Audio Interface For Laptop. USB 2 or Firewire???

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:03 am

stay AWAY from XP SP2 if you are using critical USB devices. SP2 severely reduced the priority that USB has over other system devices and background processes.

Hypomixolydian · Post by **Hypomixolydian** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:37 am

Hello again,

Thanks for the responses so far. However, not all my questions have been answered. Such as seeing I have only one firewire port would getting a firewire hub be a good idea? Does it then share resources, therefore draining other peripherals of performance?

Is the Motu 828 Mk 2 a good unit? How does it compare with say the Roland one (Edirol FA 101)? Can both units handle Guitar direct in?
I know that RME make a great product , but it's slighly out of budget.

By the way, on my desktop I installed Windows SP2 and use a Tascam US-122 and have had no problems whatsoever. I have read that many people are experiencing problems with SP2. I don't seem to have (at least on my desktop machine). I haven't installed it on my laptop though (I don't dare to)

Jalope · Post by **Jalope** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:59 pm

Macrostructure wrote:You can chain firewire. I have a Firewire Audiophile with a Lacie d2 chained off the back, no problems, good setup.

I think Macrostructure addressed this point. I think the motu has a firewire socket on it if I'm not mistaken.

enzymex · Post by **enzymex** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:38 am

Both Firewire and USB are jittery interfaces by nature, but Firewire is better than USB in general because it uses less CPU overhead and therefore more CPU is available to your music apps.

IMO, the most reliable/best latency laptop interfaces are proprietary interfaces like Echo Indigo, Digigram VX Pocket, or the RME Hammerfall Cardbus with a breakout box.

I have a MOTU 828 MKII and an Echo Indigo DJ. The Echo is great for a stereo card - very reliable on my system. My MOTU has dropout issues that "may" or may not be solved by going with a different firewire card with a TI chipset. YMMV.

Hypomixolydian · Post by **Hypomixolydian** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:21 pm

Thanks for all your responses so far. I have a question enzymex, or to anyone else who would be kind enough to explain:

What does IMO and YMMV mean? Excuse my ignorance in net jargon. (Unfortunatley), I am a traditionalist in written forms of communication, so I am not up on all the abbreviations.
I had pretty much made my mind up on getting a MOTU 828 MK II, but the drop out problem enzymex has mentioned puts me off a bit. Anyone else have the same problem with the unit?

drush · Post by **drush** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:10 pm

In My Opinion and Your Mileage May Vary

elemental · Post by **elemental** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:30 pm

I had dropouts with my 828 Mk1, now I just got an RME and its very reliable so far. I recorded a set on NY with the 828 using Live, and it dropped out and missed about 1-2 hours of the night, lucky I checked it and got the last hour. V annoying tho!

Astral Fridge Magnet wrote:Thanks for all your responses so far. I have a question enzymex, or to anyone else who would be kind enough to explain:

What does IMO and YMMV mean? Excuse my ignorance in net jargon. (Unfortunatley), I am a traditionalist in written forms of communication, so I am not up on all the abbreviations.
I had pretty much made my mind up on getting a MOTU 828 MK II, but the drop out problem enzymex has mentioned puts me off a bit. Anyone else have the same problem with the unit?

Hypomixolydian · Post by **Hypomixolydian** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:43 pm

Again thanks for your responses.
I am not sure I want to spend so much money on a RME interface. So if the Motu 828 MK II is a bit dodgy, how about the Edirol (Roland) FA-101? Anyone experienced any problems with that?
Any other suggestions for a firewire interface? Not as expensive as the RME though please.

Thanks

drush · Post by **drush** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:46 pm

it's probably pushing it a bit too far to call the motu dodgy. in general they are very well respected.

