6 

11

15

12

11

13 13

14

15

14

12

19

20

16

18

17

11.

MIC INPUT –

 Connect a microphone to this input 

with an XLR cable. 

12.

GUITAR / LINE INPUT –

 Connect a line-level 

device or guitar to this input with a 1/4" cable.  

13.

MIC/LINE / GUITAR SWITCH –

 When this switch is 

in the "GUITAR" position, the channel will serve as a high-impedance input for connecting guitar or 
bass instruments. When the switch is in the "MIC/LINE" position, the channel will accept mic or line-
level signals.  

14.

GAIN –

 Adjusts the channel's input gain level. For your signal's gain to be at an optimally high level, 

make sure that its loudest output causes the amber lights on the LED METERS to illuminate. (Higher 
levels can result in "clipping" or distortion of the signal, and signals recorded at lower levels may not be 
heard in the mix.) After that, do the same in your software using its meters. 

15.

INSERT –

 The insert jack allows you to insert a compressor, EQ, or any other signal processor in 

between the M-Track's preamplifier and A/D converter. Any processing done by a connected insert 
processor will be recorded into your software. 

16.

PHANTOM POWER SWITCH –

 This switch activates and deactivates phantom power. When 

activated, phantom power supplies +48V to both XLR mic inputs. Please note that most dynamic 
microphones do not require phantom power, while most condenser microphones do. Do 

not

 use 

phantom power with any ribbon microphones as it will damage them. Consult your microphone's 
documentation to find out whether it needs phantom power. 

17.

MONITOR MIX –

 Blend in any amount of zero-latency signal (direct monitoring) from your inputs with 

the output from your DAW. When fully in the "USB" position, you will hear only sound from your DAW. 
When fully in the "DIRECT" position, you will hear only your source through M-Track's inputs. 

This knob is useful during recording when dealing with the "buffer size" and "latency." The computer 
takes a short amount of time to process the incoming audio before sending it back out; this time is 
determined by the buffer size setting. Latency is the resulting delay between the incoming sound 
(playing your instrument, singing, etc.) and outgoing sound (when you hear it in the DAW). Higher 
buffer sizes result in higher latency. 

If your computer is powerful enough, you may be able to set your buffer size low enough such that you 
may never need direct monitoring. In this case, set the knob all the way to the "USB" position to monitor 
only the audio output of your DAW. 

In other cases, though, low buffer sizes can consume a lot of your computer's CPU and cause audio 
glitches, so you may need to use a higher buffer setting, resulting in latency. In this case, use a higher 
buffer size and turn the knob more towards the "DIRECT" position to monitor your incoming signal 
without latency. When listening to the playback, turn it all the way to the "USB" position. 

18.

MONO / STEREO –

 Switches the headphones and MAIN OUT mixes between mono or stereo 

operation. Use the stereo setting to direct-monitor the input signal when recording a stereo source, if 
you want to hear each channel in their respective left and right sides. Use the mono setting to direct-
monitor the input signal when recording only one source or if you want to hear both channels equally on 
each side. This switch does not affect the DAW playback or how your sound is recorded into your 
DAW; it affects only how you hear the input signal in the headphones and MAIN OUT. 

19.

HEADPHONES –

 Connect your 1/4" headphones to this output. 

20.

HEADPHONE VOLUME –

 Adjusts the volume level of the headphone output. 

NOTE:

 Do not use the MIC INPUT and 

GUITAR/LINE INPUT at the same time on 
one channel. This may overload the 
channel and cause distortion.