M-Audio Fast Track

For recording a vocal or instrument track on your computer, you need suitable inputs and a way to monitor the signal while recording. The M-Audio Fast Track incl. PT Essentials combines a USB audio interface with microphone and instrument inputs and the Pro Tools M-Powered Essential recording software.

Connect a microphone via the XLR input, and a guitar, bass or keyboard via the 6.3 mm instrument input. Both inputs have their own gain controls; signal and clip indicators help you keep an eye on the input level. 48-volt phantom power can be switched on at the microphone input for condenser microphones.

When recording, you can monitor the input signals directly using the direct monitoring button, without routing them through the software. This lets you hear yourself while recording without the software latency that would otherwise occur. The output control adjusts the headphone and output levels together; the stereo headphone output is on the front, while the stereo RCA output pair on the rear connects to active monitors, a mixer or an amplifier. The RCA outputs are disabled when headphones are connected.

The interface transfers two audio inputs and two audio outputs via USB and is also powered via USB; no separate power supply is required. Recording is possible at up to 24-bit/48 kHz. Fast Track can be used with common recording programmes such as GarageBand; compatibility is specified for Pro Tools M-Powered 8 and higher versions. Supported audio drivers include ASIO 2, WDM and Mac OS X Core Audio.

The included Pro Tools M-Powered Essential software is for recording, editing, arranging and mixing. You can use up to 16 mono or stereo tracks and process up to eight virtual instrument tracks and eight MIDI tracks simultaneously. Features include integrated MIDI sequencing, more than 60 instrument sounds, effect plug-ins including EQ, and the SansAmp Classic guitar amplifier with modelling and distortion effects. More than 3 GB of audio loops, as well as templates and demo songs, round out the software package; the stated total size of the included music tools is more than 5.5 GB.

For Fast Track operation, the product description specifies a 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 1 GB RAM and a native USB port under Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or Windows Vista 32- or 64-bit. Windows Media Center Edition is not supported. For Mac, it specifies OS X 10.4.11, a G4 processor without an accelerator card, 1 GB RAM and a native USB port. Pro Tools M-Powered Essential has additional requirements: a 1.8 GHz multicore processor, a 5400 rpm hard drive, a DVD-ROM drive and at least 4 GB of storage space; additional storage is required for loop content. The software requires Windows XP SP3 or Vista 32/64-bit, or Mac OS X 10.5.5 or later.

The set is suitable for simple computer recordings with one microphone and one instrument, followed by editing and mixing in the included software. If you are looking for a compact USB interface with direct monitoring, headphone and RCA outputs, and meet the stated older operating system requirements, it covers the key steps of a small recording setup.