Which USB audio interface?

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I'm looking at getting either the Focusrite Scarlett Solo or the Steinberg UR12...

Which one should I go for?
I use Cubase, does this mean the Steinberg one should be more stable?
Cubase user, House producer.

http://soundcloud.com/gavin-jackson

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It will be impossible for us to tell you which one is right for YOUR system, especially when we do not have sufficient information about your system ;)

Both are known to be good units. As well, both are known to have problems, depending on the system they are used on and how, or not, that system has been set-up and optimized.

Here are a couple of Google searches to help you along:
https://www.google.com/search?q=problem ... gws_rd=ssl

And

https://www.google.com/search?q=problem ... gws_rd=ssl

I suggest taking the time to do a thorough search and investigation of the units to see if they meet your performance needs and your system specs meet the requirements. Among these, make sure drivers are available relevant to your OS.

I would not automatically assume one better than the other based on manufacturer. Again, both are good. It will depend on the factors I have mentioned how good one is than the other in the end.

HTH

Cheers!
dsan
My DAW System:
W7, i5, x64, 8Gb Ram, Edirol FA-101

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GFunk wrote:I'm looking at getting either the Focusrite Scarlett Solo or the Steinberg UR12...

Which one should I go for?
I use Cubase, does this mean the Steinberg one should be more stable?
But both will work just fine with Cubase, but if you're on Windows, Steinberg's drivers offer significantly better low-latency performance than Focusrite's. I do not know if the same holds true on Mac.

The Steinberg can also be used as an iPad audio interface.

I don't like that both of them have unbalanced line outs, though.

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IMO Steinberg is the better option.

Steinberg (Yamaha) Interfaces are well known for very good converters and excellent drivers allowing very low latency. Not to mention the Cubase integration. The Focusrite is Afaik made in China. I'm not sure about Yamaha/Steinberg (Japan?).

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Get the one that has the best drivers for your OS ... as you don't even mention if you're on MAC or PC it's difficult to help you.

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Thanks for your replies guys :)
I'm sorry, I should have provided system details :dog: They are as follows:

PC running Windows 8.1
i7-4790k
ASUS Z97-PRO GAMER
16GB HYPER-X FURY
240GB KINGSTON HYPERX SSD
2TB HHD
Cubase user, House producer.

http://soundcloud.com/gavin-jackson

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The Scarlett has a (switchable) line input, the Steinberg doesn't, but it has iPad connectivity, which is cool if you have an iPad. Of the two I would get the Scarlett (as long as the drivers are ok for WIN 8.1) for the extra connectivity (and no iPad here).
I think I would spend a little more and get something with 4 (balanced) outputs and MIDI connections. YMMV

I just read in another thread that the Scarlett doesn't have a separate volume control for the headphone out ... neither does the Steinberg by the look of it. That would be a big issue for me.

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Native Instruments komplete Audio 6 or MOTU Microbook ii seem nice bus powered choices.
The first has balanced outputs, but the other offers more powerful routing and a DSP with effects
.:: (noou) - electronic + music ::.
https://noou.bandcamp.com

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When buying a home people say 'Location, Location, Location' are the 3 most important aspects to consider.

With that in mind, I'd say when buying an audio interface 'Drivers, Drivers, Drivers' are the 3 most important aspects to consider. Both to stability and to ASIO performance.

Drivers for my MOTU Microbook II are OK in Windows 7 but were a bit of a mess in Windows 10. And MOTU has yet to release an official Windows 10 driver. I know you're on Windows 8, but I'd ensure there are official, tested, stable drivers for your OS before even looking at inputs and outputs or other system specs too thoroughly. And you also may want to plan ahead, should you move to Windows 10 eventually, and ensure there are drivers for that newer OS too.

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Do you have a microbook ii?
I'd be interested in knowing more
.:: (noou) - electronic + music ::.
https://noou.bandcamp.com

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Yes.

The onboard EQ and compressor are a little kludgey.. as they are mapped per window to inputs or outputs. Therefore, it is easy to lose track of when you have one enabled or not (since one has to page through the different windows to see). But the EQ at least (don't use the compressor) works well. I normally use it to cut the bass later in the evening so I don't disturb my neighbors when I'm working.

In Windows 10 I've had all kinds of issues that seem to have smoothed out, on 'their own' mind you. At first I was getting all kinds of screeching/bleepy noise on bootup in my left channel. And the device itself would reboot on its own (audible clicking and all the lights off and then on) randomly. I got in touch with MOTU support and they promptly responded (seems like decent support) that they were working on Win10 drivers and thanked me for my inputs. That was a month ago so maybe new drivers are around the corner.

That said, the device has seemingly stopped rebooting itself and I'm not hearing the metallic/screechy/bleepy looped sound in my left channel speaker when booting or switching apps in the past couple of weeks. I've done seemingly nothing to alleviate this on my own (I did move some USB speakers around but they aren't even plugged in now nor were when it all started).

A mystery.

That said, I'd probably look at the Steinberg interfaces (actually, I was eyeing them on a store website yesterday haha) if I was buying now and using Cubase. But I haven't researched OS compatibility too much.

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thanks a lot for your report!
what is the minimum latency you can achieve @ 44.1 and 48 KHz? Did that change from Windows 7 to 10?

Also, you could test the actual round-trip latency (RTL) with this free utility (no installation needed): http://www.oblique-audio.com/free/rtlutility
You just need to physically connect one input to one output with a cable, and turn off direct monitoring (and any external speaker!)
I did the RTL test with the MOTU Audio Express on Win7 and it seems to offer very low round-trip latency: 96 samples @ 48KHz give around 8.6 ms and no dropouts whatsoever (more results available on request)
.:: (noou) - electronic + music ::.
https://noou.bandcamp.com

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