User manual M-AUDIO FAST TRACK II

[. . . ] M-Audio recommends refraining from installing operating system updates until a driver has been posted to the M-Audio website for that specific operating system. 5 Controls and Connectors 1 2 3 4 3 5 6 7 Front Panel 1. Phantom Power Indicator (48V) - This red LED illuminates when the Phantom Power switch (14) is set to the "on" position. Microphone Input - This jack is used for connecting a microphone using a standard XLR cable. Signal/Clip Indicators - The green LED indicates the presence of a signal at the corresponding input while the red LED indicates "clipping" or distortion at the input. [. . . ] At this point, you should be ready to record with the optimum gain setting. Setting the Sample Rate and Bit Depth of your Session Fast Track can operate at two sampling rates (44. 1 or 48kHz) and two different bit depths (16 or 24-bit) in order to accommodate a variety of projects. It is recommended that you decide on a sample rate and bit depth for your project before you begin recording to maximize fidelity and avoid potentially time consuming format conversions. If you are unsure about what settings to use, the following general guidelines should help you decide on a format: Music Projects: If your final mix is intended to be played back on a CD player, portable media player (such as an MP3 player), or other "music" device, it is recommended that you work at 24-bit resolution with a sampling rate of 44. 1kHz. Note that the final output file will have to be at 16-bit resolution for playback on a CD player (as well as some audio player applications). Fast Track Video Projects: User Guide 7 If your final mix is intended to be played back on a DVD player, TV show, or other "video" device, it is recommended that you work at 24-bit resolution with a sampling rate of 48kHz. TIP: Keep in mind that it is always possible to convert from one format to another with little or no audible degradation in sound quality. However, it is not possible to raise the fidelity of your already recorded files by increasing the bit depth. Therefore, to maximize the fidelity of your final mix, always try to work at the highest possible sample rate and bit depth that is appropriate for your specific project. Direct Monitoring When signal is recorded into software, there is often a slight delay before it reaches the outputs. This monitoring delay, called latency, is caused by the computer processing required to convert and record audio. Since this delay can sometimes distract the artist being recorded, Fast Track provides a direct analog monitor path from the inputs to the outputs, which is activated by pressing the Direct Monitor button (5). When you press the Direct Monitor button, a mono mix of sound from the Microphone and Guitar Inputs is routed directly to the Line Outputs and Headphone Output, and mixed with the output signal from your audio software. This lets your hear your "live" inputs (Microphone and Guitar) without any latency. Use of the Direct Monitor button has no effect on what is being recorded by your audio software. When using the Direct Monitor feature, make sure that your audio software is not outputting signal from the track you are recording on. This would cause "double-monitoring, " resulting in increased volume and an undesirable "phasing" sound. Consult the documentation for your audio software regarding disabling software monitoring. Typical Setup Here is a typical setup for simultaneous recording of an electric guitar and vocals: 1. Turn the Guitar Gain knob fully counter-clockwise and connect a guitar to the Guitar Input using a standard instrument cable. Turn the Mic Gain knob fully counter-clockwise and connect a microphone to the Microphone Input using standard XLR cable. Enable 48V phantom power if required by your microphone. Engage the Direct Monitor button for low latency monitoring, if necessary. Assign tracks in your audio software to the appropriate inputs for tracking guitar & vocals. Set input levels for the Guitar and Microphone inputs. See "Setting Your Recording Levels" on page 6 to learn how to properly set input levels. Powered Monitors Computer Rear View USB Guitar Mic Headphones 2. Front View 3. [. . . ] gain 40 dB 1M Ohms < -105dB, 1kHz, channel-to-channel -1. 8dBu, min. gain 0. 003% (-90 dB) @ 1kHz, -1dBFS, min. gain 48 dB 6K Ohms (balanced) < -105dB, 1kHz, channel-to-channel +48V, 10mA max Fast Track User Guide 11 12 Warranty Terms and Registration Warranty Terms M-Audio warrants products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship, under normal use and provided that the product is owned by the original, registered user. Visit www. m-audio. com/warranty for terms and limitations applying to your specific product. Warranty Registration Immediately registering your new M-Audio product entitles you to full warranty coverage and helps MAudio develop and manufacture the finest quality products available. [. . . ]