Just bought M-Audio Fast Track

[DT Chris]

Not much of a purchase, I know ($139 CAN), but it gets me started on getting some tracks recorded onto the computer and learn how to mix/ mic placement, vocal placement, sound acoustics, etc.

I still want a Presonus FirePod or equivalent, but my finances are locked up in saving up for a work van, some computer upgrades, and other payments - so that will come.

Fastrack will tide me over until then.

It came bundled with Ableton Live 5, but is only a demo (can't save or export), and Pro Tools 7 demo, which failed to install at all.

So I'm using Audition 1.5, Fruity Loops. Friends that I may collaborate with are currently using Cakewalk Sonar, but I've never tried that program. We will basically email/ftp the project files back and forth, adding tracks and stuff. We'll see how that works out. For the time being, I have to learn a few things - so this is a mild start.

First things first, transfering old 4 tracks from cassette to *.wav/mp3 form, hopefully in such a condition that I can relatively 're-master' them, and perhaps re-record vocals, or other parts. I've had quite a few song ideas on these 40 or so tapes - but to search through each to find the jewels takes ages - I only want to do that once.

So current setup is as defined in my sig. Next short term purchase will be a condenser/cardiod mic? for vocals. Dunno how different it will be from my dynamic mic (Shure SM58) in the studio, so I'll probably stick to a budget of around $150-200 CAN (AKG? Audio Technica?).

[richiebee]

Fasttrack or Fasttrack Pro? As we found out a couple of weeks ago on this forum, the Fasttrack does not have phantom power. Therefore, a condenser mic is useless to you unless you get a preamp too.

[DT Chris]

Fast-Track.

Related note: Stupid music store. Trying to sell me a condensor mic the same day, and didn't mention I'd even need phantom power/pre-amp with this unit. Good thing I didn't buy it. What is with business these days? Can't they just be honest? Or at least educated?

[richiebee]

I don't think its dishonesty - afterall, they're only going to have to deal with a return and an angry customer when you can't get it working. I think its because they don't know the products they sell.

The FastTrack is also somewhat unique in the fact taht it doesn't have phantom power. I was surprised when I found this out. So I guess M-Audio could be considered a little sneaky on this one.

[brandondrury]

As for condensers, you can go a million routes. There is one microphone that will be the "best" for your voice (assuming you sound exactly the same everytime). It may be $80. It may be $15,000.

So with that in mind, it's an issue of matching your voice and staying within your budget. No one could even begin to guess what mic is perfect for you.

In the end, a mic is a mic. When I was getting started, I was shocked to hear the differences between X mics was not all that different to a layman. Even my $2,500 Soundelux U99 didn't stand out in shootouts as being "better". It just sounded slightly different.

If you can tryout a few mics, that would be best.

If you can't, I'd probably just go with Audio Technica. No real reason, I've been happy with just about every AT mic I've used (although the AT4033 has limited use for me).

Brandon

[DT Chris]

So I need phantom power to power the condensor mic? Is "phantom power" the same term as "Pre-Amp"?

Re preamp; do I technically have a preamp if I have a 'microphone gain' knob. My Fostex XR-7 has 2 channels with a 'trim' knob (-10 to -60 ) where I can boost a (dynamic) mic's input quite a bit (1/4 jack).

I may buy a condensor this weekend, so would like to know what I might need to purchase (re phantom power) or simply wait until I buy a Firebox/pod, and get away with the SM58 for now.

[MR.BYTCH KILLA]

Perfect example of how people try to get you rat there.....Why the world gotta be like this ...everybody about money....I make music for the love of it and not the riches...

I glad u didnt but that fastrack shyt to Chris cause thn u would have been fucked.....Im out...

Fuck the Universe

[DT Chris]

Man, you're angry lately, lol.