All user reviews for the M-Audio Fast Track C400

What characteristics have motivated your choice? :

Connectors, control button, can have two different pairs of monitoring (perfect for the final render)

Which instruments and systems (console, preamp, DTD ...) you use it and how connections? ...

Home studio (3 keyboards: Akai MPK49, M Audio 45 and 88 platinum Numark TT500, stanton console)

UTILIZATION

Drivers impeccable on my PC, no crash since purchase!

GETTING STARTED

RAS too simple .....

OVERALL OPINION

I use it now a little over a year and I am delighted.

A remake I rush without any problems.

Report / Qualities price return!

I use the card to save on my computer, buy with Pro Tools MP9. very good report card handy with these inputs.

UTILIZATION

An update is necessary at the outset to fast track. latency is correct. see no evil at all.

GETTING STARTED

Tools pro side, it takes a good day and patience to implement. And I think not to be nil info! It was not until I rename my hard drive and a bunch of manipe to operate. Now, it is no longer Ilok key and after-sales service is non-existent. I now use a free sequencer. next map, RAS, everything is all alone.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had 1year half before I board a ZOMM lamp very powerful, but I preferes the C400. a remake, I bought without Pro Tools.

For specifications, I'll let you watch the box or site.
She is in a homestudio environment at home. It helps me to be able bosser on compositions, record my ideas.

UTILIZATION

It runs on a Cubase 5 and bug from time to time, the driver passes the C400 internal asio Cubase. Something that has never happened before with my Steinberg C1. After my system cash though, so I can read and write a lot of tracks simultaneously.

GETTING STARTED

No worries facility level.

OVERALL OPINION

I am not convinced by the quality of this card. She is very average, the preamps are very light. There are much better in this price range (Focusrite, Presonus ...). If this choice over again, bah I do it again at all. I just go to Focusrite.

Features:
- USB sound card (firewire have disappeared on most laptops)
- 4 inputs: 2 mic preamps / line to the rear with 20dB pads (with phantom power) + 2 instrument inputs on jack 6.35 (including one dedicated to recording guitars).
- Digital Input / Output S / PDIF
- MIDI input and output (it can still be used!)
- 4 balanced analog outputs with monitor management to connect two pairs of speakers (or a pair and a subwoofer) and to switch from one pair to another very easily.
- 1 headphone output with independent volume control
- Reverb and integrated within
- Master Volume
- Assignable Multi button
- Includes the latest version of Pro Tools SE
- Format desktop already tested on a TC and it must be confessed, very useful!

Used with a laptop core i5, 6GB RAM.
The purpose of this purchase was to have a portable solution for making models ... C400 perfectly fulfills this contract ... but everything is relative ...
The preamps are a fairly good quality for the price but they are far from sufficient for a definitive recording.
We are in the low end and it feels a little ... anyway ...

UTILIZATION

The drivers are quite stable even if it happens (occasionally) the card "picks" for no particular reason. No update since the purchase.
The resulting latency in Cubase is on the record definition but is generally correct.
Small disappointment at the rear / front function limiting the number of recordable tracks simultaneously. Either you record what is plugged into the front panel or on record which is plugged into the back ... but not, for example, record a guitar along with a keyboard plugged in stereo on the rear panel.
The number of tracks played simultaneously also depends on which project you work and plugins used: dsp card or vst ... it weighs not the same in the end!
For example, I have a piece of a dozen tracks which rowing map: using multiple VST instruments + effects ... and another 24 tracks passing very well since few different VST instruments used.


GETTING STARTED

Used with Cubase 5, I encountered no problems installing. Everything is very simple: you install the driver provided, plug the card and voila!
The general configuration is easy for any musicos who already possessed an external card.
The software part is rather well thought out, it easily makes its mark!
Buffer size, sample rate, level, pan, etc. ... everything is clear on the software interface.
At worst, you can fall back on the manual is pretty lousy (in any case, is much better and more explicit than some competing brands).


OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 8 months and, as stated above, this card is quite to my needs.
I have not tried other model ... I trusted the test Audiofanzine well as various articles touting the relative qualities of this card considering its price.

So ... +: the desktop screen provides real comfort because everything that is important in the eyes VU meters, gain, buttons rear / front, volume buttons (general and headphone), phantom power (single for both tracks, unfortunately) ... and the famous multi button that is, in my opinion, very useful since you can assign several positions, such as "record, stop, return to the starting point, read" ... all with a single button!
Quality preamps and inputs in general is pretty good in this price range ... but everything is relative and stay away from the neutrality of high-end cards.
Nevertheless, the color is light and made quite acceptable for registration.

... and -: I would say that the main problem is that converters are a very average quality. This card is good for the composition but can not get a professional result when moving from the south or when the audio starts in the mix for a title.
The single phantom power for both tracks ... by a track would have been better!
The knobs are not notched ... This is not dramatic for the volume part ... but a little annoying regarding entries.
Finally, the plastic quality ... I do not know what it will give over time, but in any case, do not expect to prevent scratches! Even with great care, it is inevitable because any nail tip that exceeds a knob that rotates, and the scratch is top!

The quality / price ratio is quite honest: the map shows a very decent quality for the entry level, despite some noticeable flaws quickly.
For 160 euros, was m-audio / Avid accompanied by a light version of Pro Tools as well as some DSP effects built in good order.
The choice of "all plastic" is both a good and a bad thing: some plastics used seem relatively fragile material but it has the advantage of lightness ... This can be convenient for mobile use ...

Finally, with the experience, I do not know if I do it again this choice ... we must see what the competition will offer us in the near future but at the time of purchase, it was the most comprehensive map I could find: many styles happen midi inputs (which was a problem for me) ... and many models in the same price range, offer fewer inputs and preamps lesser quality.

What characteristics have motivated your choice?
Comes with pro tools, Easy to use.

For what purpose?
Voice recording and composition

What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard, ...)?
2.8 Ghz / Intel ® Core ™ 2 Duo T9600 / 8 GB Ram

With which instruments or systems (console, preamp, DtD ...) you use it and how connections?
Use without further console or preamp

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable? Are they often updated?
The drivers are stable. The map of beuger once or twice in 6 months of use. Few updates

What software do you use most often?
Fruity Loops / Adobe audition 3

How many tracks you get to record / playback simultaneously?
thirty buffer with max

GETTING STARTED

The installation was quick, but there was a problem installing windows seven and use the browser (you had to use internet explorer)

The general configuration is easy?

The manual is clear and sufficient? rather

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you been using?
I used about 6 months

Did you try many other models before buying it?
Before I had a M-Audio MobilePre USB

What is so special that you like most and least?
I liked its ease of use, ergonomics, it has everything. We just wish that the drivers are not developed to control more tracks mix.

How do you rate the quality / price? With experience, you do again this choice?
Value for money is interesting but for a few dollars more you could have a better audio interface at the preamp (Roland Quad Capture / Avid mbox ....)
With the experience I would take a direct interface better

Use in musical composition

UTILIZATION

Use in MACOSX Lion (10.7) and Protools 9
Quick Installation in 2 minutes with the included CD.
I'm working on composition and mixing projects about 50 tracks (audio + Midi)
Under these conditions the card is perfectly stable and low latency
I also use the instrument inputs from time to time for recording guitar.
I have only used the card for a voice vote taken (so demo)
Converters have appeared to me very good, better than on my old DIGI002
(At the same time is not hard)

GETTING STARTED

Installation without problems in my case.

OVERALL OPINION

I find good value for money, I love the central button which is very accurate, perfect on a desk in a home studio to have a hand.
I am very satisfied with the map to use as I have, I think it does the job nicely for recording with the addition of a good preamp, converters me look very correct.
it is also ideal for those who move given its small size!

The M Audio Fast Track C400 is a sleek designed interface that has a very appealing look to it. It sits perfectly on a desktop and cannot be racked but when on our desktop it will not look like an interface at all. It is a 4 in and 6 out interface that lets you record and play back multiple sources. One feature that I really liked with this interface is that I could connect more than 1 set of monitors to it and switch back and forth between them for monitoring on different speakers as a reference. A lot of interfaces in this price range do not have that feature.

