Audio Pro Using Fast Track Ultra 8R, Setting Your Recording Levels, Setting the Sample Rate

Fast Track Ultra 8R User Guide

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8 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. If you are using a condenser microphone, be certain to activate the Phantom Power switch 6 for the corresponding group of input channels (after connecting the microphone to the XLR input). If you are using the Microphone or Instrument inputs, slowly raise the input level until the Input Signal LED 4 shows input with a fairly steady green signal while audibly testing your input levels (i.e., strumming the guitar, or speaking into the mic). If your microphone signal causes an input to clip even at the minimum gain setting, pull the Mic Input Gain knob 5 to activate the 20 dB pad. This will further attenuate (reduce) signal levels to prevent distortion at the input.

➜IMPORTANT: When recording from a microphone and monitoring in the same room, it is recommended that you turn off your speakers and monitor with headphones. This will greatly reduce the possibility of creating loud feedback loops that may damage your equipment (or hearing).

Using the Coaxial S/PDIF Inputs

Connect the S/PDIF output of your external audio device to the S/PDIF Input, located on the rear-panel breakout cable 18 . The signal level you receive at the S/PDIF In will be the signal level that you record. Any adjustments to that signal level must be made at the source. If you have an output level control on the device that you’ve connected to the S/PDIF inputs, adjust that output level control to change the recording level. Most recording software will allow you to add gain to a recorded track that was made at a level that is initially too low, but be careful that the recording level is not reaching digital clipping (signal going into the red) while recording.

Note: To use the S/PDIF input, you will need configure the sync source of

Fast Track Ultra 8R to “External.” Refer to the section below on the Control Panel and your software’s documentation for more information.

Setting the Sample Rate

The default sample rate for Fast Track Ultra 8R is 44.1 kHz. Supported sample rates are 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz. Most applications allow you to change the sample rate from within your audio software. You can also change the sample rate in the Control Panel. It is recommended that you do not change the sample rate from the Control Panel while your DAW application is running, as this can cause some applications to exhibit unexpected behavior.

In order to receive a digital signal via the S/PDIF input, you will need to change the Control Panel’s Sync Source setting (in the Settings tab) to “External,” after which Fast Track Ultra 8R will automatically detect an incoming digital signal and receive its sample rate from that incoming S/PDIF source.