Fast Track Ultra 8R Rack-mountable 8 x 8 USB 2.
Fast Track Ultra 8R 1 User Guide Introduction Thanks for choosing M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R. Fast Track Ultra 8R is a professional, high-quality audio and MIDI interface for your Windows or Macintosh laptop or desktop computer. Using the convenience and dependability of a USB 2.0 connection, Fast Track Ultra 8R provides your computer with an exceptionally flexible audio interface that will handle virtually any recording task with ease.
Fast Track Ultra 8R 3 User Guide Fast Track Ultra 8R Features • Eight balanced/unbalanced Mic/Line Inputs on combo XLR/TRS jacks • Two front-panel 1/4” Instrument-level inputs • Eight high-quality microphone preamps, featuring M-Audio’s award-winning OctaneTM technology • Individual mic pre input level controls with 20dB pads • Dual front-panel Signal and Clip LED indicators • Eight balanced/unbalanced line outputs on TRS jacks • Two 1/4” inserts on TRS jacks • Phantom Power switches with
Fast Track Ultra 8R 4 User Guide Minimum System Requirements Windows Fast Track Ultra 8R is supported under Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later, or Windows Vista (32-bit editions). It is not supported under Windows 2000, Windows 98, 98SE or Windows ME. Please see the note below regarding System Updates before making any updates to your operating system. Minimum System Requirements* Windows XP with SP2 • 1.
Fast Track Ultra 8R 5 User Guide Controls and Connectors Front Panel 1. Instrument Inputs 1 and 2 (Inst) – These front-panel connectors provide instrument-level inputs for channels 1 and 2. Each of these two inputs will accept a high-impedance instrument level signal on an unbalanced 1/4” plug.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide 5 Rear Panel 15. Power Input ((9V DC 3.5A - 4A) – Connect the included power supply to this jack. NOTE: Fast Track Ultra 8R is designed to work with 9V DC power supplies with a 3.5 - 4A rating. If you need to purchase an additional power supply for your Fast Track Ultra 8R, be sure to buy one with the correct rating and polarity. Replacement power supplies are available at the M-Audio webstore. 16. USB Connector ( your host computer. USB 2.
Fast Track Ultra 8R 6 User Guide Installing Fast Track Ultra 8R For instructions on installing Fast Track Ultra 8R, please refer to the accompanying Quick Start Guide. 7 Hardware Connections Recording Microphones Fast Track Ultra 8R can record audio from up to eight individual microphones simultaneously, connected to input channels 1 through 8 via the rear-panel Mic/Line input connectors 20 . On inputs 1 and 2, the Mic/Line – Instrument selector switches 2 must be set to the Mic/Line (out) position.
Fast Track Ultra 8R 8 User Guide Using Fast Track Ultra 8R Setting Your Recording Levels Using the Mic, Line or Instrument Inputs Connect your microphone, instrument or line level source to the Mic/Line - Instrument inputs 1 , 20 . Make sure the associated channel’s Mic/Line - Instrument switch 2 is set to the correct position for your chosen inputs, and that the input gain is turned fully counter-clockwise to the lowest level.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide Monitor Mixing Fast Track Ultra 8R features four separate 16x2 monitor mixers. These four mixers are found in the Control Panel under the tabs labeled “Monitor 1/2”, “Monitor 3/4”, “Monitor 5/6”, and “Monitor 7/8” and route their mixed outputs to hardware outputs 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8, respectively. Each of these mixers can be used to create a stereo, near-zero latency, “monitor mix” consisting of any combination of hardware inputs or software outputs.
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Fast Track Ultra 8R 9 User Guide The Software Control Panel The software Control Panel for Fast Track Ultra 8R is designed to provide a simple, intuitive interface to control and monitor signals from your DAW and from Fast Track Ultra 8R’s inputs and outputs. To open the Control Panel: In Windows, open the Fast Track Ultra 8R Control Panel by double-clicking on the M-Audio icon from Start > Control Panel (Classic View).
