Tiny, fast audio interfaces - any news & recommendations?

[Plattfeste]

I really liked the new Echo USB Audiofire 2 and 4 replacement, they showed the Echo2 @ Frankfurt Messe , supposed to be in shops in May, and 4 in summer but have not heard anything since. The smaller, Echo2 looked even smaller then Babyface, no knobs all touch controls. Apparently Echoaudio take their time or have some problems.

Interesting news! Had not heard about these, what were they going to be? FW or USB? Cause with MBA, it has to be USB for me :/

USB as I said, they will replace Audiofire 2 and 4. i am forgetting to call and find out what happened. I absolutely loved the size, bit more then cigarette pack, still with phantom power,XLRs etc (of course with that detachable cable). I want to replace Presonus mobile ( not bad max inputs in that size, but will never get Presonus again- ugly and bit shitty). I wanted to get Babyface but this new Echo/s might suit me better (smaller, lighter)

Ah right, you said so. Sounds really good, the small, sturdy case of the Audiofire 2 is exactly what I want. But Echo seem to have canceled them, there's nothing to be found on the web...

[twisted-space]

RME Babyface

I'm sure it's the best. But it's overkill, in every respect: 10x more connections than I need, a bit big, has this unwieldy breakout cable, costs 550€...

Man I wish Apple hadn't killed Firewire. Thunderbolt will never become a proper replacement, because we'll only see huge high-end interfaces with millions of ADAT channels and whatnot. What's wrong with small AND great? Echo Audiofire 2 would have been the perfect interface for my needs (well, if it's drivers are fast, that is - at least on my old 2006 machine, they weren't).

I suggested it because it's small, has extremely low latency (7.5mS round trip on my old t9300 c2d laptop, 5mS on my quad core desktop) and gives you 1 in and 2 out without using the breakout cable.

Yeah, it's €540 but it's worth every penny IMHO.

If you'd said you wanted small, fast and cheap I wouldn't have suggested it.

[Plattfeste]

I suggested it because it's small, has extremely low latency (7.5mS round trip on my old t9300 c2d laptop, 5mS on my quad core desktop) and gives you 1 in and 2 out without using the breakout cable.

Yeah, it's €540 but it's worth every penny IMHO.

If you'd said you wanted small, fast and cheap I wouldn't have suggested it.

It's a great suggestion of course. I just find it hard to believe that there is nothing below 10 in/12 out, but still with a decent latency performance. Maybe something slightly inferior to the Babyface will do - I tested an Mbox 2 Mini (which is USB1.0, I believe), and thanks to the fast new computer, latency was almost usable (ok it still sucked somewhat). My Ableton live set ran on 32 samples, no problem. Surely a decent USB2.0 interface must exist that's faster at minimum buffer settings?

Something else I will try: A friend is borrowing me her Echo Audiofire 2, and then when Apple releases that Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter, let's see how that works. On my old 2006 MBP, latency of the Audiofire was not good. Sound quality yes, latency no.

ESI UGM96 maybe, the size is perfect, but no Midi (-> USB Hub), and I can't imagine its audio quality is on the same level as more expensive devices'.

Another ESI interface, ESI ESU 22, cheap, small and sturdy as well, but with USB2.0... but it seems to be out of print/stock everywhere.

Oh and Echo answered today: The Echo 2 USB2.0 interface is due out in a couple of weeks, no more Midi though. Echo 4 estimated to arrive in early fall.

[twisted-space]

If you ignore the digital i/o its 2 in 4 out. I can't imagine the adat interface adding much pricewise, though for me it adds massively in flexibility .

I can't recommend either, as I've not tried them but what about the Apogee One or Duet?
They both seem well regarded.

[rikhyray]

The Echo 2 USB2.0 interface is due out in a couple of weeks, no more Midi though. Echo 4 estimated to arrive in early fall.

OK, though that is what they said in April .... . Anyway I will wait before buying Babyface. I definitely liked Echo`s size, design the best of them, for sound I dont worry much the only question is the latency. They are new to USB but on other hand they have great reputation, even that delay might speak for them, rather get it all perfect, then like TC; Focusrite , M audio etc - release and then try to fix it for months and years to come .

[Plattfeste]

The Echo 2 USB2.0 interface is due out in a couple of weeks, no more Midi though. Echo 4 estimated to arrive in early fall.

OK, though that is what they said in April .... . Anyway I will wait before buying Babyface. I definitely liked Echo`s size, design the best of them, for sound I dont worry much the only question is the latency. They are new to USB but on other hand they have great reputation, even that delay might speak for them, rather get it all perfect, then like TC; Focusrite , M audio etc - release and then try to fix it for months and years to come .

I don't know, I'm not a fan of the Babyface-Duet form factor, it seems more geared towards home studio than live use. I'd much rather have a small aluminum box with solid 1/4" Jack connectors than this desktop controller shape + breakout cable. (Edit: Haven't seen a pic of Echo 2, but you said it's a breakout cable system too, no?)

