M-Audio Fast Track USB 2 Computer Audio Interface

by M-Audio

Product Features

• includes Pro Tools M-Powered Essential software - make music immediatley
• one-for-all compatibility - works with most popular recording software - including Pro ools M-Powered 8*
• 1/4" instrument input - record guitar, bass and keyboards
• phantom powered XLR mic input - use dynamic and studio-grade condenser microphones
• stereo RCA outputs - easily connects to your stereo system or powered monitors

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 3 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B002QZ402Q
• Item model number: Fast Track USB 2
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,053 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #19 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Computer Recording > Audio Interfaces

Product Description

Turn your computer into a powerful music production studio with the M-Audio Fast Track - the best-selling recording interface in its category. Featuring a simple "plug-and-play" USB connection, Fast Track is the easiest way to record guitar, vocals and more with your PC or MAC. Simply plug in your instrutments and you're ready to rock. Fast Track even offers phantome power so you can use professional-quality studio condenser microphones like the M-Audio Nova. Fast Track is compatible wit most poplar music recording applications from GarageBand to studio-standard Pro Tools M-Powered, and includes easy-to-use Pro Tools M-Powered Essential recording and effecs software so you can start making music immediately.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Popping, cracking, white noise issues. Support forum useless., February 25, 2010

By 

P. Rodelas (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: M-Audio Fast Track USB 2 Computer Audio Interface (Electronics)

I was looking for an easy-to-use audio recording interface and thought I had found the right combination of features and price in this product. Unfortunately, I've had nothing by problems since installing the drivers for this item. While listening and/or recording through this device, I suffer intermittent cracks, pops, and extremely loud bursts of white noise rendering it completely useless. My original onboard sound card works just fine and I've been forced to reset it as the default audio source while looking for a solution to this problem.

I searched the product's support forum to discover A.) Many users with similar problems using this product specifically and other M-Audio Fast Track products generally; and B.) A rabbit's trail of tech-laden "solutions" requiring an unreasonable amount of trial and error diagnosing OS settings, optimizing PC performance, disabling other devices, etc., all of which in my case have unfortunately yielded no solution.

I'm no newbie to computers and this experience has left me befuddled. I will be returning this product as soon as I can find my receipt and the box it shipped in.

Short version: It's fair to expect USB products to simply "plug and play" (assuming updated drivers are available) without having to spend hours researching a solution to a problem. Apparently, this one does not simply plug and play for me. Too bad. I was really hoping this product was going to work.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Interface - some software issues on Mac, August 31, 2010

By 

JH - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: M-Audio Fast Track USB 2 Computer Audio Interface (Electronics)

First, let me start off by saying that this interface is absolutely worth the money. For the Sub $150 market, I don't think you'll do much better. The interface is clean and works well with GarageBand 09 on Mac OSX. I have only used the instrument in (as I am not a vocalist, and I'm just using this for songwriting and laying scratch tracks right now)

The only problem I encountered was with the included Pro-Tools software. I had difficulty installing on MacOS 10.6.5 (I think). Basically, there is an issue between versions that is corrected by visiting the Digidesign site and downloading an updated installer (8.3).

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hardware OK, software???, March 11, 2010

By 

K. Holmes "Learner" (Miami FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio Fast Track USB 2 Computer Audio Interface (Electronics)

Couldn't get the software to work, which seems to be hit or miss. For me it was a miss. I don't know what the interface looks like, because I've never seen it. Seems to be an issues with AMD processors. If you search for problems with M-Audio you'll find a lot of info on the bundled software.

It works well with my Audacity. Input levels are not a problem. One of my Mics use phantom power and there's a switch for that. Works great. Guitar input works great and the other works as expected great. I didn't expect much more form something priced the way this is. Haven't had problems with clicking and noise.

If I could get the software to work I would add another star.