Long Story....

I purchased a Presonus Firebox to replace my Toneport UX1 several months ago... I nearly went insane attempting to get the driver recognized by my computer.  I finally returned the Presonus for an MAudio Fast Track Ultra.  After all the finagling I'd gone through with the Presonus, the FT was straight ahead Plug and Play.  It was great.  Used it with my MXL9000 condenser mic (which has a separate power unit powering a ribbon in the mic - I know this because BEAGLE told me so!!!) for several months. 

Then, my husband bought me an AT 2050 condenser mic.  Pugged it in.  Yay!  It worked and it was niiiiice!  Plugged my MXL9000 back in, and...... blew the FTU out of the water.  Every light was flashing like something out of Star Trek, and the unit was making the most egregious noise... 

Returned it to MAudio with their pre-paid return process.  They sent me a new one (I know it was new, because I'd made a hatchmark on the serial number sticker).  In the meantime, I went back to my trusty lil Toneport UX1.

So, I hooked up the second FTU, plugged the MXL mic back in, and immediately blew it AGAIN.  Flashing lights!  Horrible noises!  Sent it back AGAIN.  Back to the goofy Toneport.

I literally *just* got my THIRD FTU back in the mail, and have it all set up, and it works with both my AT2050 and my dynamic mic.  "What about the MXL 9000", you ask?  I dunno.  I don't have the  cajones to try that again.  Which really stinks, because I loved that mic.  Now it's useless.  Unless I pug the Toneport back in.

But!  All that aside, here's what REALLY burns my britches... The FTU series (and other MAudio units?) do NOT work with windows hibernate or sleep mode.  WTH???  Yeah.  Blue Screens all over the place.  Of course, I didn't know that little tidbit until AFTER I'd purchased the thing and started with the BSOD 4 times/day.  So... now I'm back to leaving my system running all the freaking time... it's not a dedicated DAW, although I wish it was.

All in all, though... I have to say that MAudio technical support has been stellar.  No complaints, no trying to pass the buck, and brand new units each time.  Not that I should have to be *needing* new units, but still...  There's a nice dude named Paul on the forums who's been a lifesaver.

My two dollars worth....

My M Audio Fast track pro would intermittently stop working. No reason, just no sound. I was only using it for playback at gigs for my backing tracks. Xp pro SP 3 on a laptop optimized for audio. At least I still could use my on board with the cheesy mini jack. It was embarrassing and I could never trust it. To me it was the drivers as when you load them windows will tell you they do not pass the windows verification what ever test. I don't care what you say, If windows thinks the drivers suck, they probably do!
Funny thing is it works just fine for recording and MIDI on an older Desktop I have, Has never froze up. There is no differeance in the OS or the way I configure stuff.  The other day I installed it on my ASUS netbook ( Xp SP3) and did some live recording without problem. The next day when I went to edit the tracks it bombed! Records but will not playback??
I just do not trust it and will avoid all their products from now on.
I don't really know who's fault this kind of stuff is, The PC platform has so many configurations maybe it's impossible to please every one of them, dunno.
I'm going to give it to my drummer who is a Mac user, see what happens there.
He's using his mini jack with not bad results actually! Garage band etc. He's looking into purchasing ? Logic?