Fast Track Pro as Stand-alone?

[SpiritAnointed@]

Hey gang. I just purchased the Fast Track Pro a few days ago and it's still in my booth...I'm completely confused at how to use it.

Here is my set-up:

I have a macbook, condenser mic, and this fast track pro interface. I want to this interface to hook to my macbook while the mic connects to the interface. For some reason, when I plug my mic in the first mic input, I only hear sound from the left channel...and when I plug it into the second input, I hear it only on the right channel.

I understand that's supposed to be because of stereo...but I don't get it. I press the stereo/mono button after recording and it still only shows playback on whichever channel my mic is plugged into, even though the program on my macbook shows the recording was done in both channels.

This confuses me because I hear playback on my headphones. I don't have a monitor. Also, when I speak into the mic anytime before or during recording, I don't hear myself. Even though it records, I cannot hear myself through my headphones until playback. That kinda has me puzzled.

My main goal is to up my recording quality to 24-bit recording. That's the reason I bought this interface. I want to use that as my standalone interface so I can record into that with 24-bit quality, then bring it into my macbook laptop and mix the tracks in there. Any idea on how I can get this configured?

BTW all drivers are installed, that includes the intell-based drivers so I know that's good. Thanks for your help! :-D

[AndyH]

You have one microphone? That can only produce one signal. If you record two tracks ("stereo") the second track will not contain anything except the background noise that the soundcard generates (hopefully very low level so you hear nothing). I don't know what program you are using, or how it displays information, but it should show what I just described if you can get at any detail.

If by "This confuses me because I hear playback on my headphones." you mean that you hear the recording in both sides of the headphone, you must have some kind of mix to mono engaged, either in the software or on the external box. Otherwise you would hear what when into the microphone only from that side of the headphones.

Hearing what you are currently recording is not possible with USB in the same way it is with an internal soundcard. You can only listen to the input in real time if the external box has hardware connections that allow it. This is frequently called direct monitoring but the soundcard manufacturer may have chosen some other label. If it is provided for, there should be a hardware switch on the box to engage it.

The "normal" recording paradigm is to record each signal to a separate track. This gives you the most options for getting the mix you want out of them because you can treat each track individually before you mix them together into a stereo result.

[David Muniz]

This is a common misunderstanding when one begins to make their own recordings.

We want to record most sources in mono so that you then have the option of panning them in the stereo field when it comes time to mix. In other words, if you record the vocal in mono, you can then use the PAN knob on your mixer (virtual or analog) to place it in a field from left to right. This outputs the signal to both speakers at varying amounts depending on where the PAN knob is set. If it's in the middle, you get equal amounts from both speakers giving the illusion the sound is magically emanating from the middle. If it's turned to the right, you hear little from the left speaker and more from the right, etc.

The fast track pro does have direct monitoring. You are only using 1 mic. That mic input is part of a pair of inputs. This pair of inputs are just two mono inputs that can be recorded from simultaneously as a single stereo sound, if you want to. For example, using the Fast Track Pro, you could setup two mics to record a string ensemble and get a nice stereo recording of that ensemble. Since your goal is to record from one mic, and layer single tracks on top of each other, then you will only hear the left channel(or right, whichever you plug in to. Input 1=L Input 2=R)

By pressing the Stereo/mono button, you are only placing your MONITOR signal in stereo. The MONITOR signal is not the same signal you are recording. It is only what you are HEARING or MONITORING. Though you hear the signal in both speakers or headphones, it is only being recorded to one track.

To have that recording come out of both speakers, all you have to is turn the PAN knob for the track to the middle.

BE SURE YOU ARE RECORDING A MONO FILE. This is accomplished in different ways, depending on the software. Either create a MONO track, or set the input for the track to a MONO source (input 1 or input 2, NOT Input 1/2) If you record a stereo file, what will result is a recording with silence on one side and the sound you wanted to record on the other.

Sounds like you are about to embark on a twisting fun and sometimes frustrating road.

A few tips - Be patient, ask lots of questions (good start), and remember the most important things is not the quality of the recording, but the quality of the idea. MAKE GOOD MUSIC. The rest will fall into place.

[SpiritAnointed@]

Wow...that's confusing...lol. I think I can get the mono thing...but can you please answer a few of these questions:

1) RealTime Recording - How do I get it so that I can hear myself when I speak into the mic? When I do now, I don't hear myself before or during recording. I have no idea if I'm really being recorded and it just throws me off. Is there I way I can fix this?

2) 24 Bit Recording - The purpose of me getting this interface (moving from my 16-bit mixer) was to utilize the 24-bit quality of my vocals (I've been recording with equipment for a while) so...how do I utilize this to the fullest or at least basic functions?

3) Recording volume - on the interface, during playback the recording I made sounds VERY low. I turn the volume up to the max and it really doesn't sound convincing for a 24-bit interface. I want to be able to hear the strengths of my recording and vocals like I did on my old 16-bit mixer. This interface is awesome for having preamps and all the things I really need...I'm trying to figure out how to utilize them correctly?

