THE QUEST FOR LOW LATENCY: Battle of the Interfaces

[DVISN]

I'm shopping for a new Audio Interface... wanted to post my equip here so we can compare and find out which AIs are the best bang for the buck. Please help by posting your numbers at 128 Samples Buffer Size:

2010 MacBook Pro - 2.4 GHz i5 - 8 GB RAM
Scarlett 212 USB Interface - ~$200

@128 Samples and 44.1 Sample rate, I have:

Input: 5.56 ms
Output: 4.01ms

Overall: 9.57

Also, if anyone has any recommendations on a best bang for your buck interface w/ better numbers than this, please let me know. Thanks! Oh, and please stick to a similar format when posting replies.

[tedlogan]

Shouldn't people also include how many tracks and which VSTs (and on which quality settings) they can use before audio starts to crackle?

[login]

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end ... faces.html

http://www.michalkaszczyszyn.com/en/tut ... l#database

IMHO Steinberg has the best cheap interfaces,, the step above is RME.

[timothyallan]

same settings as you:

Input 4.99 ms
Output 3.33ms

Overall 8.32

UAD Apollo Thunderbolt

[leisuremuffin]

when looking for lower latency, consider increasing the sample rate you're working at before deciding you need a new interface.....

[JoshG567]

when looking for lower latency, consider increasing the sample rate you're working at before deciding you need a new interface.....

YES. People often forget the effect SR has on latency. Not a bad idea at all if your CPU can handle it.

[Donnie]

RME Babyface @ 44.1k
Lenovo w540 i7-4900MQ @ 2.8 GHz w/ 32 GB RAM

Input 4.15 ms
Output 4.33 ms

Overall 8.48 ms

My typical usage is 64 Samples with 5.58 ms overall

[XSIMan]

RME always win the benchtests I 've had my eye on the baby face for a while.

[h4nc0]

Lynx Hilo TB @ 44.1k, 128 samples
Mac Pro 2013, 6 core, 32 GB RAM

Input 4.04 ms
Output 4.72 ms

Overall 8.75 ms

[Donnie]

RME always win the benchtests I 've had my eye on the baby face for a while.

Worth every penny imo, I only wish I would have bought it sooner. The most stable interface I've owned by far.

[ImNotDedYet]

RME always win the benchtests I 've had my eye on the baby face for a while.

Worth every penny imo, I only wish I would have bought it sooner. The most stable interface I've owned by far.

Love my babyface. No worries, no hassles, great quality. Worth every penny IMO.

[JoshG567]

What are everyone's calibrated DEC values?

[markwphoto]

Using Propellerhead's Balance I get:

@128 Samples and 44.1 Sample rate, I have:

Input: 2.90 ms
Output: 2.90 ms

Overall: 5.80

@128 Samples and 48 Sample rate, I have

Input: 2.67 ms
Output: 2.67 ms

Overall: 5.33 ms

I usually keep the sample rate at 48. I also have a Scarlett 6i6 and if I can remember correctly it's slightly lower than Balance at 48kHz but I'll have to check when I get home.

I know it's not a Mac but I'm running on a Asus i7 laptop with 16Gb ram.

[fishmonkey]

What are everyone's calibrated DEC values?

good point. proper driver error compensation needs to be factored in too...