Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly

Introduction

Full disassembly and teardown of the Avid Fast Track Solo audio interface.

Follow this teardown to take off the chassis and access the internals of the Avid Fast Track Solo. This teardown can also be used in order to access, clean, or replace potentiometers or other components.

Before you begin, completely unplug all cables from this unit.

Step 1 Getting Started

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Getting Started: step 1, image 1 of 1

Remove all cables from the unit.

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Step 2 Remove knobs

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove knobs: step 2, image 1 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove knobs: step 2, image 2 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove knobs: step 2, image 3 of 3

Remove all three knobs on the front by pulling them straight out.
One may insert one or two iFixit picks underneath the knobs to pry them out.

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Step 3 Open front cover

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Open front cover: step 3, image 1 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Open front cover: step 3, image 2 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Open front cover: step 3, image 3 of 3

Turn the unit upside down.
Insert an iFixit pick in the ridge between the body and the front plate, starting in front of the feet pads and work around the unit.
Carefully pry of the front plate.

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Step 4 Remove washers

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove washers: step 4, image 1 of 1

Use pliers to loosen the washers on the three potentiometer stems. The washers can then be unscrewed by hand.
Use pliers to loosen the washers holding the two 6.3 mm jacks. The washers can then be unscrewed by hand.
Be careful of hitting the small lights to the right of each 6.3 mm jack when loosening the washers.

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Step 5 Unscrew screws

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Unscrew screws: step 5, image 1 of 2

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Unscrew screws: step 5, image 2 of 2

Unscrew all the screws fitted on the front plate, in the following order:
Use a PH1 screwdriver to remove the two PH1 screws securing the XLR jack.
Use a PH2 screwdriver to remove the remaining PH2 screws securing the front metal plate to the chassis.
The Direct Monitor button hat (between the two 6.3 mm jacks) can be left as is throughout the whole disassembly, alternatively it can be remove by gently pulling it straight out.

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Step 6 Remove front plate

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove front plate: step 6, image 1 of 3

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Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove front plate: step 6, image 3 of 3

The front plate should sit loose on the body without any screws holding it.
Remove the front metal plate.
One may slide an iFixit pick in the seam between the front metal plate and the metal chassis if the plate does not fall off and all screws are loosened.

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Step 7 Remove rear cover

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove rear cover: step 7, image 1 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove rear cover: step 7, image 2 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove rear cover: step 7, image 3 of 3

To remove the motherboard, it is first necessary to unscrew the screws securing it from the rear of the unit.
Face the rear of the unit. Turn the unit upside down.
Insert an iFixit pick in the ridge between the body and the back cover, starting behind the feet pads and work around the unit.
Carefully pry of the plastic rear cover.

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Step 8 Remove rear plate

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove rear plate: step 8, image 1 of 2

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove rear plate: step 8, image 2 of 2

Unscrew all the screws fitted on the rear plate.
Only the screws marked in red need to be removed in order to detach the motherboard.
Use a PH2 screwdriver to remove the PH2 screws securing the motherboard.
Use a PH2 screwdriver to remove the remaining PH2 screws securing the rear metal plate to the chassis.

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Step 9 Remove motherboard

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove motherboard: step 9, image 1 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove motherboard: step 9, image 2 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Remove motherboard: step 9, image 3 of 3

To orient the unit, see the purple AVID logo on the top of the unit. The text is readable as AVID in correct orientation from the front of the unit.
Face the front of the unit.
Gently pull out the motherboard by pulling the black motherboard post. It should slide out without any resistance.
Pulling out the motherboard can alternately be done by gently pulling the black motherboard posts from the rear of the unit.
The full teardown is now complete!

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Step 10 Reattach rear plate

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach rear plate: step 10, image 1 of 2

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach rear plate: step 10, image 2 of 2

This step can be skipped if the rear plate was not removed.
To orient the unit, see the purple AVID logo on the top of the unit. The text is readable as AVID in correct orientation from the front of the unit.
Face the rear of the unit.
Reattach the rear plate.
Reinsert and tighten the PH2 screws holding the rear plate to the chassis.
Do not reinsert the two screws which secures the motherboard.

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Step 11 Insert motherboard

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Insert motherboard: step 11, image 1 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Insert motherboard: step 11, image 2 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Insert motherboard: step 11, image 3 of 3

To orient the unit, see the purple AVID logo on the top of the unit. The text is readable as AVID in correct orientation from the front of the unit.
Face the front of the unit.
Gently insert the motherboard back into the chassis, all the way in. The motherboard is to rest on the lower lip.

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Step 12 Secure motherboard and rear cover

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Secure motherboard and rear cover: step 12, image 1 of 2

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Secure motherboard and rear cover: step 12, image 2 of 2

Face the rear of the unit.
Reinsert and tighten the two PH2 screws securing the motherboard.
Reattach the plastic rear cover by pressing it on. Put pressure on the sides, and work around the unit.

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Step 13 Reattach potentiometers to front plate

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach potentiometers to front plate: step 13, image 1 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach potentiometers to front plate: step 13, image 2 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach potentiometers to front plate: step 13, image 3 of 3

Face the front of the unit.
Insert the three potentiometers into the front plate.
Each potentiometer has a small prong that is to be fitted through the front plate, either to the right or below the potentiometer stem.
Reattach and tighten the washers for the potentiometers.

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Step 14 Reattach front plate

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach front plate: step 14, image 1 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach front plate: step 14, image 2 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach front plate: step 14, image 3 of 3

Reinsert and tighten all screws into the front plate, in the following order:
Reinsert and tighten all PH2 screws securing the front plate to the chassis.
Reinsert and tighten the two PH1 screws securing the XLR jack into the front plate.
Some force is needed to screw the two PH1 screws back into the XLR jack. Be cautious to not over tighten the screws!
Reattach and tighten the washers for the two 6.3 mm jacks.
Use pliers to make sure the washers for the potentiometers and the 6.3 mm jacks all are tight and secured.
If the Direct Monitor button cap (between the two 6.3mm jacks) were previously removed, please reattach it by gently pressing it into place.

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Step 15 Reattach front cover

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach front cover: step 15, image 1 of 2

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach front cover: step 15, image 2 of 2

Reattach the plastic front cover by pressing it on. Put pressure on the sides, and work around the unit.

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Step 16 Reattach knobs

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach knobs: step 16, image 1 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach knobs: step 16, image 2 of 3

Avid Fast Track Solo Disassembly, Reattach knobs: step 16, image 3 of 3

Attach all three knobs to the potentiometer stems by pressing them straight on. They are interchangeable and the knobs will only fit in one orientation on the stems.
When attaching the knobs, leave a tiny gap, or press an iFixit pick between the base of the knob and the front cover of the unit. This is to ensure that the knobs does not scratch against the cover.

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