Can you guys help me? :(

[SpiritAnointed@]

Hey just bumping this up for feedback. I hope you guys can come help me plz.

[AndyH]

Monitoring is more limited with any USB device. Most have headphone output on the external device for "direct hardware monitoring" by which you can listen to what is heading its way to the computer on the USB line. It is normally activated or deactivated by a switch. You will have to look to the manual for features and operation on your particular soundcard; I'm not familiar with it.

I believe you must install the M-Audio drivers to access 24 bit recording. That should also be covered in their manual. You record to a program that accepts 24 bit. Best is to record to 32 bit floating point format to preserve the full quality as you edit and mix (or 64 bit in some applications).

Playback volume has nothing to do with 16 or 24 bit, but everything to do with the signal coming out of the microphone preamp. Some microphone preamps have 60dB of gain, many have only 48dB, and some even less. If you are using the preamp correctly and it doesn't have enough gain, you probably need a microphone that is more suited to its characteristics. You can amplify the recorded level in most audio editors before playback, but you need to input a reasonably high level to begin with or the quality will suffer.

[David Muniz]

Spirit -

Andy's right - INstall the M-Audio drivers to get access to 24 bit. If you have installed these drivers, then launch the audio preferences in your software and set the record settings to 24 bit.

When recording, as a rule of thumb, always record a mono signal. Especially if it's a single source, like a vocal, guitar, bass, etc.

THere are two different busses you'll have to get to know. The RECORD BUS and the MONITOR BUS. (a bus is just another way of saying signal path, channel, etc.) The RECORD bus is the signal that is going to the computer to be recorded. The MONITOR BUS is the signal coming back from the computer and also from the input so that you can hear or monitor what is going on. These two busses are completely independent of one another. Lowering the volume on the MONITOR bus will not affect the volume on the Record bus.

As an experiment, connect the Fast Track Pro To your computer and disconnect all Audio cables from it.
Next, plug in a headset to the headphone out.
Plug in a Mic to input 1.

Turn the gain up on the mic.
Turn the MIX knob on the Fast Track PRO hard left to IN.

This means only the INputs are being routed to the MONITOR ouptut and so you should hear yourself through the mic. (probably only on the left side)

Turning the MIX knob hard right to PB (PlayBack) will lower the MONITOR volume of your voice 'til it's gone. If there is nothing playing on your computer, either from a DAW or media player, then you will hear silence. If you have something playing thought the fast track pro (try routing your media player out via the system sound settings) you will hear that sound.

This means only Audio from the computer is being routed to the outputs. Though you no longer hear your voice, that signal is still being routed to the RECORD bus and can be recorded on your computer.

Putting the MIX knob in the middle will give you a mix of both INput and PlayBack. This is how to use direct monitoring. This is how your avoid latency. Though you can hear both, you are only recording the INPUT, not both the playback and input.

Since it is only 1 input we are using, it is only sending the signal to one channel. Channel 1 is assumed to be the left channel, hence signal on the left side only. To switch your MONITORING to come out of both speakers, press the MONO/STEREO BUTTON next to the MIX KNOB. The RECORD signal is still routed to only 1 channel, but the MONITOR signal is routed to both now.

There are several publications you can purchase to help you understand all of this. HOme recording for Musicians is a great one. Find one you like and use it as a reference as you experiment.

[Maddy!]

Im sorry but no..The reason you can only hear it out of 1 speaker is because your recording it as a stereo input..It basically means it splits ur M-audio inputs into different channels either left or right..U have to tell the computer to only record from the input ur using...

[JohnC2]

As someone relatively new to recording, these were great tutorials, thanks it has cleared up some of my confusion with my M-audio Fastrack Pro, however a couple of issues relating to the Fastrack Pro.

I'm recording my guitar (acoustic with passive undersaddle P/U) either direct into channel 1 or via my acoustic amplifier (pre or post amp/effects outputs) also into channel 1. My mic is a Shure SM57 plugged directly into channel 2.

I am recording a stereo track then splitting track(s) in either Mixcraft or Audacity. The problem I have is with the volume of the recorded track(s). The guitar is especially low though I have the gain knob up all the way. I have to edit the tracks first and digitally amplify the recording, especially the guitar, which surprises me as I have the most control over its volume going to the M-audio. The vocal track is also pretty low.

Any thoughts as to what I'm doing wrong or not understanding?

I've found that recording a stereo track, panned dead center and then making a pair of split tracks and panning them individually left or right has been a good start for me at balancing my recordings. I have recently discovered through this forum some links to VST plugins which allow distributing tracks into the surround sound speakers and I see lots of interesting possibilities there. Has anyone used these within simple applications like Audacity? I'm really struggling with post recording editing in Abletron Live 6 lite. Its very confusing to me or maybe thats not what its for?