[ddots-l] Re: m-audio fast track ultra software
- From: Bryan Smart <bryansmart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:42:54 -0400
Dave, sorry that your message got lost, and that it has taken me a bit of time
to respond.
No, you don't need the FastTrack control panel to record multiple tracks. That
all happens in Sonar.
In Sonar, on an audio track, the input column of the track provides a pop-up
menu that makes it possible for you to select the input that will be used for
that track. So, you can create 8 audio tracks in Sonar, set each of their input
settings to different inputs on the FastTrack, arm those tracks, and then hit
record to record from them all at once.
Besides the buffer/latency setting, the FastTrack control panel has settings
for configuring digital I/O (for devices using SPDIF and ADAT, for example),
which I don't think that you have.
It also has settings for configuring direct monitoring features, where you can
monitor the FastTrack's inputs without routing audio through Sonar. However,
you have direct access to these features, at least for the front-panel mic/line
inputs, via controls on the front of the FastTrack itself, so you don't need
the control panel for monitoring mic/instrument inputs.
As I told you above, assigning inputs to tracks for Sonar is handled entirely
inside Sonar.
So, the control panel is mostly useless on a daily basis.
Bryan
-----Original Message-----
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Dave Hillebrandt
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 6:22 PM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: m-audio fast track ultra software
Hi Bryan, I appreciate the good info and appologize if i sounded short in my
frustration with this Fast Track Ultra. I am obviously missing something if
what I'm understanding you say is true, but seems like there is much more in
fast track ultra that I'm not able to get to besides buffer size. isn't the
software where i'd go to assign to specific tracks etc. it appears as though
certain channels are not checked or something and I'm unable to read any of
that info. is this something that i should be able to read with jaws from your
experience or not? I do understand that it is a good quality unit for the price
and not complaining as far as that goes. Do you know off hand if my adk
computer is setup with firewire or not. Don't know what a firewire connection
looks like to know if i have one or not and if so, what particular type your
company would have had installed.
You are right in that i would not necessarily want to spend a bunch more money
but am willing to go more expensive to get something more accessable than what
i'm currently experiencing. You are right, that noisey inputs would not be good
and would best to avoid. Could either go for a more expensive yet accessable
usb unit, or perhaps a firewire if you can think of any that would be easier to
access.
As i say, its possible that this fast track is more accessable than I
realize and I'm just doing sometihng wrong, but jaws doesn't appear to read
much in its software at all. Have you or others you know currently using this
unit and if so, are they able to use its software to assign channels to certain
tracks? hopefully this question makes since. Am mainly interested for the
instance where may wish to record more than one person at same time, and as far
as i know, would usually do this in its software unless i'm way off; which
could be admittedly.
If it turns out that would need sighted help to makes these changes etc,
then I would definitely be interested in antoher unit, even if more expensive,
in order to be able to take full advantage of it. So far, been just recording
one track at a time and where its doing the trick, have a feeling would not be
good if trying to record a band.
Any suggestions will be very appreciated. Again sorry if this is such a
novice question that it comes off really stupid. Never used firewire so just
don't know if this computer has it or not. Would think so since kind of the
state of the art system from you all at the time. Thanks in advance, Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bryan Smart" <bryansmart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 12:27 PM
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: m-audio fast track ultra software
Dave, there are some Firewire interfaces that are reasonably accessible, but
you must have Firewire support on your computer, and the Firewire controller
must be produced by a specific manufacturer, or you're likely to have problems.
It is very difficult to promise to people that these interfaces will work if
they're using them on a computer that they already own.
Some USB interfaces are accessible, also. However, while their control panels
are accessible, I've found that most of them are are also lacking in major
areas that aren't acceptable to me.
For example, Tascam sells some USB interfaces with completely accessible
control panel software. However, the drivers for those interfaces are terrible.
One major problem is that it is next to impossible to use projects with
different sample rates with one of these interfaces. They absolutely hate
switching sample rates, and you must often reboot to make the change.
This isn't acceptable to me, as, if your interface isn't stable, then all of
the quality and accessibility in the world doesn't do you any good. I'd feel
embarrassed suggesting such a device to you, and having you call me to explain
why it stops working after you switch between certain Sonar projects.
The Cakewalk interfaces have reasonably accessible control panel software, and
stable drivers, but the quality of the inputs is poor. We never expect
inexpensive interfaces to have pristine inputs, but the Cakewalk interfaces
have the frustrating tendency to pick up on bus noise from your computer.
That isn't acceptable to me, as that compromises the quality of every recording
that you make.
