDI input/output. The Fast Track Pro supports near-zero latency direct hardware monitoring and low-latency ASIO software monitoring, alongside an A/B source switch and dual output pairs for cueing. It is compatible with both Mac and PC systems.
Figure 1.1: M-Audio Fast Track Pro 4x4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface (Angled View)
This image displays the M-Audio Fast Track Pro unit from an angled perspective, showcasing its compact design and various front-panel controls and input jacks.
2. Package Contents
Verify that all items listed below are included in your M-Audio Fast Track Pro package:
- Fast Track Pro Audio/MIDI Interface Unit
- 6-foot USB Cable
- M-Audio USB Family CD (containing drivers and software)
- Pro Tools SE Installation Disk
- Printed QuickStart Guide
- Electronic Manual (PDF)
3. Setup Guide
3.1 Driver Installation
Before connecting the Fast Track Pro to your computer, it is recommended to install the necessary drivers. Insert the M-Audio USB Family CD and follow the on-screen instructions. For the latest drivers, visit the official M-Audio support website.
- Windows Users: Driver installation is required to access all I/O capabilities.
- Mac Users: The device is class-compliant for 16-bit/48kHz 2x4 operation on OS X 10.3.9 and higher. For full I/O access, driver installation is required.
3.2 Hardware Connection
- Ensure your computer is powered on.
- Connect the Fast Track Pro to an available USB port on your computer using the provided USB cable. The device can be powered via USB or an optional AC power adapter.
- It is important to power on the Fast Track Pro unit before starting your computer for proper device recognition.
- Connect your microphones, instruments, and other audio equipment to the appropriate inputs and outputs on the Fast Track Pro.
3.3 Software Installation
Insert the Pro Tools SE installation disk and follow the instructions to install the music creation software. This software provides a platform for recording, editing, and mixing your audio projects.
4. Operating Instructions
4.1 Front Panel Overview
Figure 4.1: M-Audio Fast Track Pro Front Panel
This image provides a clear view of the M-Audio Fast Track Pro's front panel, highlighting the input jacks, gain controls, pad buttons, signal/clip indicators, MIDI activity LEDs, and monitoring controls.
The front panel of the Fast Track Pro provides access to essential controls and inputs for recording and monitoring:
- Mic/Inst Inputs (1 & 2): Combo XLR/TRS jacks for connecting microphones or instruments.
- Gain Knobs: Adjust the input level for Mic/Inst inputs.
- Pad Buttons: Engage a -20dB pad for high-level input signals.
- Inst/Line Switches: Select between instrument (high impedance) or line level input.
- Phantom Power (48V): Activates +48V phantom power for condenser microphones.
- Signal/Clip LEDs: Indicate input signal presence and clipping.
- MIDI In/Out LEDs: Indicate MIDI data activity.
- Mix Control: Blends direct hardware monitoring signal with playback from the computer.
- Stereo/Mono Switch: Toggles direct monitoring between stereo and mono.
- Output Level Knob: Controls the overall output level.
- Headphone Output: 1/4" TRS jack for connecting headphones.
- Headphone Level Knob: Adjusts the headphone output volume.
- A/B Source Switch: Allows switching between two output pairs for DJ-style cueing.
4.2 Inputs and Outputs
- Microphone/Line Inputs: Two front-panel inputs support both XLR microphones (with switchable phantom power) and 1/4" line-level or instrument signals.
- Insert Jacks: 1/4" TRS insert jacks allow for the connection of external outboard processors to the input channels.
- Analog Outputs: Features two balanced 1/4" TRS outputs and four unbalanced RCA outputs for connecting to studio monitors, mixers, or other audio equipment.
- S/PDIF Digital I/O: Coaxial S/PDIF input and output with 2-channel PCM support. The S/PDIF out also supports pass-through of AC-3/DTS surround-encoded content.
- MIDI I/O: 1x1 MIDI input and output for connecting MIDI controllers, synthesizers, and other MIDI devices.
4.3 Monitoring
The Fast Track Pro offers flexible monitoring options:
- Direct Hardware Monitoring: Use the Input/Playback Mix control to blend your live input signal with the audio playback from your computer. This provides near-zero latency monitoring, eliminating delays that can occur with software monitoring.
- ASIO Software Monitoring: For applications requiring effects on the input signal during recording, the Fast Track Pro supports low-latency ASIO monitoring. Adjust buffer sizes in your audio software settings for optimal performance.
