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Hatsubai « You get what you pay for »
Published on 06/28/11 at 19:24The M-Audio Fast Track is a budget preamp for those who want to get to recording quickly without too much of a hassle. The pre features 2 inputs, 2 outputs, 24bit/48KHz audio, USB 2.0, XLR inputs with 48V phantom power, 1/4'' instrument input w/ gain control, 1/4'' stereo headphone output, RCA speaker outputs, output level knob for adjusting volume, direct monitoring button and bundled software.
UTILIZATION
The device itself isn't too bad in the way they set it up. There are no annoying breakout cables, so you don't have to deal with that. A lot of times, people cram tons of features into a small box and then have a breakout cable. These cables can snag and cause all kinds of issues. By having it all self contained, you have a much cleaner work area. It's a pretty intuitive device, and it's easy to use. Drivers seem to be fairly stable, so no issues there. I used this with the bundled software and had no issues at all.
GETTING STARTED
The device is very simple to set up and start using. You simply plug everything into their corresponding ports, open up your DAW, set your preferences up and you're good to go. Making music is very easy with this. The pres themselves aren't the cleanest out there, but what do you expect from something this cheap? They definitely get the job done, but I wish it was firewire. I know some people dislike firewire, but it's still superior to USB 2.0 in real world applications.
OVERALL OPINION
If you're on a budget, this pre isn't too bad. If you can afford it, I recommend trying to get the Fast Track Pro. It'll have a few more features, although they basically sound the same. Try to find one of these used and use it in conjunction with your favorite DAW.
UTILIZATION
The device itself isn't too bad in the way they set it up. There are no annoying breakout cables, so you don't have to deal with that. A lot of times, people cram tons of features into a small box and then have a breakout cable. These cables can snag and cause all kinds of issues. By having it all self contained, you have a much cleaner work area. It's a pretty intuitive device, and it's easy to use. Drivers seem to be fairly stable, so no issues there. I used this with the bundled software and had no issues at all.
GETTING STARTED
The device is very simple to set up and start using. You simply plug everything into their corresponding ports, open up your DAW, set your preferences up and you're good to go. Making music is very easy with this. The pres themselves aren't the cleanest out there, but what do you expect from something this cheap? They definitely get the job done, but I wish it was firewire. I know some people dislike firewire, but it's still superior to USB 2.0 in real world applications.
OVERALL OPINION
If you're on a budget, this pre isn't too bad. If you can afford it, I recommend trying to get the Fast Track Pro. It'll have a few more features, although they basically sound the same. Try to find one of these used and use it in conjunction with your favorite DAW.