Finally got my Equipment.. No idea how to use it

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musicnstuffz

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So after some time on this forum, i wizened up, ditched the usb microphone and bought a mxl v67g and a fast track pro. one problem.. i have no idea how to operate it. This is what I have done so far.

I have a macbook pro so i had to go online and download the latest client for mac and installed the fast track.
plugged my mic into the front of the fast track where it says mic/inst.
I plugged in the fast track to my computer and pressed the power button on the back. a blue light turns on in the front.
Then something pops up in garageband that says "Garage Band has detected M-audio fast track pro"
now i choose a track. under input source i choose "m-audio stereo 1/2".
the problem is that the recording level gets locked on 0 and i cant move it.

Im sure that its a simple fix as in a button i forgot to push in on the fast track. or perhaps the mic has an on switch?... i couldnt find one.

anyways any help would be much appreciated
thanks
 
musicnstuffz said:
the problem is that the recording level gets locked on 0 and i cant move it.
Click to expand...

Any level adjustments in software are by definition applied after recording. Set your recording levels using the knobs on the Fast Track Pro.
 
All the dials are set at the middle. still, it doesnt seem to be recording
 
Whaddya mean the recording level is locked at zero???

Arm the track you selected in GB for recording and you should see the meters in GB moving.

Do you have phantom power turned on on the Fast Track Pro???
 
c7sus said:
Whaddya mean the recording level is locked at zero???

Arm the track you selected in GB for recording and you should see the meters in GB moving.

Do you have phantom power turned on on the Fast Track Pro???
Click to expand...

on garage band theres a bar for recording level. Im not sure if phantom power is turned on. i just turned on the power switch in the back.

Also, I can hear the metronome through the headphones

and i dont know how to arm a track to record on garageband. there was a button for it on reaper but i though that for garageband you just needed to click the track and click record
 
Click on the button on the far left of the controls in the selected track of GB to arm for recording. It should light up red.

There is a small slide switch on the back of the FTP that controls the phantom power. Make sure that is toggled to the "ON" position.
 
musicnstuffz said:
on garage band theres a bar for recording level.
Click to expand...

This is why it's good to be specific. "Recording level" can mean the thing that controls the recording level or the thing that displays the recording level.
 
your mxl v67g mic is a condenser mic so you need to turn the phantom power on. the fast track pro supplies that.
 
ah now i see that my phantom power was off. it turned it on and the red light in front of the fast track is on. I still cant seem to find the arm button.
on the way left on the each track is a box to check and they are all checked.
 
you have to arm the tracks, and also press the record button, then press play. thats how it works in pt so it might be similar. hope this helps
 
You seem to be struggling with some of the basic concepts of your software. Does it have a manual or help file you can refer to?

Do a bit of googling... I'm sure someone's put some "how to" videos or screenshots up there somewhere...
 
i do have the manual but its pretty thin and not very helpful

so i armed my track, turned on phantom power but the mic still doesnt seem to be picking up any sound
 
I've never even seen the GB interface, but I'm looking at a screen shot and it seems to me you would arm the track via the red dot on the left hand side, then push the red button down below, then hit the play button.

Other DAWs like Reaper have a single button to record. GB seems to have two as far as I can tell.

If that doesn't work google "garageband tutorial" - there are a couple of long tutes there that I would assume show you how...
 
You're getting there.
Someone already told you to arm your tracks.
In order to do this, you have to scout around in Garage Band for "Options" or "Preferences". You may find those under "File" or "Edit". I've never seen Garage Band myself but that's pretty well the same with most DAWs.
You'' be doing your Audio Set Up which involves choosing the Fast Track Pro Line in 1&2 for inputs and Fast Track Pro Line out 1&2 for speakers.
Something like that.
Go ahead and tinker.
You're nearly there.
 
beendala said:
im sure that its a simple fix as in a button i forgot to push in on the fast track. Or perhaps the mic has an on switch?... I couldnt find one. I plugged in the fast track to my computer and pressed the power button on the back. A blue light turns on in the front.
Click to expand...

turn on the phantom power switch on the back of the fast track!
 
He did that.
You need to go into Garage Band now and do your set up.
 
FTP_front+back.webp

This beendala character isn't the op.

The BLUE light is the power on for the FTP.

When phantom is on a red light beneath the blue light should come on.

This thread should be a sticky.
 
Last edited:
another question to musicnstuffz:
is the green signal light blinking if you talk to the microphone?
 
c7sus thanks for the picture

i found out that i need to enable multitrack recording to be able to arm tracks.
I set the input and output of garageband to m-audio fast track pro.

As for the lights, on the front, the blue power light is on and the red 48V light under that is on too.
those are the only two lights that are on. No other lights on or flickering
I CAN hear the metronome and music track through my headphones so the output is working...
Also, I pushed in the button that says Inst/Line because I assumed the mic in would be line. all of the other button are out
 
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