M-Audio Fast Track Pro 4x4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface with Preamps

by M-Audio

Product Features

• Flexible bus-powered multi-port interface
• 64 x 64 channel addressing accommodates loads of gear
• Built with four inputs and four outputs
• Features a dynamic microphone input, signal-peak LEDs, a mono switch, and more
• Measures 8.5 x 1.75 x 4.5 inches (WxHxD)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 3 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 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: B000BD31ZW
• Item model number: 9900-51076-00
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,254 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #18 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Computer Recording > Audio Interfaces

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Fast Track Pro delivers all the mobile recording flexibility of the Fast Track USB, plus even more professional features. You get 2 front-panel mic/line inputs complete with phantom power for condenser microphones, inserts for outboard effects balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, S/PDIF digital I/O, MIDI I/O, and more. Fast Track Pro also features near-zero latency direct hardware monitoring and low-latency ASIO software monitoring, plus an A/B source switch and dual output pairs for DJ-style cueing. Fast Track Pro is compatible with most popular PC and Mac music software. USB connection and bus power along with class compliancy for Mac OS X* make it a breeze to set up.
* Class compliancy supports 16-bit/48kHz 2 x 4 operation on OS X 10.3.9 and higher. Driver installation required to access more I/O.

Professional Recording—Anywhere, Anytime
Fast Track Pro is designed to let you record with professional results whenever and wherever you want. A single USB connection gives you access to all the I/O you need for microphones and instruments like guitars, as well as MIDI- and S/PDIF-equipped digital audio gear. The microphone inputs are even phantom powered to accommodate the studio-quality condenser microphones like the M-Audio Luna and Solaris. Our time-tested driver software gives you total routing control over the 4 x 4 I/O—including setting up an effects loop with external devices.

Monitoring Galore
One of the hallmarks of a great audio interface is its monitoring flexibility—and Fast Track Pro delivers. Fast Track Pro features a powerful headphone amp with volume control. Hardware direct monitoring eliminates the latency or delay inherent in even the best internal circuitry while listening to your input and existing tracks. You can also listen to your input complete with effects while recording by using extremely the low-latency ASIO monitoring we’ve perfected over the years. Two pairs of analog outputs let you connect to a DJ mixer and use the front-panel A/B source switch to audition cues.

Bundled Software

Ableton Live Lite delivers much of the functionality of Ableton Live—the revolutionary, multi-award winning music production solution that allows you to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit your musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. Live brings your acoustic, electronic and virtual instruments—as well as your digital audio recordings and MIDI sequences—together in a single interface with unparalleled ease of use.
Ableton Live Lite delivers much of the functionality of Ableton Live—the revolutionary, multi-award winning music production solution that allows you to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit your musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. Live brings your acoustic, electronic and virtual instruments—as well as your digital audio recordings and MIDI sequences—together in a single interface with unparalleled ease of use.

Ableton Live Lite 7 now sports up to eight tracks, more effect instances, an enhanced audio engine, 64-bit mix summing, multiple time signatures, new and improved devices, side-chaining, refined MIDI timing and more.

The Live Concept

Live Lite offers two main views—the Session View and the Arrangement View—that interact in a powerful and unique way, allowing you to create, produce and perform your music all in a single application. Here is the principle behind each view:

Session View

Live’s Session View acts as a musical sketch and launch pad, encouraging you to try out new ideas and improvise freely. Each cell in the Session View grid can hold a loop, recording, MIDI file, complete song or any other musical element. These ideas can be recorded on the fly or dragged in from the Browser, combined and played in any order you wish.

Arrangement View

The Arrangement View offers a timeline-based approach for traditional recording, MIDI sequencing, arranging, editing and other musical production tasks. And when you improvise in the Session View, all of your actions can be recorded into the Arrangement View, where they can be edited and perfected whenever you like.

Live Lite Feature

• Intuitive audio recording and MIDI sequencing*
• More than twenty built-in audio effects, including a host of creative delays, filters, distortions, studio compressors and EQs*
• Includes two software instruments—Simpler for creative sample-based synthesis, and Impulse for dynamic, sampled drums*
• Supports VST and AU effects and instruments*
• Real-time time-stretching and warping of AIFF and WAV files for DJing and instant remixing
• Tweak Live’s controls in real time with any MIDI controller—just MIDI map it
• All editing of your musical creations are non-destructive so you can experiment without worries
• Integrated single-screen user interface for simple, creativity-focused operation
• Dedicated Instant Mappings for many of M-Audio’s controllers

Also Includes

• A wide selection of presets for Live Lite’s instruments and effects
• Extensive built-in step-by-step tutorials
• Localized software menus, tutorials, and PDF reference manuals available in English, Spanish, French, German and Japanese

Minimum System Requirements (Mac)

• Any G4 or faster, (Intel Mac recommended)
• 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
• Mac OS X 10.3.9 (10.4 or later recommended)
• QuickTime 6.5 or higher
• DVD-ROM drive

Minimum System Requirements (PC)

• 1.5 GHz CPU or faster
• 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
• Windows XP or Windows Vista
• Windows compatible sound card (ASIO driver support recommended)
• QuickTime 6.5 or higher
• DVD-ROM drive

* Live Lite is limited to eight tracks, four simultaneous built-in audio effects, four built-in instruments, two AU/VST effects and two AU/VST instruments per project. Live Lite 7 does not include video support, compressed audio support, or Complex warp mode.

