what is better for soundcard...usb or firewire

[forge]

OK

thanks for all the responses...looks like i shouldn't get a usb device, like the fast track pro by m-audio....damn...that thing was just in my price range, with ideal features....just makes me wonder,,,,why do companies even make usb devices then, if they seem to be so unreliable?

are there people that actually like m-audio, and can back them up? or is this thread overwhelmed with peeps that have had bad experiences w/ m-audio and usb devices?

still, cant honestly say i've been convinced, though i really appreciate the posts... im not in a rush...so i'll keep hearing what you all have to say....so at this point, can anyone vouch for m-audio? or usb?



love,

grainshifter

you have a mac so dont be too put off firewire, most of the comments there were for the 4 pin PC version.

[grainshifter]

ok how about this...
(i'll lay out the whole filthy scenario)

i have a mackie onyx 1220 w/ firewire i/o which i love...but its limited. only has a stereo return, which means i cant dj with it, besides its pretty big

so lets say i go out and get a firewire 410...will i be able to chain the 410 to my mackie 1220 and in LIVE 5, be able to set the audio input to the mackie, and the audio output to the firewire 410????

OR...

i run my external HDD through USB2.0, but the enclosure i use for it supports USB2 or firewire. can i chain the firewire 410 to the external HDD that is connected to my powerbook via USB2?

basically i want to connect two soundcards, one for input the other for output....

is this thing on?

thanks

[MarkH]

I use the M-Audio Delta 1010 cards in my computer. 4 of them can be "clustered" together for 40 inputs/outputs in one machine. I am able to run my buffer @ 64 and my input latency is 2ms and output latency 2ms (4ms total latency round trip). That's Pro Tools quality right there!

I am mixerless and connect my outboard gear straight into the Delta. I can use Live's mixer as my digital mixing console by using Inserts and Aux Sends FX.

At 4ms latency it's a beautiful thing. The Mackie Control is the icing on the cake!

[grainshifter]

wow markH...

your set up almost made me shed a tear of joy...one day i'll have a phat desktop...but for now, go powerbook go!!

[robin]

Hey mate.. Just don't use the little 4-pin firewire on PC laptops. Those are bad news. Either get a computer with 6-pin firewire (I know Powerbooks have 6-pin Firewire) or an Adaptec PCMCIA Firewire interface for your PC Laptop and all is good - even with M-Audio interfaces. .

does anyone know if the bus speed of the pcmcia slot can keep up with firewire's 400 Mb/s ? all the info i found said max. speed was 160 Mb/s.