Once you’ve downloaded and installed the latest driver from M-Audio’s site, you’ll then see a red icon on Windows’ task bar. The rest of the connections are as follows: 6 analog ins/outs in jack format 6,35mm TRS, a MIDI in/out, the USB slot, an S/PDIF coaxial and two analog inserts. This definitely takes away from its otherwise well thought out ergonomy. The power button is on the back of the device, which isn’t all that practical but no doubt was chosen because it decreased the cost of the device. Under that, there are the two headphone volume knobs and their respective outs, the main volume, and four LEDs indicating power, 48v phantom power and MIDI activity (in and out). On the right (of the front side), you’ll find the knobs that adjust input gain (with a PAD of –20 dB which is activated when the knob is pulled). You won’t be able to set your levels with only this one LED, but it’s still better than nothing. One signal/peak LED indicator light for each input shows if there’s an incoming signal.
There’s a switch on the right side of each input which lets you toggle between the mic/instrument input on the front or the line input on the back. The first two are XLR/TRS combo jacks which let you plug in either a mic or an instrument (guitar /bass). On the front there are 4 XLR microphone inputs. Let’s take a look at its connection possibilities. The knobs, on the other hand, are still too crowded… But we can overlook this inconvenience since the device has to be portable. But this time, M-Audio has had the good idea of including a printed manual, which is after all more practical. Esthetically, the pros and cons are the same as for the “Pro” version: it’s solid and stays in place thanks to its rubber pads. It can still be considered a “mobile” interface thanks to, for the most part, the fact that it’s USB powered.
Of course, to be able to get the 8 ins/outs, they had to make it bigger, but not too much. Since they’re on a roll, they’ve decided to expand their “Fast Track” USB interfaces with an “Ultra” model, which has evolved out of the Fast Track Pro, which itself evolved out of the first Fast Track.Īs far as design goes, it takes after its predecessor, the Fast Track Pro. M-audio already has quite a bit of experience with audio interfaces, and models such as the Firewire 410 or the Fast Track pro were big hits (technically as well as commercially). Is it a worthy successor to the Fast Track dynasty? Lets take a look… M-Audio recently presented their latest addition to the Fast Track family: the Ultra, a USB audio interface with 4 Octane preamps, integrated effects, and advanced routing.
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