Fast Track Ultra Questions

[Aeindei]

I had a couple of questions about this device...

1. What exactly does 'High Performance Mode' do? I've read the FAQ, and it doesn't describe the mechanism behind it. It just says that it will be, in so many words, "more better" if I enable it. However, when I enable it, my operating system hangs while loading.
The FAQ goes on to suggest that High Performance Mode should in most cases work, but that if it doesn't I should just disable it.
Could there be some troubleshooting steps I could undertake to determine what is causing this? Or is there magic involved? I'm okay with computers but bad at magic.

2. Is there a good way to tell if I've installed Driver FTU_V32_5.10.00.5092v3 properly? I've installed it twice now, afterward the 'about' section of the control panel, once the installation is complete, says it's running on driver 5.10.0.5092. This is also what my device manager says, and what it says in my dxdiag. The exe that installs the driver makes sure to uninstall the previous driver before allowing me to proceed, so it's unclear to me whether I'm doing this properly. Perhaps I'm not double clicking the exe fast enough or reading the terms and conditions all the way through (and just checking the box anyway).

3. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 was released on February 4, 2008. Windows XP Service Pack 3 was released on April 21, 2008. Why are there drivers for XP SP3 and not Vista SP1? I understand that it takes time and effort to create drivers for these devices, but it's unfair that people with a current operating system should be penalized just because windows XP's audio stack is more accomodating to developers.

All that probably comes off as snide, but it's hard not to be if I have to go digging around in safe mode just because I checked a little box on the control panel.

[shAmii]

1. What exactly does 'High Performance Mode' do? I've read the FAQ, and it doesn't describe the mechanism behind it. It just says that it will be, in so many words, "more better" if I enable it. However, when I enable it, my operating system hangs while loading.
The FAQ goes on to suggest that High Performance Mode should in most cases work, but that if it doesn't I should just disable it.
Could there be some troubleshooting steps I could undertake to determine what is causing this? Or is there magic involved? I'm okay with computers but bad at magic.

Troubleshooting High Performance Mode is simply a matter of enabling or disabling it. Since SP 1 is not supported this is likely a major factor in your particular issue.


2. Is there a good way to tell if I've installed Driver FTU_V32_5.10.00.5092v3 properly? I've installed it twice now, afterward the 'about' section of the control panel, once the installation is complete, says it's running on driver 5.10.0.5092. This is also what my device manager says, and what it says in my dxdiag. The exe that installs the driver makes sure to uninstall the previous driver before allowing me to proceed, so it's unclear to me whether I'm doing this properly. Perhaps I'm not double clicking the exe fast enough or reading the terms and conditions all the way through (and just checking the box anyway).


Unfortunately, the version that shows up on the About Tab doesn't indicate the update. However, since you're seeing the installer go thru the removal process for the previous driver, you can be certain that you're on the correct one.



3. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 was released on February 4, 2008. Windows XP Service Pack 3 was released on April 21, 2008. Why are there drivers for XP SP3 and not Vista SP1? I understand that it takes time and effort to create drivers for these devices, but it's unfair that people with a current operating system should be penalized just because windows XP's audio stack is more accomodating to developers.

We apologize for the hold up on this; we're currently working on a better system for messaging the timetables to the public. I'll update this post once I get the specific information. We really appreciate the feedback [even when it's negative] and patience all of our users have shown so far.

[shAmii]

We currently expect to have drivers support for Vista 32 bit SP1 complete by October 1st. Our Engineering department is currently working out a schedule, and we are working to message this information on our website.

[Aeindei]

So why is Windows XP development a priority over Vista development?

[RussianUser]

So why is Windows XP development a priority over Vista development?

The Vista is very bad OS for working with audio. Read the internet articles about it. Don't think that everything newest better than old.

[Aeindei]

I don't care which one is easier for them to develop on. This is not a professional product, it is a consumer product. Given that, it makes good business sense that they develop drivers for platforms that consumers are using. Sure, many, many people are still using XP, but I can't help but think this is partially because hardware developers "pull an m-audio" and neglect the new OS, leading to a general stigma that Vista is unreliable and incompatible.
If I wanted to dedicate my machine to audio performance, I'd go buy a mac and probably use Logic or Pro Tools HD. I wouldn't buy a ~$300 interface and install a 7-year-old operating system.
But I am not a professional and I use my computer for other things. I understand that there is a market for budget and amateur recording products.
If I had bought a product that was released before Vista was available (like the Firewire Solo I have sitting in a box) I would understand if it wasn't fully supported under Vista or if they came up with XP drivers for it before Vista drivers.
But the Fast Track Ultra is a new product, released while Vista was the current operating system.
As fun as it would be to pretend I was a highly skilled sound engineer, I'm just a guy with a new computer and a new audio recording product. They don't work together. If I were an average consumer and didn't know how to uninstall service packs or dual-boot a second operating system, I would have taken this product back to the store because I couldn't get it to work with my new computer.
I realize that the average consumer is stupid, and that there's no excuse for that, but if a corporation wants to make money they usually accommodate/exploit that stupidity.
I would not buy a product that's only supported under unix, no matter how awesome that product may be. Same with products for Windows 2000, or products for Mac. I won't change my operating system to accommodate this product when it was advertised as being Vista compatible.
As a final bit of irony, here's an excerpt from M-audio's press release describing the product:
“The Fast Track Ultra is the only high-speed USB 2.0 interface that comes with M-Audio’s mature, stable drivers, rock-solid performance and renowned customer support.”
Bollocks.

[laurentkarcher]

HI!

At first i hope you will excuse my english,i'm french!:

My config : VAIO VGN-NS21S/W Core 2 Duo T6400 4096Mo (2048x2)
Vista 32 bit SP1

my trouble is the high mode performance!

I explain:
I had enabled "high-performance mode" and that appears to have been the cause of the system lockup

After uninstalling / reinstalling the driver AND LEAVING "high-performance mode" OFF, the unit has been performing flawlessly!

But i hope one day ,you will make a driver that can make me use this high mode perfo?
Or if you had a special cmd command to give for make that knob work, i would be very happy!!!

Ps i use jam lab, black box, an all those perfectly work!!!

Thanks

laurent
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[zerobyte]

and since i'm about to purchase FTU, i would still like to know: "1. What exactly does 'High Performance Mode' do?...if it works at all.

[Paul]

High performance mode is a different means of the driver sending audio data to the computer which reduces latency. This is not compatible with all systems and typically works better in Vista.