Product Description

The Fast Track Pro delivers all the mobile recording flexibility of the Fast Track, plus even more professional features. You get two front-panel mic/line inputs complete with phantom power for condenser microphones, inserts for outboard effects, balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, S/PDIF digital I/O, MIDI I/O, and more. Fast Track Pro also features near zero-latency direct hardware monitoring and low-latency ASIO software monitoring, plus an A/B source switch and dual output pairs for DJ-style cueing. Fast Track Pro is compatible with most popular PC and Mac music software. Features Include: 24-bit/96kHz audio interface * 2 front panel mic/instrument preamp inputs (Neutrik XLR/ 1/4'' TRS) with: gain controls, signal/peak lights; pads for each input; insert jack (1/4? TRS) for outboard processors * 2 balanced outputs (1/4? TRS) * 4 unbalanced outputs (RCA) * S/PDIF digital I/O with w/ 2-channel PCM * S/PDIF out also supports pass-through of AC-3/DTS surround-encoded content * 1 x 1 MIDI I/O with activity LEDs * Headphone output (1/4? TRS) with level control * Headphone A/B source switch for DJ-style cueing * Input/playback mix control for hardware direct monitoring * Mono switch for input/playback direct monitoring * Master output level control * Near zero-latency hardware direct monitoring * Low-latency ASIO software monitoring * USB connection to computer * Powered via USB or optional AC power adapter * Kensington lock port

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy hardware - not so easy software - excellent product, October 18, 2010

By 

Ljubo - See all my reviews

This review is from: M-Audio Fast Track Pro 4x4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface with Preamps (Electronics)

1.- This is primarily an USB External Soundcard, so don't ask more than a simple soundcard can deliver for you. If you want a multitrack recorder, or a high-end amplifier, or a 256 mixing console, then buy them, but not this one.

2.- The installation is the simplest. Don't use the CD. C'mon! This machine has been in the market since (I think) 2005, so don't expect 2010 drivers in the box. Forget about the CD and go directly to the M-Audio website and download the drivers that you need.

Don't forget to uninstall all previous drivers associated with older soundcards and physically extract your old soundcard from your computer.

And, beware: first of all install the M-Audio drivers, reboot your machine and just then, you can turn in your Fast Track Pro, never ever before (!).

3.- Maybe the interface it's a little enigmatic to understand - because the manual isn't that explicit - but not impossible to master. An advice... You`re surely gonna need some Y adapters because the only cable that comes in the box is the USB connector. In my case - only my case - I needed one Y adapter to connect my speakers (crappy ones) that have a 1/8 male connector (just enough for my old soundcard), so I needed a 1 stereo TRS 1/8 female to 2 mono RCA male Y adapter (lot of letters, uh?). Besides, I use an old second hand V-AMP with my guitar, so I needed a 1 stereo TRS female to 2 mono TRS male Y adapter, to connect my V-AMP in stereo and not mono. If you don't do this your instrument signal will be in mono and at one side.

4.- Some people complain that the sound is not that loud, but it depends of the kind of speakers and headphones you use. Bad ones, weak output - Good ones, strong output. With this dude, the bad stuff really sounds bad! So don't blame the Fast Track Pro for any weak sound.

5.- Some people - believe me - gets confused with the front, with all the knobs and buttons, but it's not that hard. The "signal" knobs at the side of the XLR/TRS inputs are exactly for that, for them only. The fun it's in the right side... The "mix" knob has two functions:

- When your're using the XLR/TRS inputs, for guitars, basses or microphones, just to mix them left and right. The upper bottom (inst/line) it's to select between a guitar signal or a synthesizer signal. The lower bottom (pad) is to cushion your soundcard from a too strong signal (maybe an amplified one). I use it to connect stuff I don't know how powerful could be.

- When you're not using those XLR/TRS inputs, and you just want to hear music (because, after all, it's a soundcard), then turn the "mix" knob all the way to the right, so then you can use the other two knobs, the "output" knob and the "level" knob.

The "output" knob is for turning up or down your speakers level or anything you have connected to the RCA outputs in the back. The "level" knob is for the same function, but only if you connect a pair of headphones to the TRS input in the front, exactly below the "level" knob.