Compromising performance or stability isn't acceptable for me. Accessibility of
the control panel is important, of course, but the only major setting in there,
the buffer size, has to be set once when you setup your computer.
Getting access to that at the cost of something that will hurt you on a daily
basis isn't a good trade.
If you want something that is both high quality and accessible, there are
options, but they will either cost you in terms of money or setup complexity.
Most people that I speak with, that have a casual interest in recording, are
unwilling to spend more than about $200 - $300, and don't have patience for a
lot of technical hassles. That's why I suggest the FastTrack, at the moment.
Bryan
-----Original Message-----
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Dave Hillebrandt
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2010 8:18 AM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: m-audio fast track ultra software
Hi Tom, Thanks for response. Well, I had normally used Windoweyes til getting
into the pc recording game so not sure if its something that i'm not doing
correctly with jaws or if simply not accessable. have a feeling its the
software but couldn't say for sure and very few replies yet. one thing i know
for sure, most likely they sent you a crummy driver with your unit so will have
to go to their web site and download most current version anyway.
Forget what it tells me when I install the original disk, but something to the
effect that this software will not load on my computer and to go to the m-audio
web page to get most current driver. i did this with no problem and installed.
Even with the install it will tell you that this software did not pass
microsoft tests and asks if you want to install anyway and you choose yes.
At least if go to their web site, you won't have to open their driver
disks. One of them is just for the free program of Appleton which is not really
useful as far as i can tell; some sort of cheep recording software.
hope you have good luck and then in return can tell me what you find out about
their software. like i say, its a pretty good unit for the price; very low
noise and not bad in latency department, but so far do not know how to use that
dern software. Even though its primary interface that dancing dots sells, have
found nobody replying who uses it and nobody from dancing dots commenting on
any way to use it so either they've never tried to use it or they have with no
luck. If they knew it was not accessable, would have been real nice if they
mentioned it ahead of time so would have bought something else from another
company. May go up to local music store and try something else. Wish i knew
more people using interfaces like this locally that i could compare to. This
way could at least borrow the software to see if it is useable. Will be very
anxious to hear what you find. let me know if anything I can do to help you out.
Am very new to pc recording and as i say, new to jaws too really, but have
a feeling its the software. Really bugs me too that they can't pack a somewhat
up to date driver with it too, as the one on their web page is not especially
new, but much newer than one they pack that can't be used at all.
Please keep in touch. you will like this interface, especially if you can get
all of its functions working. Who knows, maybe everyone has to come up with
work arounds. You are first to contact me who actually has this unit and yet
even you haven't tried yet so odd that more people on dancing dots list don't
use this. Oh well, we will see soon I guess. Take care, Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom De Rosa <mailto:TDEROSA1@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2010 1:22 AM
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: m-audio fast track ultra software
Hey Dave, I just bought the same interface and haven't yet tried to connect ot
my lap top. I had no idea that reading the software would be a problem.
I am glad you posted this message. I hope you get some advice it will
certainly be helpfull to me. If it's not accessible I can return it if I don't
open the discs to download the drivers.
Thanks tom
Tom DeRosa
URL www.myspace.com/tder08
----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Hillebrandt <mailto:dave@xxxxxxxx>
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 1:21 PM
Subject: [ddots-l] m-audio fast track ultra software
Hello Friends,
Would like to get some suggestions on interfaces that have easily
accessable software. i have the m-audio fast track ultra and have not had
any luck being able to access its software in order to route signal paths. i
know that if i want to record a few people at the same time on different
tracks, there should be a way to route them on this software but do not see
how it would be done when using jaws. If anyone has this interface and have
luck using it, perhaps you can contact me off list so as to not bore others.
i like the interface very much as far as being small and having very low
noise but don't know what is required to read its software. Willing to buy a
different interface from another company if easier to use their software or
does everything onboard the unit. any ideas. Thanks much. Very much a novice
and still trying to learn so could have overlooked something but don't know
where to start. Right now can only use one input at a time cause can't read
the software. Dave
PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE!
To leave the list, click on the immediately following link:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=subscribe
If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and in the Subject line type
unsubscribe
For other list commands such as vacation mode,
click on the immediately following link:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subjectúq or
send a message, to
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and in the Subject line type
faq
PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE!
To leave the list, click on the immediately following link:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe
If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and in the Subject line type
unsubscribe
For other list commands such as vacation mode,
click on the immediately following link:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq or
send a message, to
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and in the Subject line type
faq
PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE!
To leave the list, click on the immediately following link:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe
If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and in the Subject line type
unsubscribe
For other list commands such as vacation mode,
click on the immediately following link:
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subjectúq or
send a message, to
ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and in the Subject line type
faq
Other related posts:
