 "Works great with Garage Band" | 2009-10-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: AUDGVD26YH8OZ |
| I haven't tried the included software but it works great with garage band. I didn't install the drivers simply plugged into my Mac, opened Garage Band and selected the correct input. Works perfectly. Can't believe how easy it is to record. |
| |
| "Great USB Interface for Guitar!" | 2009-08-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1W1BMM1ZEYB70 |
The M-Audio Fast Track is an amazing USB interface for the electric guitar. I use the Fast Track on Vista x64 (drivers are available on M-Audio's website) in conjunction with Guitar Rig 3 and Ableton Live 6 to record guitar riffs.
While using the Fast Track in Ableton Live, the sound is outputted through the headphone connection of the USB interface. The sound quality is excellent and there is no lag or delay in playing and hearing the sound. The back of the unit also allows for external speaker monitoring, if you prefer speakers over headphones.
There is an XLR Microphone input and level control knob. I don't have a mic, however this gives me the option to upgrade my digital recording experience when needed.
I have truly enjoyed using this product and would recommend it for the entry-level digital musician. Be sure to combine this product with a software product like Guitar Rig, in order to generate amp and pedal sounds. |
| |
| "Great for live guitar recording" | 2009-07-01 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1TDYW3BTR956F |
I'm living in a dormitory where I can't made loud noises, so I use my laptop as an amp and listen with a headphone. I bought this thing for two purposes, guitar playing and guitar recording, and I am very satisfied.
Here are a few important tips if you intend to use it for live guitar recording:
- You need a good VST noise gate when playing distortion to suppress the noises, and the GT player comes pre-configured with a good one.
- The GT player is good, but I use a DAW software and the Fast Track should be compatible with all of them, as it appears as an ordinary sound card. The nice thing about GT player is that you can use it as a VST inside another software, but like I said you don't have to in order to use the Fast Track.
- I have Windows Vista and had no trouble with the GT Player. As for the driver, I didn't try the included one in the enclosed CD, I downloaded the newest driver from their site (it's only 4.15 MB), and it worked perfectly.
- I have a Dell laptop, and I found out that unless I turn off the WiFi, the sound will be very chopped and glitchy. However this is a Dell related problem and not a fault in the product.
- If you're planning on using your laptop speakers, they won't be functional while the fast track is plugged in, at least not mine. But you can the output from the Fast Track box to a small speaker if you don't want to use a headphone.
I experienced no latency problems at all, and was overall satisfied. I did not try the microphone input yet so I can't judge that, but I don't see why it would give me trouble. Considering the cheap price here on Amazon, I recommend this product for any one starting with computer recording and computer-based effects. |
| |
 "Works but not shipped with driver for Vista" | 2009-06-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: AGIUUEYS3XEEB |
I bought this to interface with Sonar 6 because my laptop's soundcard is just not that great for recording real instruments. My experience with getting Sonar 6 to work properly has been a nightmare and I was hoping this product would solve some of the issues.
I was surprised to find that this unit is not shipped with drivers for Windows Vista. I had to go to the M-Audio website and read through lots of FAQs and message board posts to find and download the right driver.
Once I did that, the product worked. However, it is not always automatically recognized by Sonar 6, which is annoying but probably a defect with Sonar 6 and not M-Audio.
I also wish I knew ahead of time that it does not work for condenser mics without an external preamp. Again, I had to go to M-Audio's website and use the customer support website to find that out because it is not clear in the product specs. Not a great user experience.
So...the product might work fine for some applications but for my purposes it is not the greatest, and the specs/manual could be more clearly written. |
| |
| "Perfect for my needs!" | 2009-05-13 |
| - Reviewed By usc0dave |
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. I don't record guitar by micing my guitar amp; I plug my guitar into an effects processor (I use the POD 2.0 from Line 6), and then plug that straight into the guitar cable input on this M-Audio Fast Track. When I want to record vocals, I plug my microphone into the mic input in the back. Everything works fine and there is no unwanted hiss or feedback when I am listening to the final mixes on my songs! Some tips in case anyone is confused on how to get this thing to work with garageband:
1) Make sure the Fast Track is set as BOTH your audio input AND output in the Garageband audio preferences (you can, if you're so inclined, even make the Fast Track your audio input/output for your entire computer, you'll still get decent sound, plus it allows you to play your guitar over songs from your iTunes library, which is a big help with guitar practice).
2) In your "Input Source" for any given instrument track, you have to select "Mono 2" instead of "Stereo 1/2" if you're recording guitar, and "Mono 1" if you're recording vocals (or anything from a microphone). You'll want to switch "Monitor" to "Off." Although I have discovered that if you're trying to simulate a bass guitar with your regular electric guitar, for an extra strong bass sound, fiddle with your effects processor to get as close as you can to a bass guitar sound, and then switch Monitor to "On," and use one of Garageband's prepackaged bass guitar settings on TOP of that. Gives your "simulated" bass guitar a little bit more oomph, if you're like me and don't actually play bass.
Another cool feature on the M-Audio Fast Track is a "mix" knob which allows you to control the volume balance between the track you are recording and the playback from the rest of the song, so you can always make sure you can clearly hear what you are recording against the backdrop of the rest of the song!
Anyway, like I say, this is perfect for MY needs, and I know there are plenty of people for whom this device would not be sufficient. But if you're a non-pro musician who enjoys making songs in your spare time with a "bare essentials" collection of equipment, then you might want to look into purchasing one of these!!!! |
| |
 "Wasn't too impressed" | 2009-04-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1D2M7ES80JVFC |
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 USB would be of comparable quality. Not so. I guess that's why it costs half as much. But you get what you pay for.
I returned the item and bought another Fast Track USB Pro. The Pro model has exceptional audio quality. I felt for the extra money, it was a better purchase in the long run. I was not impressed by the sound quality of this model. Amazon was great and allowed me to return this product for a full refund. |
| |
Expedited Available
