M-Audio M-Track Solo Audio Interface Review / Explained

Today I walkthrough, explain, and review the M-Audio M-Track Solo. This is a new budget interface at only $50 that rivals the Behringer UM2. The preamp is capable of driving the SM7b for a healthy recording level, it has pretty clean preamps, but it does have limited A/D and D/A converters at 16-bit 48kHz. At $50, it’s still quite impressive.

Buy the M-Audio M-Track Solo (Affiliate Links)

Buy the Rode NT1 Kit (Affiliate Link)

00:00 - Intro / Pricing
00:39 - Signal Chain for Testing
00:49 - What’s in the Box
01:18 - Build Quality
01:47 - Walkthrough of Features
03:10 - Specifications
03:38 - Shure SM7b Mic Test (No Cloudlifter or Fethead)
04:45 - Preamp Gain Noise Test
05:52 - Latency Test
06:19 - Instrument Input (D.I.) Test
07:49 - Headphone Amp Discussion
09:07 - Pros & Cons
11:13 - Recommendation
12:21 - Outro

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): If you purchase an item using my amazon link, it provides me a small referral fee. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

Check Out This Stuff TOO:

[aienp]

For 2 years now, been watching and learning from this dude about microphones and audio interfaces! If I make it as a rapper one day, be sure it'll be due to the fact I watched a channel that helped me setup everything easily haha! Love your videos man, so detailed and well made. Just thanks a lot, appreciate it.

[CristinaMarshal]

I appreciate the countdowns so much... Especially my ears X

[ronaldmalcolm]

I have the M-Track Duo and I don't have the gain problem at the very end--it's a consistent increase. I also like how quiet the preamps are relative to many others. However, due to the sample rate, I am going to upgrade at some point. I really enjoy your in-depth reviews and humor. Thanks for doing this video.

[nutellaontoast]

Focusrite needs to make a $50 interface

[vincentperom]

I was heavily using this for a year, it still works perfectly after a bit of abuse.

[eldest]

Feeling a little METAL today where we, always love the songs you make for the vids! Keep it up Bandrew, great job!

[garethm]

I bought the m-audio air during the UK first lockdown. Loved it for what I have needed it for.

[liveshotsvideoproductions]

I bought one (used) today for £23, so got the December 2023 drivers; the input settings in Windows are now offering 16/24/32-bit, all at 48Khz. The input gain dial is giving me a massive leap between 9-10, so I doubt I'd turn up that far with no clip protection.
I wish they'd put a simple limiter in the firmware, my Tascam DR70 field recorder has a limiter on all 4 channels.

[mwkoskamp]

Thanks for this review. Looking to buy something like this for my daughter so she can play around with her acoustic-electric guitar and add a mic to sing some songs. Appreciate the effort you put into this.

[AlteredMindz]

Awesome review. I just purchased one and your video had everything I needed to get started. Thank you. You now have a new subscriber.

[Digital_Dusk]

Thanks for the audio countdown timer since I turned it all the way up to hear the preamp.

[rangersmith]

I'm just beginning to dabble in voice over and similar audio work, and I've decided not to purchase any interface right now since I remembered that my Zoom H4n is perfectly serviceable as an interface. But if I were in need of a "get-by" interface, I would go with this A-Audio unit based on this review and the overall quality and integrity of Podcastage reviews in general.

[jaam]

I had behringer for two years, never again. My gain on my dynamic mic granted connected via XLR was having distortions even on no gain. M-Audio is the one I will give it a try :)

[TangleWireTube]

Tossing the box was good content. Why haven’t other reviewers thought to do that. Gold star ⭐️

[lenvdb]

Today I went looking for a USB audio interface. I had the option to get the Behringer. But got the M-track solo instead. Watching your review I am glad that I did. Thank you ❤

[isaacclarke]

Thank you for the review especially for the Latency test !

[tashagodspell]

at 7:42, I forgot that this was a video on an audio interface

[KiLLJOY]

I really like this interface. I just got mine yesterday after watching this video. The latency is really really good And everything works nice and proper. Very solid output for my main speakers, it all seems really great. I had another $50 interface fifine amazon, it was even properly specced for Line In Guitar, it was buzzy, didnt have any software and had 17ms of latency at a 0 Block Size. Same price and the M Audio is a HUGE step up, highly recommend.

[derpingdino]

I found your channel by looking for a a review on the Audio Technica at2020 a couple of days ago, and that convinced me to buy it. Then I found out I needed a audio interface for it (I was too eager and bought it without realizing I needed a xlr cable and a interface). So here I am looking at some interfaces on amazon being bewildered by the prices on these, and imagine my face when I saw you put out a review today of the same cheap interface I was looking at. Both your review on the at 2020 and the M-track were superb, and really made me feel confident and comfortable with what I was looking to purchase. So just want to say thanks for these great reviews! PS Really enjoyed the Instrument input test lol

[xHadesStamps]

I'm no longer recommending either of the el-cheapo Behringers (UM2 & UMC22). I have found a new budget king.