Fast Track USB issues
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Posted on Jan 24, 2007 11:50 am
mikeyj
Member Since: Jan 24, 2007
1. So after setting up my M-Audio Fast Track USB this weekend, I’ve encountered some problems. I was wondering if anyone else has had issues with the ¼” input…it may be a cable issue with both my microphone and acoustic guitar pickup, but tweaking the level and/or latency never improved the odds of getting a smooth recording. Either the volume was too low or there was crackling and popping. Then I did a test with a borrowed mic with an XLR connection and the tracks were excellent. Has anyone else had more success with the XLR-in than the ¼”-in? I’m considering recording everything via the XLR but didn’t want to limit the possibilities.
2. While performing tweak edits to tracks in the timeline, there appears to be a limit on how precise the edits can be. I tried to zoom in on the sound waves and cut out certain things (i.e. breaths, lipsmacks, microphone noise) but it seems that you can only navigate in half-second increments. Any suggestions on how to get more precise with track editing such as volume ramp-ups? I know I need to improve my mic technique but would love to have some software assistance.
3. One last inquiry. After making a test composition and exporting it as a wav.file, I’ve only been able to hear the track with headphones. Is there a setting button I’ve overlooked to enable the composition to be heard through regular speakers on an outside computer/device? Thanks in advance for your suggestions and technical know-how.
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 25, 2007 09:39 pm I don't use one but I can tell you that the 1/4" jack will not do any good with a mic as there is no pre built into that jack. It is for electric guitar and line level such as an acoustic/electric with its own pre amp built in.
On the editing issue, you don't state which software so I will assume you are using the included GT Player software. I don't think you have much editing capability in there but you can look for a feature called SNAP and try to turn it off. If snap is on it will do as you are stating it does. Otherwise it is the software default to only edit to a certain resolution.
I'm not sure I get what you are trying to do on issue 3 there. But yes there are RCA output jacks on the back to hook up to some type of outside amp or powered speaker source. Otherwise I would assume you can play it through Media Player or the like and listen through the standard PC speaker's
mikeyjMember
Since: Jan 24, 2007
Jan 29, 2007 03:50 pm Thanks, Overkill. It is the included Session software I'm using and the SNAP tip worked like a charm for simple edits. That saved me a lot of time. And the other problems are being worked out--I'm shopping for a decent preamp and think that will help a lot.
One other software question for you. So I started a Composition by adding a VERY long drum loop (added it long because I was unsure of the running time of the actual song). So after a guitar track and vocal track were added, I dumped the lengthy drum track because it was better without. When I exported the song it was still the length of the original compostion with the drums (i.e. 5 minute song + 10 minutes of silence). This obvioulsy made for a large file and a frustrating timeline. Any tip on shortening the duration of a composition? Or making the timeline indicate ONLY the lenghts of the included tracks?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 31, 2007 07:19 pm Not sure in that software but you may have a bit of info still left out at the end that is causing the software to think it is that long. You might want to just copy the drum length you need and paste it in another track. Then delete the old track. Otherwise I know in Sonar there are markers that can sometimes be left out at the original length and just need to be set back to the normal finished length.
