Pro Tools SE + M-Audio FastTrack (Low Instrument Gain)

[wcsd106]

Hi All.

I recently purchased a M-Audio Fast Track guitar / Mic recording interface. I have been using Pro Tools SE with a Developer USB Microphone for a few months and have really been impressed with what I've been able to do so far.

After purchasing the FastTrack and getting the drivers installed, I can load Pro Tools SE but whenever I try to record my guitar from the input, the audio is extremely low. It records the guitar, but even with the volume on my guitar turned up all the way it still barely gets into the yellow on the signal meter.

I have tried just about everything that I know to do, and was hoping that someone here had resolved the same problem before.

Do I need to purchase a preamp for my guitar in order to get the audio levels high enough for the FastTrack to amplify them?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank You

[wcsd106]

<Bump> Any suggestions on how to get my audio levels high enough to be able to record with my Fast Track?

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by wcsd106

<Bump> Any suggestions on how to get my audio levels high enough to be able to record with my Fast Track?

You need to process the dry guitar signal through an amp plugin. This is likely well covered in the documentation that came with the Fast Track, or see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5vLxJx8CeY

Pro Tools SE has a pretty limited set of options here, full versions of Pro Tools or other DAWs support lots more guitar amp/cab sims. Avid Eleven, NI Guitar Rig, AmpFarm, etc.

The other approach to this, besides mic'ing a real physical amp and cabinet, is to use a guitar processor, like an Avid Eleven Rack, Line 6 Pod HD, or Fractal Axe FX II.

The Eleven Rack (which many of us here have and really like) comes bundled with Pro Tools 10 if you ever look to upgrade, its a cheap way to get a nice processor, interface, and full version of Pro Tools. There are some concerns about on going/long term support of the Eleven Rack.

Darryl

[wcsd106]

Darryl,

Thanks for the information. I purchased my Fast Track used off of eBay and didn't get any documentation with it.

At least I now know a direction to go.

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by wcsd106

Darryl,

Thanks for the information. I purchased my Fast Track used off of eBay and didn't get any documentation with it.

At least I now know a direction to go.

All the PDF doc is online on Avid's web site, just Google for it, "fast track user guide" etc. and make sure it matches what exactly you have. Ditto with the "Pro Tools SE user guide", etc.

The main thing is knowing what you are seeing is normal, and you need to add a guitar amp plugin to amplify the signal and simulate the effects of a guitar amp and cab.

Darryl