Best USB Audio interface for Live?

[DAB03]

I'm sure this has been asked millions of times! SORRY!! But....

I had my heart set on the Motu Ultralite for awhile, but my PC doesn't have Firewire. I have been reading around, here and on other forums....I have found alot of love and hate for both Motu and M-Audio interfaces.

There arent too many USB interfaces out there, so just trying to figure out which one to get. The M-Audio Fast Track (8R) looks pretty decent, also haven't read anything bad about it.

My current set-up is a PC running Vista(64) 4G Ram. Axiom 25 Midi controller, Novation Nocturn, and KRK monitors. I make underground techno music, and don't have any hardware thats needs to be hooked up. I want to try and keep it under $500.

I want to make this purchase ASAP, since the Ultralite is a no go.

Thanks for the help.

[4.33]

check out NI Audio Kontrol 1, it's ace

[DAB03]

looking for more in/outs for upgrading....dont want to be limited, plus I have all those plug ins offered.

[SolutionG]

looking for more in/outs for upgrading....dont want to be limited, plus I have all those plug ins offered.

You really don't want to simultaneously process all those inputs over a USB interface, because you will most likely run into latency issues that will quickly turn your hardware joy into a nightmare.

In my own honest experience, M-Audio interfaces should be avoided like the plague. I ran a fastrack pro before I grabbed my Audio Kontrol 1, and I had problems with my system recognizing it on a consistent basis. Your best bet would be to run the AK1 with a hardware mixer, then just do separate recording sessions on a couple tracks. My friend does this with a beat up old stanton DJ mixer and then on-board line-in on his budget PC, and does just fine, so I would imagine that such a similar approach on nicer gear would yield some cleaner results.

But hey, if you want to try your luck running the Fastrack Ultra, it sounds like you already have your mind made up.

[leedsquietman]

Get a PCI Firewire card with a Texas Instruments firewire chipset.

Then open up a whole realm of possibilities such as MOTU, Echo, Presonus, and much more.

USB sucks for multi channel audio. It's OK for a couple of channels and the Audio Kontrol is the best one for latency.

M-Audio - I wouldn't go there, the Fast Track Pro is a very underwhelming device but the FW410 is especially hit and miss.

MOTU - great interfaces, but better drivers on Mac than PC. If you can afford it, the RME FF800 is an awesome interface, but it's very costly. Otherwise Presonus, Echo Audio

Given that you are running Vista 64, you are going to be VERY limited to devices that have 64 bit drivers. I think Edirol does. YOu'll have to check that out.

[Tone Deft]

USB sucks for multi channel audio.

sorry man, totally disagree. I've been using my Edirol UA101 USB with 6 stereo inputs at once for years. you can also daisy chain them. all this guy is asking for is a sound card to write electronic tunes. prior to that I tried a Presonus Firebox, it simply would not work smoothly with my computer, so it goes but I'm not gonna slag all firewire just for that.

OP-
look at web sites, you'll start to see patterns of number of inputs vs. price. 'direct monitoring' is a GREAT feature and pretty standard. the more money you dump into your sound card, the smoother your recording applications will perform, it's worth spending a little extra on it.

firewire vs USB doesn't really matter.

[Rod Underleaf]

Very nice piece of gear.

[DAB03]

USB sucks for multi channel audio.

sorry man, totally disagree. I've been using my Edirol UA101 USB with 6 stereo inputs at once for years. you can also daisy chain them. all this guy is asking for is a sound card to write electronic tunes. prior to that I tried a Presonus Firebox, it simply would not work smoothly with my computer, so it goes but I'm not gonna slag all firewire just for that.

OP-
look at web sites, you'll start to see patterns of number of inputs vs. price. 'direct monitoring' is a GREAT feature and pretty standard. the more money you dump into your sound card, the smoother your recording applications will perform, it's worth spending a little extra on it.

firewire vs USB doesn't really matter.

Cool, thanks man...Might actually go for that Edirol UA101, found it for a good price. Do I have to make sure its compatable to Vista, or should I just assume it is?

And yea, I'm not looking to hook up a pro rig or anything, Just DAW based electronica.

[leedsquietman]

Thanks for the feedback TD. I'm glad your experience with USB is better than some others and you're right that a blanket statement such as xyx sucks is a bit much. For example, I know 2 people on PC running Firebox's who love them, which is the polar opposite of your experience. The vagueries of all those computer hardware combinations and software drivers eh !!

I will still testify though that in my opinion, with a TI chipset for firewire, that FW gives better performance than USB in my experience. And more to the point, there are quite a few more decent firewire interfaces to choose from than USB 2.0 at present anyway.

To the OP. Check the manufacturers' website and make sure they have SIXTY-FOUR bit Vista drivers - 32 bit is no good if your system is based upon Vista 64.

[Tone Deft]

Do I have to make sure its compatable to Vista, or should I just assume it is?

you should check but be ready to return it if it won't work. I posted about my experience and from time to time people post here about a sound card just not working right, surely part of this has to do with what Leeds is referring to. users were able to track down chipset combinations that work better, or just buy it and try it.

when you get it, try it with ASIO4ALL, it's a free ASIO driver made by some user, it works better for me than the stock UA101 drivers (not that I've tried updating them in the last few years.)

[DAB03]

Hey whats OP? haha

yea im hoping the edirol is vista 64 compatable...if not this will leave me VERRRY limited....usb is already pretty limited, let alone vista64.

[DAB03]

After extensive research that should have NEVER taken this long!!...The Edirol product IS compatible with Windows Vista 64 bit.! Halayleeeeewyaaah!