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 6:06 pm

Summary: If you don't have a problem spending $400 or more, get a firewire interface for the reasons cited by others using them (yeh, that Edirol red thingie seems good http://edirol.com/products/info/fa66.html

I have had no problems with the M-Audio MobilePre (which does not have midi) or the Tascam US-122 (which does). I got an M-Audio MidiSport 1x1 first, then the MobilePre, then the Tascam-- but my main choice criteria: I don't have a pressing need for a ton of inputs and super low latency, and more importantly, the shivers about shelling out more than $500 all at once

USB 2.0 is a faster protocol than Firewire. Edirol has a new USB 2.0 interface out. http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua1000.html the UA-1000 which lists around $950. The specs are impressive, it's potentially "much better", but then very similar features can be found on other firewire units.

Compare it to the beefiest M-Audio firewire interface, FireWire 1814 http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/F ... -main.html comes in at a list price of $750. It's features sound pretty similar to the UA-1000. And of course you will always find a better price than list, and it is more likely you will find a better price on 'older technology' firewire audio ifaces than 'bleeding edge' USB 2.0 (although USB 2.0 has been around a while for other stuff).

A recent firewire iface includes http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1749592,00.asp the Presonus Firebox, which is a 24bit/96k capable compact unit, very nice.

sqook · Post by **sqook** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:11 pm

Astral Fridge Magnet wrote:Hello again,
Thanks for the responses so far. However, not all my questions have been answered. Such as seeing I have only one firewire port would getting a firewire hub be a good idea? Does it then share resources, therefore draining other peripherals of performance?

Save your money and get a firewire PCI card instead.

Hypomixolydian · Post by **Hypomixolydian** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:20 pm

sqook wrote:
Astral Fridge Magnet wrote:Hello again,
Thanks for the responses so far. However, not all my questions have been answered. Such as seeing I have only one firewire port would getting a firewire hub be a good idea? Does it then share resources, therefore draining other peripherals of performance?
Save your money and get a firewire PCI card instead.

Well it's for a lap top.

Spacerboy · Post by **Spacerboy** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:22 pm

Kodama wrote:BTW, I'm looking at the new Edirol as well.

I've heard horror stories about the Behringer USB 2.

I have the FA101. There are a few things that really suck. Needs between 8 and 12% of my CPU (Athlon XP2400 on Asus A7V333) when idle! And no Giga Support. GUI is poorest!
Hope they changed that in the new device.

Spacy

j · Post by j » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:47 am

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:22 pm Post subject: FA101
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spacerboy wrote:

I have the FA101. There are a few things that really suck. Needs between 8 and 12% of my CPU (Athlon XP2400 on Asus A7V333) when idle! And no Giga Support. GUI is poorest!
Hope they changed that in the new device.

Hello all

Can any mac users comment wether they have this CPU usage issue that Spacerboy is relating...that would pretty much kill my hopes of getting the FA-101 (can barely do my thing on my Pbook as it is !)

jasefos · Post by **jasefos** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:46 am

enzymex wrote:Both Firewire and USB are jittery interfaces by nature, but Firewire is better than USB in general because it uses less CPU overhead and therefore more CPU is available to your music apps.

IMO, the most reliable/best latency laptop interfaces are proprietary interfaces like Echo Indigo, Digigram VX Pocket, or the RME Hammerfall Cardbus with a breakout box.

I have a MOTU 828 MKII and an Echo Indigo DJ. The Echo is great for a stereo card - very reliable on my system. My MOTU has dropout issues that "may" or may not be solved by going with a different firewire card with a TI chipset. YMMV.

Absolutely the best advice offered on this thread so far ...

What works for me (i.e. rock solid) ....

Mobile use (i.e. in the park with no power):
Echo Indigo DJ

Studio use (i.e. when I'm needing digital I/O, word clocking, multi ins and outs for integrating hardware effect processors):
RME Hammerfall 24/96 PCMCIA card + RME Multiset

Cheers

jasefos

Audio Interface For Laptop. USB 2 or Firewire???

the question: cuantos benjamins tiene?

FA101