Echo seems to be a mixed bag. Great build and audio quality, but they don't seem to put enough effort into the driver side. Until now I used an Indigo IOx for live - it was quite fast, but the OSX drivers turned out to be a beta version, they never bothered to release a final Mac driver. After a MBP firmware update it got worse: When I tried to insert the IOx, the computer would immediately greyscreen. Only workaround was inserting the IOx before booting.
The Audiofire2, as I said, was a bit disappointing too - not nearly as fast as a firewire interface should be.

[Plattfeste]

If you ignore the digital i/o its 2 in 4 out. I can't imagine the adat interface adding much pricewise, though for me it adds massively in flexibility .

I can't recommend either, as I've not tried them but what about the Apogee One or Duet?
They both seem well regarded.

About the Babyface: You're probably right, the Adat can't be the most expensive part. It's just not exactly I was looking for - yes there are ins and outs without the Breakout cable, but the input is Hi-Z (I need line), and Midi is via breakout cable only. A bit clumsy overall... maybe I'd pay 550€, but it would have to be my perfect

[twisted-space]

Man you're hard to please.






The breakout cable is one of the things I like about the Babyface. The supplied one is permanently attached to my desktop set up and I made a couple of custom ones to hook up to whatever I need when mobile, one with xlr ins & 1/4" outs no headphone & no midi, one with 1/4" i/o + midi i/o no headphone.

But hey, one man's meat and all that, hope you find what you're looking for.

Whatever it is though, you're going to struggle to find anything with drivers faster, more stable or more efficient than RME.

[Plattfeste]

Man you're hard to please.

The breakout cable is one of the things I like about the Babyface. The supplied one is permanently attached to my desktop set up and I made a couple of custom ones to hook up to whatever I need when mobile, one with xlr ins & 1/4" outs no headphone & no midi, one with 1/4" i/o + midi i/o no headphone.

But hey, one man's meat and all that, hope you find what you're looking for.

Whatever it is though, you're going to struggle to find anything with drivers faster, more stable or more efficient than RME.

Haha yeah sorry It's true I've become somewhat obsessed with trimming down my live setup.

But that's interesting news! So it's possible to make custom breakout cables? Did you solder those D-Sub connectors yourself, or did you buy regular cables and cut off everything you didn't want?

And I don't doubt that RME make the best drivers, I used to have a Hammerfall myself... Actually I wonder why other developers don't feel ashamed a bit!

[twisted-space]

I made them myself. The breakout cable uses a standard DE15 connector and the pin assignment is detailed in the manual (http://www.rme-audio.de/download/bface_e.pdf page 80).

It's simple to make your own custom configuration as long as you're ok with a soldering iron.

[Plattfeste]

I made them myself. The breakout cable uses a standard DE15 connector and the pin assignment is detailed in the manual (http://www.rme-audio.de/download/bface_e.pdf page 80).
It's simple to make your own custom configuration as long as you're ok with a soldering iron.

Cool!

Testing the Echo Audiofire2 right now - it's too slow. Couldn't test it on the Macbook Air 11" (i5, 2011), cause the Thunderbolt/FW adapter still isn't there, but the Macmini should be just as fast (i5, 2011):
Lowest stable latency setting in Ableton/Lion is 64 samples, it says 9 ms roundtrip, but it's definitely more. Way slower than Echo Indigo iOX or Motu 828 Mk I.
It's infuriating tbh - I have to use software monitoring, cause I'm playing live keys into the looper / master FX / sidechain comp...
Looks like nothing but RME will do. Crazy.

[twisted-space]

http://www.raincomputers.co.uk/RME-Baby ... -a/272.htm

Check out the "In Use" part of this review.

[rikhyray]

Way slower than Echo Indigo iOX .

I dont think will see anything to match the Indigo any soon. I had the DJX and it was something like 1.5 ms ( no inputs on that card). Will wait for the Echo2, maybe it will surprise us, otherwise RME is is sure bet, twisted-s. should get some bonus from RME, the idea of custom cable sets is the game change for me. Having one permanently connected to studio gear, another one for mobile work, another for stage. Brilliant idea and now we know how to do it! Thanks

[twisted-space]

twisted-s. should get some bonus from RME, the idea of custom cable sets is the game change for me. Having one permanently connected to studio gear, another one for mobile work, another for stage. Brilliant idea and now we know how to do it! Thanks

Your welcome!

[Plattfeste]

http://www.raincomputers.co.uk/RME-Baby ... -a/272.htm

Check out the "In Use" part of this review.

How true. It looks like I accidentially always had interfaces that were really fast, and only now I realize that 98% of the market have sluggish drivers. I've always used software monitoring, on a Hammerfall, then 828 Mk1, then Indigo IOx - no problems ever.

Today I crossed out another one: NI Guitar Rig Mobile IO. 12ms round trip at 32 samples (says Ableton - didn't measure, but it's slow). And it's USB2.0, so that doesn't even mean anything.

Up next: Behringer UCA222, yay! Borrowed from a friend, so why not test it...