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide The Control Panel features eight tabs across the top of the screen. These tabs provide access to specific features of Fast Track Ultra 8R. These tabs are described in detail below. Monitor Tabs The four Monitor tabs are similar in layout and in operation and allow you to create four separate monitor mixes from the eight hardware inputs and eight software returns from your audio application.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide Input Channels The first eight channels on each of the Monitor pages correspond to the eight analog inputs. Inputs 7 and 8 are switchable between the analog inputs and the S/PDIF digital inputs, via the Sync Source drop-down menu in the Control Panel. When the sync source is set to “External,” input channels 7 and 8 receive their signal from the S/PDIF input. The next eight channels are returns from your DAW application software.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide Settings Tab Sample Rate Settings he “Sample Rate” drop-down menu lets you select the current sample rate for the internal clock of T Fast Track Ultra 8R. Available sample rates are 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz. The default sample rate is 44.1 kHz. Note that this drop-down menu is disabled if Fast Track Ultra 8R is set to sync to external clock.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide 14 Sync Source This drop down menu lets you select the clock source of Fast Track Ultra 8R. To synchronize the interface to an external digital source (i.e., the incoming S/PDIF signal), select the “External” setting. To synchronize Fast Track Ultra 8R to its own internal clock, select “Internal.” Please see the box below for more information about the digital input and external clocking. About External Clock Digital audio is based on samples.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide Effects Settings This box controls the algorithm and parameters of the internal effects unit. Any channels routed to the internal DSP section will be effected by selections made on this page. ➜ I MPORTANT: Only the Monitor tabs for channels 1/2 and 3/4 have “send” knobs. Signals from tabs 5/6 or 7/8 cannot be sent to the internal DSP. Effects Algorithm Presets This drop-down menu lets you select from a range of reverb and delay algorithms.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide Meters Tab This tab features 16 meters that display levels of your eight hardware inputs and eight hardware outputs. This is useful in setting up levels for live tracking or mixdown. Flow Tab This tab displays a graphic of the Fast Track Ultra 8R signal flow.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide About Tab This page contains information on your hardware and current driver software versions. This information may be helpful, should you ever have the occasion to call for technical support. Clicking the buttons in the lower right will take you to useful pages on the M-Audio website. If your computer does not see a valid connection to Fast Track Ultra 8R, or if the unit is powered off, you will see a message noting that on this page.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide 10 About Overdub Recording and Monitor Mixing Much of the popular music that you hear today is created using a method called “overdub” recording. Overdub recording allows artists to record their music while listening to previously recorded parts of the song. For example, a vocalist may record his or her parts while listening to the previously recorded guitar, bass, and drum parts in his/her headphones.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide 3. se the pan knob to adjust the position of a sound between the left and right channels. Note that U double-clicking a knob will “center” it. 4.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide 11 MIDI Fast Track Ultra 8R provides 16 channels of MIDI I/O over standard 5-pin DIN connectors found on the breakout cable. These I/O ports can be used to connect MIDI-compatible devices to your computer such as controller keyboards, drum machines, or sound modules. Alternatively, these ports can be used to send and receive MIDI Time Code (MTC) and other synchronization formats for locking to a hardware or software sequencer.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide 12 Troubleshooting Fast Track Ultra 8R has been designed to give you high performance and professional-quality audio. It has been tested under a wide range of systems and operating conditions. However, there are a virtually limitless number of operating scenarios, any of which could affect your system’s performance. Though this section cannot cover all possible issues you may encounter, we would like to offer you some suggestions for dealing with common problems.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide 13 Specifications Line Outputs Frequency response: 20 Hz to 22 kHz, +/- 0.1 dB @ 48 kHz sample rate SNR and Dynamic Range: -104 dB, A-weighted THD+N: 0.002%@ -1dBFS, 1kHz Signal Level: +10 dBu balanced +2 dBV, unbalanced Impedance: 300 Ohm balanced/150 Ohm unbalanced 150 Ohm unbalanced Crosstalk: < -100 dB @ 1 kHz Line Inputs Frequency response: 20 Hz to 22 kHz, +/- 0.3 dB @ 48 kHz sample rate SNR and Dynamic Range: -103 dB, A-weighted THD+N: 0.
Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide 14 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.
M-Audio USA M-Audio Germany Technical Support Technical Support 5795 Martin Rd., Irwindale, CA 91706 Kuhallmand 34, D-74613 Ohringen, Germany web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.m-audio.com/tech email. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . support@m-audio.de tel (pro products). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (626) 633-9055 tel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
