M-Audio Fast Track Question

I've never used one but it looks pretty good, based on the specs. Still, if I were you, I'd be getting a Zoon H4n which has two XLR inputs instead of one and, in addition to being a USB audio interface, can also be used stand alone with an SD card.
 
No No No never use a direct input to a computer for production audio,
all the cables and such are just not worth it. Go with the zoom H4n or any other portable recorder.
I once saw someone try this and after they picked up the computer off the floor as somebody tripped over the power cord. They lost not only the last interview audio but also the whole previous days worth too.
 
mikerod417 said:
No No No never use a direct input to a computer for production audio.
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If it's a controlled set and you have someone to be the "recordist" and man the computer (pro tools) then that could very well be the best possible audio you can get in production. Granted, if you don't have someone to monitor the computer (pro tools) then it's a hassle and the H4 is a better way to go.

If you want high quality production audio you need good high output, high headroom pre-amps to connect your mics to. The H4 and all the cheap recorders have noisy pre amps with very little headroom and the Fast Track isn't much better. It's only $150.
 
carlone said:
If it's a controlled set and you have someone to be the "recordist" and man the computer (pro tools) then that could very well be the best possible audio you can get in production.
Click to expand...

The limitation is the quality of the computer's sound card then.
 
AndrewGentle said:
The limitation is the quality of the computer's sound card then.
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In this case the limitation would be that the fast track is a really inexpensive and low quality "sound card" for you computer. As Mikerod417 said - you might want to take a look at the H4. Quite a few people are using it.
 
I have a fast track and i've used it to record singers and do on side voice over work this my laptop. It gets the job done and it is something to look at.
 
It's amusing that the word recordist is in quotes as if he just made up this function. You may be surprised to learn that there have been movie recordists, which are called Production Mixers, since 1927 and that when they make movies the "photographer" doesn't use a small, plastic recording device that they hook up to the "camera." If you make a film then you need one of these people in the same way that if you need work on your teeth you need a dentist. Not something you do yourself.

carlone said:
If it's a controlled set and you have someone to be the "recordist" and man the computer (pro tools) then that could very well be the best possible audio you can get in production. Granted, if you don't have someone to monitor the computer (pro tools) then it's a hassle and the H4 is a better way to go.

If you want high quality production audio you need good high output, high headroom pre-amps to connect your mics to. The H4 and all the cheap recorders have noisy pre amps with very little headroom and the Fast Track isn't much better. It's only $150.
Click to expand...
 
Small little recorders may not have the best mic pres in the world but they are only recording interviews as the OP said they were. As a production and post production mixer I can tell you they are fine for 99.99% of the work out there. Most of the time its the actual mic that sounds bad either through horrible mic placement or wrong type of mic or just crappy cheap mics. The quality of the audio on the H4N is equal to the quality of the picture of the 7d, both are pretty damn good. Btw I don't own the H4n I just finished a mix where all the audio was recorded on the H4n and was impressed. Save a up just a little more and get the right tool.
 
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