M-Audio M-Track Solo & Duo, two new entry-level audio interfaces with a solid feature set and a lot of software for a small price.
M-Audio recently released its new Oxygen Pro keyboard range. These are interesting new feature-rich MIDI controllers that don’t hurt your wallet. Now there are two new affordable audio interfaces. These possibly match perfectly with the new keyboards.
The M-Track Solo, and M-Track Duo, each are compact USB-powered interfaces that equipped with two channels. Both are pure audio devices, neither of which has MIDI.
M-Audio M-Track Solo/Duo
The new M-Track interfaces are in the low-budget area and target the bedroom producer with a small budget. Both interfaces feature M-Audio’s Crystal mic preamps on XLR/line/instrument combo inputs with 48V phantom power for condenser microphones. Also onboard is a stereo line input perfect for connecting any signal to it and monitor switches to let you switch between listening to computer audio or input signal.
The duo has two combo sockets where the solo only has one. Also different are the outputs. The M-Track Solo has RCA stereo outputs while the M-Track Duo has classic 1/4-inch monitor outputs. Both include headphone outputs with dedicated volume controls. Both interfaces are also bundled with a big software package. Pro-Tools First (M-Audio Edition), MPC Beats, 20 AVID plugins, Eleven Lite guitar amp simulator, and the Xpand!2 rompler plugin.
M-Audio M-Track Solo
- 2-Channel USB recording interface for Mac and PC
- (1) XLR and 1⁄4-inch combo input Crystal Preamp for amazing audio quality
- +48V phantom power for connecting studio condenser microphones
- Dedicated instrument input for guitar or bass
- Stereo line input for connecting digital piano, keyboard and more!
- 1∕8-inch headphone and RCA stereo outputs provide easy monitoring
- USB/Direct switch for listening to the input signal or the computer signal
- Software bundle, including: Pro Tools | First M-Audio Edition, MPC Beats, AIR Music Tech Xpand!2, Eleven Lite guitar amp plugin and 20 AVID plugin effects
M-Audio M-Track Duo
- 2-Channel USB recording interface for Mac and PC
- (2) XLR and 1⁄4-inch combo inputs with Crystal Preamps amazing audio quality
- Dedicated switches to enable any microphone, instrument, or line level device
- +48V phantom power for connecting studio condenser microphones Stereo 1⁄4-inch outs; 1⁄4-inch headphone out with independent level controls
- USB/Direct Mono/Direct Stereo switch for monitoring mic, line or instrument inputs in stereo or mono
- Included – Pro Tools | First M-Audio Edition, MPC Beats, AIR Music Tech Xpand!2, Eleven Light
guitar amp plugins and 20 Avid effects
At first glance two interesting interfaces, the duo being the much more interesting package. A combo socket and 1/4-inch outputs are worth 20€ more to me.
M-Audio M-Track Solo is available now for 49€, M-Track Duo for 69€.
More information here: M-Audio
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Something that readers may be interested to know about these two audio interfaces, is that the M-Audio M-Track Solo only allows direct monitoring in mono, so if you have a stereo signal coming into the interface via the two line-in inputs (such as a drum kit, keyboard or any other stereo signal), you will actually only hear this in mono via direct monitoring (headphone) output.
The M-Audio M-Track Duo has an additional stereo direct monitoring selector switch, which when selected, allows you to direct monitor input signals in stereo.
I found this out myself when I bought the M-Track Solo for connecting up my electronic drumkit to my PC and was disappointed when I realised that the stereo signal (l + R outputs) from my drum kit could only be monitored in mono. I returned the ‘Solo’ and bought the slightly more expensive ‘Duo’ version.
This information id not covered very clearly in the various reviews or technical specs on the M-Audio website.