UTILIZATION

The C400 also has built in reverb and other effects. The monitoring is very close to zero latency. The main controls of this interface are on the top panel of it making it easily accessible to change what is needed. When I purchased this interface it came with Pro Tools SE which I didn’t expect to get with it when I purchased it online. I was already using Pro Tools and didn’t need it but it was still a plus that they shipped it with it. I have used this interface is Logic, Cubase, and Reason many times and it never gave me any issues no matter what I used it with.

GETTING STARTED

There are 2 front panel ¼ instrument inputs and 4 balanced analog outputs with monitoring management for switching back and forth between monitors. Those features alone make this interface worth the money spend. It connects to your computer via USB and gets its power from the computer so there is no need to plug it into a wall outlet.

OVERALL OPINION

The Fast Track C400 interface is a must have for someone who wants a sleek and stylish portable interface that they can run their whole set up with.

Inputs and outputs, volume control, design and size.

I'm on a PC powerful enough configuration and I really use to its full capacity. I run on Windows 7 64bit

I use it for guitars, basses, microphones, keyboards.
The two inputs are connected before on acoustic guitars and basses.
The two inputs are connected to the rear tube preamp 2 channel microphones.
MIDI is connected to the master keyboard
The SPDIF is connected to a CD player
Outputs 1 & 2 are connected to my monitorings
Outputs 3 & 4 are connected to a multicasques leaves me headphones for the general mix.

UTILIZATION

Regarding drivers, I think the stability leaves to be desired, I am often forced to disconnect and reconnect to the driver gets back on the road.

Updates are interesting and fairly well attended.

I use the card with Cubase and Reason in rewire most of the time.

Level latency, I can get down to 128

I manage to record multiple tracks at the same time but it's still light. This is a small card anyway.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is quite simple

I have not had any problems in compatibility with this driver.

The setup is quite easy to do and the driver a very interesting interface for controlling the map, which is definitely a plus. This adjusts its inputs / outputs as desired and send the signal that we want.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost 1 year.

I like its design, ease of working, its size
I do not like the pilot who often kidding

yes, I tried the fast track ultra, which was good but less than this. The first mobile but also a bit overwhelmed.

The price / quality ratio is quite interesting.

In this range of sound card, I think so, I could redo this choice, but in the case of a minimal installation. For me, it is much too small now ... Ideal for a musician or nomadic then, as now I use a Macbook pro and it turns nickel.

I tried a sound card usb'''' for use with mobile studio and a volume knob on top.
it also works well on my tower windows 7 on my macbook pro or my macpro.

UTILIZATION

I must admit that the fast track is perfect for use with computer music, house & electro)
Very well recognized by live, logic, traktor, rekordbox.
The sound is perfect, I have prodipe pro 5 and HS 50 connected (have can control output) XLR.
Project 32 live tracks plus effects it turns round, such as logic, latency top.

GETTING STARTED

All is perfect, no worries that it be under win7, leopard or snow leopard.
Software volume control and nickel possibilitée to add effects.

OVERALL OPINION

6 months without any problem, and 7/7d, whether mao or listening to her.
if I should advise a sound card for the single mao semi pro là.Elle it is that has all it takes.

Since the separation of AVID M-AUDIO interface that is part of Avid.
Support for this equipment is non-existent in AVID.

It's a shame because this product is a great quality, but without support it is worthless ...

My config:
Laptop with Windows 7 - 64 bit

UTILIZATION

I use this device for measuring acoustic.

Microphone input and S / PDIF output only.

GETTING STARTED

No problems with installation.
Nonexistent manual should read the pdf file.

After installing PRO TOOLS SE, I find myself with an ASIO driver further. Find the error. But it is not essential for my application.

OVERALL OPINION

Using 3 weeks, then returned to the dealer.

I asked a technical question about the site M-AUDIO (http://community.m-audio.com) and the Avid forum.

24 hours later I get a response from M-AUDIO AVID referring me to.

"Thanks for Contacting Support.'m Happy to assist you.
M-Audio is now part of inMusic Brands.
Please note que le Following M-Audio branded products Were not included in the acquisition, and will continue to be sold, supported, and serviced by Avid. "

20 days later, still no return score in AVID.

