Audio interface suggestions - portability is important

[Korhan]

Hi login,

Apogee and RME are too expensive (see my budget in the original post). I don't like DJ interfaces. I think the Scarlett 2i2 will do fine, assuming that I don't have any latency/CPU consumption problems with it.

Thanks

[DPMachine]

It is now available in the US (at B&H in New York). My girlfriend is buying me one as we speak. I will try it here in Istanbul and if it works properly (latency, CPU load, etc) I'll keep it. I'll let you know about my experience with it.

Oh, awesome. I'm in need of a portable interface as well... 2i2 seems perfect. Please do give us an update if you can.

[Korhan]

Hi,

The Scarlett 2i2 arrived. So far, I have only used it as audio output and have not put the preamps to any use. The unit looks beautiful and robust. The knobs feel a bit cheap but I think they'll do fine. I like the size of the volume knob - the small size of the MOTU volume knob has always been a problem on stage.

Scarlett 2i2 has a better latency performance than I expected. With the default Ableton Live document (one audio + one MIDI channel with no plugins, instruments, etc), a 256-sample buffer size yields a latency of 7.88ms (total latency is double this figure when the inputs are also used) and there is no load on the CPU (1%). When I go down to 64 samples, the latency falls down to 3.88ms and CPU use goes up to 4-5%. 32 samples give 3.21ms and 8-9% while the lowest setting, 15 samples give a latency of 2.85ms and 15% of CPU load. All this is on a 2008 Macbook Pro with 2.5Gz C2D CPU and 4GBs of RAM. However, when I set the buffer to 15ms and then load my computer instrument set, which usually takes 40-50% of the CPU, Ableton Live 8.2.5 crashes (with a 'serious program error'). I don't know if this is a Live or a Scarlett driver issue. I sent the crash report to Ableton. Everything works fine with that set when the sample buffer is increased to 32 samples. The CPU use jumps up to 70% though. I will probably keep the buffer size somewhere between 64-128 samples. All these values at 48KHz sample rate.

Korhan

[matthews]

Thanks for the 2i2 review, looking to pick one up this week.

[Punky921]

Cool. Sweet review. I'm looking to pick up the Scarlett 18i6, which is the big brother unit.

[Korhan]

The bigger Scarlett's have DSPs in them as far as I know, so the results may be quite different from the 2i2.

[Punky921]

Hmm so that might increase latency?

[Korhan]

I don't know if it will improve latency, but there is no reason it should increase latency.

[Punky921]

Fair enough. Thanks for the tip.

[DPMachine]

Good stuff. Thanks for the update.

[wehkah]

I'm using a Focusrite Saffire6 USB. I also can recommend the m-audio fasttrack pro.

cheers
T

[Korhan]

I have already purchased and started using the Focusrite 2i2. In fact I tested it last night at a concert. It worked well. Because the phantom power supply of the house mixer did not work, we had to route the cello microphone thru Ableton Live/Focusrite to the main mixer. I had to bring latency down and there were absolutely no performance issues.

[Punky921]

Nice! Good to know. I've got a line on a Scarlett 18i6 for around $250, so I'm probably going to pull the trigger on that this week.

[Punky921]

Trigger pulled. Got it for $239. Totally psyched. Probably will use it to record performers at an open mic I run this week. Let's hope I can get it up and running fast.