6.- By the way, I haven't used the two TRS output, nor the TRS inputs, nor the secondary RCA outputs, nor the S/PIDF RCA connectors, nor the MIDI in/out connectors either. I don't have that many necessities, but they may come in handy for somebody else. And the MIDI connectors really come in handy when you need to plug a synthesizer or sampler that needs dedicated midi in/midi out messages; so there's no need to connect via USB first to your computer, then again via USB to your Fast Track Pro, and then again via USB to your PC to hear the results (!). So it's kind of common sense, to connect MIDI directly to the MIDI in the Fast Track Pro, isn't it?

Other thing, this device doesn't have an synthesizer chip inside, so don't expect to hear any MIDI sound if you connect your controller keyboard to it. You'll have to use softsynths for that, be it standalone or plugins (VST, DX, RTAS) in your Sequencer.

7.- This soundcard doesn't have a software interface as a Soundblaster or the likes, your equalization and volume depends only of the player or program you use, so don't look for a virtual mixer, equalizer or F/X board to modify the sound. I use Winamp or Windows Media Player, so I modify the sound in those programs.

8.- To configure it with your favorite software, you'll need to look on internet to find the right way, because it's not in the manual (the manual is basic hardware description and some instructions to configure it in your OS). I highly recommend The M-Audio forums to find your way in the different configurations, but usually - in any software - it's inside the "properties" or "audio hardware" menu, where you can assign the M-Audio hardware and drivers to make a software work.

In my case, I use Sonar 8 Producer Edition - a monster that I spent weeks trying to make it emit a sound in a humble Soundblaster - and Adobe Audition 3.0 (far easier to configure). And I had to read a lot in internet to make them work with Fast Track Pro, because the experience - without that valuable information - was really disheartening, something that made me understand absolutely all the people that put 1 star on this product. This dude is not for people with little or any patience, or for people that is not PC or Internet savvy, or for people that is not familiarized with Music Software.

9.- Finally, the hardware is really simple to master, just some knobs and buttons with double functions, some different connectors, inputs and outputs (believe me, you will need some Y adapters), and that's it. But on the software side, the one that makes your Fast Track Pro interplay with your Sequencer, your Softsynth, or your Audio Editor... You'll need some time to learn.

In my case, I had to navigate a lot in the M-Audio forums, the Cakewalk Sonar forums and the Adobe Audition forums, to get the information I needed.

PS: Remember that this soundcard (never forget this is a soundcard) doesn't have a CPU or RAM of its own (technically, a DSP), so you'd better have a new and powerful machine (not less than an Intel Core i3), because all the weight of dealing with audio, softsynths and special effects is gonna be on your CPU and RAM... That's why a lot of people with old and weak computers complain about the latency and cracking supposedly "caused" by this soundcard.

62 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Watch it like a hawk..., December 19, 2006

By 

M. C. Heck "Breakpoint" (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio Fast Track Pro 4x4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface with Preamps (Electronics)

This thing CAN sound AMAZING-- but it probably won't, unless you are very careful. Make sure you have the latest drivers. Don't even BOTHER with the MME ("wave") or WDM drivers; it's ASIO or nothing, because M-Audio's MME/WDM drivers are so bad, I was completely convinced this thing had both a noise gate and a lousy ADC, when it turned out to be driver issues.

The pre-amp doesn't have as much gain as you might hope, but if you've got it cranked and you can barely get anything out of an SM-57, something is WRONG with your install. Try using ASIO. I had absolutely horrible results with Adobe Audition 1.0, but the 2.0 demo, using ASIO, a few reboots, and some tweaking, finally sounds perfect.

That said, the headphone output on this thing is awesome. Oh, rock on.

I hope I can get this thing working properly, because the only real competition is about three times the price.

NOTE: This device has PARTIAL support available for Linux/ALSA, with more on the way. That is independent support, mind you-- NOT M-Audio drivers.

I will revise/replace this review as I see better results; this is already better than my last one.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't let the naysayers scare you off.., January 21, 2008

By 

tangent (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: M-Audio Fast Track Pro 4x4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface with Preamps (Electronics)

This is a great little machine, yes there are a few caveats.. but on the whole I don't think you will find anything else in this price range with better features. I noticed quite a few negative reviews on this and other m-audio devices here on amazon, but it appears that most of them are either people who are inexperienced with digital audio equipment or people complaining about driver issues.

I have owned previous M-audio equipment and they do have a history of spotty drivers and slow fixes, however in this case I have had absolutely no problems with their drivers (running on Vista 32-bit). The sound quality is great, ASIO latency is low (~3ms), works on Linux too. I would give it 5 stars if it was 24/96 and usb 2.0