M Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R

[Mark Seyler]

Topic split from 'supported audio devices', and renamed. (Mike Daniell 24Sep2010)

M Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R seems to me to work fine within Windows 7 and XP2... no problems so far although I have yet to use it 'in anger'.
I have had problems with it trying to use XP2 within Bootcamp on my Mac Pro (OSX, Snow Leopard) as it seems to re-route outputs all the time, without showing it has! e.g. outputs 3&4 'move' to 5&6 without showing up as having done so, just the audio re-routes. I reckon this is more Bootcamp than SCS or the M Audio though.... audio through USB on the Bootcamp sector, or within Paralells seems to be very fraught!

Can we have an MAC OSX version of SCS please?!!

[Mike Daniell]

...it seems to re-route outputs all the time, without showing it has! e.g. outputs 3&4 'move' to 5&6 without showing up as having done so, just the audio re-routes.

There is an anomaly in the channel order of 5/7.1 devices which probably accounts for this. SCS attempts to allow for this by setting a flag in an audio library function call. This flag is set if you choose a 'speaker/output' like 'Outputs 3/4' instead of 'Rear/Side'. So for speaker/outputs that use 5/7.1 terminology the flag is not set, but for speaker/outputs that use actual output numbers the flag is set. What actual values have you selected for your speaker/outputs? Try changing to the 'other' terminology.

[Mark Seyler]

Hi Mike.
I was avoiding the use of the 5/7.1 outputs (although I guess I might use them at some time). I agree there seem to be several numbering systems for those channels, and for what I do at an Am Dram theatre, surround is rarely appropriate...better to send to fixed speakers.
So.. I had selected 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 ,7/8 as separate outputs, avoiding the surround options.
Coming back into the program, sounds allocated to outputs 3/4 came out of outputs 5/6... but there was no indication of this anywhere. SCS hadn't changed, the M Audio still SAYS(indicates on meters) that the sounds should be coming out of 3/4........but they are definitely coming out of 5/6!!
Re-setting within SCS, (i.e. re-allocating to another output, saving, reverting to original, saving,) gets it back... but not usable if I have to do this all the time.
I really haven't had time to check through this as a problem yet...
This 'flag' I gather is set within the software and doesn't have a manual change somewhere does it, that I can check? It certainly would seem like a possible solution to the problem.
I do repeat that the SCS / M Audio set up works fine on a real PC... just I like my Mac so much I wanted to continue to use it and the MacBook Pro for the theatre work... can't at present!
Cheers
Mark

[Mike Daniell]

The flag I mentioned doesn't have a manual change setting in SCS, but I wonder if that's really what you want anyway. You say that when you direct sound to outputs 3/4 in SCS then the M-Audio meters confirm the output as being sent to 3/4. So to have a manual change of this flag could cause the SCS outputs 3/4 to appear on 5/6 in the M-Audio meters. If I've understood you correctly regarding the above, then it does look like what you initially suspected, that Bootcamp (or maybe even the Mac OS) is swapping the outputs.

[Mark Seyler]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your very rapid replies!
The problem certainly doesn't seem to be within SCS of course, so I must search elsewhere.
As I say, whenever I restart SCS the outputs continue to leave SCS on the right output, but seem to be re-routed to other outputs on the M Audio. Although not in the M Audio software... this still shows the outputs being right!
It is possible to work with this.. each time I open a session to work on it I just have to re-allocate the outputs! Then it is OK until I want to close / restart SCS.
I will investigate through the M Audio forums etc and come back to you if I find anything!
For the original strand: the M Audio 8R works really well... apart from this peculiarity!!!
Mark

[whitefieldgarrick]

I find all these posts most interesting BUT as I suspect I am in the same position as many people in small amateur theatres - That is of a pre computer generation (now self upgraded !) brought up on crude reel to reel sound / Then Cassette / Mini Disc etc - but anxious to embrace this fantastic new technology. Can anyone guide me simply so I can purchase a USB sound card / That can operate two sets of speakers / and operates reliably under windows 7. Currently I use a simple sound card and still use a sound desk to distribute to various speakers. Not always easy when operating light and sound single handed !! with 100 + cues in a show !!

[runawaymartin]

Can anyone guide me simply so I can purchase a USB sound card / That can operate two sets of speakers / and operates reliably under windows 7. Currently I use a simple sound card and still use a sound desk to distribute to various speakers. Not always easy when operating light and sound single handed !! with 100 + cues in a show !!

There are heaps of suitable devices out there but it is a bit of a minefield choosing one and, apart from the required specs, budget usually comes into it. Have a look at the topic at http://www.showcuesystems.com/forum/vie ... ?f=1&t=958 where many users have shared their experiences.

I can't see that in most cases it would be very practical to send the outputs of a sound interface directly to amps/speakers. You would have limited control (level, panning, eq etc) over the signals. An adequetely appointed sound-desk is still the best way to go.

Cheers . . . Martin

[jmgordon]

I find all these posts most interesting BUT as I suspect I am in the same position as many people in small amateur theatres - That is of a pre computer generation (now self upgraded !) brought up on crude reel to reel sound / Then Cassette / Mini Disc etc - but anxious to embrace this fantastic new technology. Can anyone guide me simply so I can purchase a USB sound card / That can operate two sets of speakers / and operates reliably under windows 7. Currently I use a simple sound card and still use a sound desk to distribute to various speakers. Not always easy when operating light and sound single handed !! with 100 + cues in a show !!

You may find this thread helpful.

Malcolm