M-Audio fast track pro recording problems [Archive]

Reegs

12-28-2007, 08:47 PM

Hi suddenimpact23!

That shouldn't be too hard. You can do it digitally or analog. Analog is easier. Here's what you'll need:

Analog

Advantage: No sync issues to deal with
Disadvantages: Conversion from digital to analog and back again, gain level

Fast Track Pro
MPC 2500
1 pair of short TRS cables

1. First, install Ableton Live that comes with the fast track (or use another piece of recording software).
2. With everything powered down, connect the stereo out of the MPC 2500 to the Fast Track's two inputs using the cables. Set the fast track's inputs to Line level. No phantom, no pad. Find gain settings that won't cause the later recording to clip. (Optimal level is perhaps best found by experimentation later on)
3. Turn everything on and open Live.
4. Create two mono audio tracks and set their inputs to the Fast Track Pro's inputs 1 and 2.
5. Arm the tracks in Ableton, record, and then tell the MPC2500 to play the beat.
6. Once it's through playing you can stop recording, use the trim tool in Live to trim the sides of the recording to just the beat, and export or bounce the recording from Live as a stereo wave file.

Digital
Advantage: Clean signal, no level issues
Disadvantage: Sync might be tricky to set up

Materials:
Fast Track Pro
MPC 2500
SPDIF cable (RCA, not optical)

1. Install Ableton
2. Connect the SPDIF cable between the MPC OUT and the Fast Track IN
3. Power up and using the computer control software set the Fast Track to Slave to the SPDIF for Clock. Unfortunately I don't own either unit so can't walk you through this, but the help manual should be of some assistance. Find the Digital Output section of the MPC and make sure it is set to master and is broadcasting clock on the SPDIF port.
4. Open Ableton, make your tracks, select the SPDIF ins as your inputs, then arm, record, trim and bounce like in the analog way.

Reegs