Hello group…

It has been quite some time since I have been to the forum – over a year. Unfortunately, health and family issues have kept me away. But things are starting to get better and I’m finding more time to get back into my music again.

The last time I posted I was using Win XP and a Creative Audigy 2 sound card. I have now moved on to Win 7-32 bit and found the Audigy 2 was impossible to use, due to a constant “popping” noise. In fact, Creative no longer even supports the Audigy. In any event, I had no trouble deciding to scrap it and get more modern equipment, and so, after reading so many good things about it here in the forum, I invested in an M-Audio Fast Track Pro to use with Band-in-a Box, Real Band Ultra, 2009 and Cakewalk 9.

When I installed the Fast Track Pro I went to the M-Audio website to download the drivers that would make it compatible with Win 7. The installation went without a hitch. Windows recognizes it in “Control Panel –Sound.” But here’s where I need help… connecting it.

I have to say right here and now that I do my music just for my own enjoyment. I am not looking to do it professionally. And so I am really quite happy with the results I can get with the gear I have.

I chose the Fast Track Pro for its ease in using it. I like having all the inputs, outputs and controls in front of me on my desk, just as the Audigy had everything on the front panel.

Here is my problem. No matter what I’ve tried in way of connections, I cannot get any sound to come out of the Fast Track Pro… the signal light on the front panel, in either input, doesn’t flash to tell me that it is receiving a signal. When I record audio, (vocals and guitar) I like to go through my Behringer Xenyx 1202 FX mixer because of the effects it gives me. I do not have an external effects unit and the mixer’s effects suit me just fine. I need to know how to connect the mixer to the M-Audio Pro. I will also be doing lots of MIDI directly through the M-Audio Pro using my Ketron SD 2.

In fact, even when I plug in my Shure SM58 dynamic microphone DIRECTLY into the interface there is no signal coming through the headphones. And yes… I am sure that the unit is on…

Here is the list of stuff I am using. At the risk of going on and on, I am trying to be as thorough as possible to make it easier for someone to walk me through the steps that will me up and running.

• Windows 7 Pro - 32 bit
• Intel Core 2, 3.0 gig processor and loads of memory.
• Digital Audio S/PDIF on-board sound device on my Asus P5K SE motherboard. Windows calls it “High Definition Audio device.”
• Logitech Z5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System. There are 2 input connections to this system that I am using. The digital coax input which my computer uses and the digital optical input which my TV uses.
• Ketron SD 2

In Windows Control Panel, after an exhaustive search to make sure I have gotten everything that pertains to any sound settings or sound device, here is what I have found.

• Fast Track Pro Properties: under “Channels”, “Outputs 1 and 2 (balanced and unbalanced)” This is checked. “Outputs 3 and 4 (S/PDIF balanced and unbalanced)” This is checked. “S/PDIF input (stereo)” This is NOT checked. “Balanced Input 1 (Mono)” This is checked. “Balanced Input 2 (Mono)” This is checked.
• Under “Sound (Playback)” it says “M-Audio Fast Track line 1/2 “ and is set as the default device.
• Under “Sound (Recording)” it says, “M-Audio line 1/2 “ and is set as default. “M-Audio line 3/4” and is not selected.

As I said earlier, I really don’t mean to go on and on with such a long post but I just figured that I should try to put out as much info about the present situation so that may be you can help me get my stuff up and running. Anything that would get me going would be greatly appreciated. If there is something else that you should need to know I will be happy to give it to you.

Thanking you so much in advance,

Bobby