No Comment!

Using computer music studio / Listen Track / Voice Recording

UTILIZATION

This is perfect, the site of Avid is a cd driver is included in the purchase anyway ... In short it is!

GETTING STARTED

without pb

OVERALL OPINION

6 months

Perfect, I second 8ms latency noon, the record is clean.

However, I believe there is a problem of neutrality ... I'm not sure. Sounds good but my headphone rounder than the other interface, it is not so bad, I have a Denon! it was the 150th, like a dung in the bottom of any pre-amp I tested ... except on the fast track. So the headphone is good. But when I use my speakers (krk) Who are base already boosted bottom; Bah makes her a little too low .

I'll change the headphone, so I have some questions Like, Akg like that I'm neutral? or Ultrasone anyway so it returns well below the pre-amp it will be crazy.

In short, this is a great interface (especially for the price), but I am confident that the pre-amp is in stereo. It is frankly not very serious given the quality of the machine, but hey we would have liked. 8/10 very good.

What characteristics have motivated your choice? 4 inputs, one instrument, 4 outputs and especially 1 / O spdif. Since it is just recorded my guitars, no need more inputs analog outputs.
I absolutely need the spdif to enter directly into the digital intermediate VB101 my torpedo that has convertos upscale and avoid yet another conversion n / aa / n.
I use a small pc dual core with 4 GB XP.

UTILIZATION

I struggled to find XP drivers, and I'm not sure maudio continuous monitoring of drivers XP. But no worries stability so I do not see why I need to upgrade my drivers.
Only qq ms latency following the ASIO buffer settings with the software REAPER.
I also used to do reamping by directly connecting the analog output on the card to the input of my amp and it works perfectly, which saves me at least € 200 reamping box (eg red eye).

GETTING STARTED

The installation runs in 2 shots spoon pot, no worries, it works perfectly now.
THE configuration is very simple by the intermediary of an ergonomic control panel.

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you been using? qq month
What is so special that you like most and least? I think the format of the case which seems confusing at first, is actually very nice to use, I love being able to access the settings easily.

How do you rate the quality / price? With experience, you do again this choice? pruix one flush of daisies, great sound quality, easy to use short, I find my happiness.

What characteristics have motivated your choice?

I was looking for a small card with its convenient little bit of input output headphone output indepandante (well its not as it is linked to outputs 1-2 with proper preamps so infact a recent sound card for voice pick scratches and various instruments

UTILIZATION

Stable drivers with nothing to declare and acid fl studio 3ms latency with sonar testing under current X1 fruity MIDI for up to 20 different instruments midi track with no problem in acid mix up with 29 tracks full of various plug aucaun have concern with sonar

GETTING STARTED

yes as driver + plug any USB periph almost

OVERALL OPINION

queleque months I am satisfied and found the huge difference with the yam 6 audio gizmo thing that I had before and for 40 € more than the yam is the day and night

with epxerience now I can tourneré to her older sister to come over but hey we recorded in one track of that I have for my musicos prods We manage a counselor for START

What characteristics have motivated your choice?

The four inputs (6 with digital), the 4 monitoring outputs, the headphone volume independent format desktop.



Which instruments or systems you use it and how connections?

With a monitoring system Yamaha HS50M 2, a drum machine Roland TD9 KX2 (stereo), guitars, microphones ...



For what purpose?

Music production, recording.

UTILIZATION

The use of the Fast Track C400 is relatively simple. It is fully compatible with most software computer music. The software "Control Panel" included in the Driver to control its monitoring systems, to send the "Reverb" in the headphones and adjust the Multi button interface to assign a command.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems?

No problem for installation.
We must install the driver before connecting the interface to the computer!



The general configuration is easy?

There is no real configuration to do, everything is done automatically on Logic, Pro tools ... and even Garage Band!
As for the sound against the computer by the interface, it will set it in the preferences of his.



The manual is clear and sufficient?

Yes, it is relatively clear, in several languages ​​and with drawings demonstration.

OVERALL OPINION

A simple interface, desktop format ...
Convenient and portable.