- Headphone A/B Switch: This feature allows you to quickly switch between two different output pairs for cueing purposes, useful in DJ setups or for monitoring different mixes.
5. System Requirements
5.1 Windows / PC
- Pentium 3 – 500 MHz (higher speed CPU may be necessary for laptops)
- 256MB RAM
- DirectX 9.0c
- Windows XP (SP2)* / Vista SP2 (32Bit, 64Bit) / Win7 (32Bit, 64Bit)
- Windows 2000, 98, 98SE, ME, and NT are not supported.
- Available USB Port
* Home and Professional Edition only. Windows Media Center Edition is not supported.
5.2 Mac
- Macintosh G3*** 600 / G4*** 667MHz (higher speed may be necessary for laptops)
- 256MB RAM
- OS X 10.3.9 / 10.4.2 / 10.5.1
- Earlier versions of Mac operating systems are not supported.
- Available USB Port
- Dolby AC-3 and DTS pass-through with Apple DVD player.
*** G3/G4 accelerator cards are not supported.
5.3 Compatibility
- WDM
- Core Audio
- ASIO II
6. Specifications
6.1 Digital Audio Interface Specifications (48kHz sampling rate unless otherwise stated)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Mic Inputs (A/D) Input Impedance | 2.7k Ohms unbalanced, 5.4k Ohms balanced |
| Mic Inputs (A/D) Maximum Input Level | from +24dBu @ min gain, pad on to -40dBu @ max gain, no pad |
| Mic Inputs (A/D) Channel-to-Channel Crosstalk | <-110dB |
| Mic Inputs (A/D) SNR | -101dB, A-weighted |
| Mic Inputs (A/D) Dynamic Range | 101dB, A-weighted |
| Mic Inputs (A/D) THD+N | 0.005% (-86dB) @ -1dBFS, 1kHz |
| Mic Inputs (A/D) Frequency Response | 20Hz to 20kHz, +/- 0.1dB |
| Mic Inputs (A/D) Pre-amp Gain | >40dB |
| Mic Inputs (A/D) Pad | -20dB |
| Instrument Inputs (A/D) Input Impedance | >220k Ohm, unbalanced |
| Instrument Inputs (A/D) Maximum Input Level | From +22dBV @ min gain, pad on to -42dBV @ max gain no pad |
| Instrument Inputs (A/D) SNR | -100dB, A-weighted |
| Instrument Inputs (A/D) Dynamic Range | 100dB, A-weighted |
| Instrument Inputs (A/D) THD+N | 0.005% (-86dB) @ -1dBFS, 1kHz |
| Instrument Inputs (A/D) Frequency Response | 20Hz to 20kHz, +/- 0.1dB @ 48kHz sample rate |
| Instrument Inputs (A/D) Pre-amp Gain | >40dB |
| Instrument Inputs (A/D) Pad | -20dB |
| Headphone Output (D/A) Maximum Output | -2.5dBV at THD <0.05% into 32 ohms |
| Headphone Output (D/A) Working Range | 32 to 600 ohms |
| Line Inputs (A/D) Input Impedance | 20k Ohms balanced and unbalanced |
| Line Inputs (A/D) Maximum Input Level | +4.1dBu balanced, +1.9dBV unbalanced |
| Line Inputs (A/D) Channel-to-Channel Crosstalk | <-110dB |
| Line Inputs (A/D) SNR | -101dB, A-weighted |
| Line Inputs (A/D) Dynamic Range | 101dB, A-weighted |
| Line Inputs (A/D) THD+N | 0.005% (-86dB) @ -1dBFS, 1kHz |
| Line Inputs (A/D) Frequency Response | 20Hz to 20kHz, +/- 0.1dB @ 48kHz sample rate; 20Hz to 40kHz, +/- 0.1dB @ 96kHz sample rate |
| Line Inputs (A/D) Pad | -20dB |
| Input Inserts (analog) Maximum Level Send | +6dBV, unbalanced |
| Input Inserts (analog) Maximum Level Return | +6dBV, unbalanced |
| Input Inserts (analog) THD+N | 0.00281% (-91dB) @ -1dB from max level, 1kHz |
| Input Inserts (analog) Frequency Response | 20Hz to 40kHz, +/- 0.1dB |
| Line Outputs (D/A) Output Impedance | 150 Ohms unbalanced, 300 Ohms balanced |
| Line Outputs (D/A) Maximum Output Level | +1.8dBV, unbalanced; +10.1dBu, balanced |
| Line Outputs (D/A) Channel-to-Channel Crosstalk | <-108dB |
| Line Outputs (D/A) SNR | -103dB, A-weighted |
| Line Outputs (D/A) Dynamic Range | 103dB, A-weighted |
| Line Outputs (D/A) THD+N | 0.005% (-86dB) @ -1dBFS, 1kHz |
| Line Outputs (D/A) Frequency Response | 20Hz to 20kHz, +/- 0.3dB @ 48kHz sample rate |
6.2 I/O Bit Depth and Sample Rate
| I/O Configuration | Bit Depth | Sample Rate (kHz) |
|---|---|---|
| With Drivers (Full I/O) | 4 x 4 | 16 (44.1/48) |
| With Drivers (Reduced I/O) | 2 x 4 | 24 (44.1/48) |
| With Drivers (High Sample Rate) | 2-in OR 2-out | 24 (88.2/96) |
| Class Compliant (Mac OS X) | 2x4 | 16 (44.1/48) |
6.3 Physical Specifications
- Item Weight: 2.1 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 3 inches
- Model Number: 9900-51076-00
- Hardware Interface: USB 1.1
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Number of Channels: 4
7. Troubleshooting
This section addresses common issues and provides solutions to ensure optimal performance of your Fast Track Pro.
7.1 No Audio Input/Output
- Check Connections: Ensure all audio cables (XLR, TRS, RCA) are securely connected to the correct inputs and outputs on the Fast Track Pro and your audio equipment.
- USB Connection: Verify the USB cable is firmly connected to both the Fast Track Pro and your computer. Try a different USB port or cable if issues persist.
- Power Sequence: Always ensure the Fast Track Pro is powered on (indicated by the Power LED) before starting your computer. If the device is turned off after the computer starts, it may not be recognized.
- Driver Status: Confirm that the correct M-Audio drivers are installed and up-to-date. Check your computer's Device Manager (Windows) or Audio MIDI Setup (Mac) to ensure the Fast Track Pro is recognized and enabled.
- Software Settings: In your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or audio application, ensure that the M-Audio Fast Track Pro is selected as the primary audio input and output device. Check input/output routing within the software.
- Gain and Level Controls: Verify that input gain knobs, output level knobs, and headphone level knobs are appropriately adjusted and not set to minimum. Check for active Pad buttons if the input signal is too low.
- Phantom Power: If using condenser microphones, ensure the 48V phantom power switch is engaged.
7.2 Latency Issues
- Direct Monitoring: Utilize the hardware direct monitoring feature (Mix control) to listen to your input signal with near-zero latency. This bypasses software processing delays.
- ASIO Buffer Size: If using software monitoring, reduce the ASIO buffer size in your DAW's audio settings. Lower buffer sizes reduce latency but require more CPU power. Increase if you experience audio dropouts.
- System Performance: Close unnecessary applications running in the background to free up CPU and RAM resources. Ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements.
7.3 Driver Instability (Windows 7 Specific)
Some users have reported driver issues with Windows 7. If you encounter instability or recognition problems on Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit), ensure you have downloaded the latest drivers specifically designed for Windows 7 from the M-Audio support website. Community forums may also offer specific driver versions or installation tips.
8. Maintenance
To ensure the longevity and optimal performance of your M-Audio Fast Track Pro, follow these maintenance guidelines:
- Cleaning: Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the exterior of the unit. Avoid using liquid cleaners, solvents, or abrasive materials, as these can damage the finish and internal components.
- Storage: When not in use, store the unit in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, and excessive dust.
- Cable Management: Avoid kinking or excessively bending cables. Secure cables to prevent accidental disconnections or damage.
- Ventilation: Ensure the unit has adequate ventilation and that no vents are blocked, especially if used for extended periods.
- Firmware Updates: Periodically check the M-Audio website for any available firmware updates, which can improve performance and add new features.
9. Warranty and Support
For detailed warranty information, technical support, and additional resources, please refer to the electronic manual included with your product or visit the official M-Audio support website. The website typically provides FAQs, driver downloads, and contact information for customer service.
10. Official Product Videos
No official product videos from the seller were provided in the product data for embedding in this manual.
