KVR Audio

monsterbeetle · Post by **monsterbeetle** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:28 pm

Hi,
I want to buy a new audio interface from focusrite, my DAW computer is a core i7-870 running windows 7. It has native firewire on the motherboard, USB2 and a separate USB3 controller.

I checked out the latest focusrite interfaces, I was going to go for a scarlett 18i20 USB, then I came by the clarett range which is over thunderbolt and seems to have significantly better preamps.

My question is the following: its it possible to have a thunderbolt audio interface work at low latency with good stability by using a thunderbolt 3.0 PCI-e adapter card under windows 7 ? I read that the thunderbolt port is just an external input to the PCI-e bus, but I'd be reassurred if someone with actual experience could confirm it will work,
Thx

fedexnman · Post by **fedexnman** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:03 pm

Windows7 is not supported but may work ... Windows10 and 8.1 do work ........I'd check with Focusrite directly ..... You will also need to buy a Thunderbolt cable which I think is Thunderbolt 2 ? Thunderbolt 3 is shaped like USB-C I believe so I'm think the pci-e card is the wrong one for the job ?? Focusrite Clarett I think is Thunderbolt 1 or 2... It's all very confusing right now , seriously .... Long story short contact Focusrite !!!!!! And also do your homework about the PCIe card too .... I looked long and hard at the Clarett series I know they have Windows drivers now too ... I just didn't bite the bullet on it . Windows10 and 8.1 but not W7

monsterbeetle · Post by **monsterbeetle** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:18 pm

Thx fedexnman,

I'm more than reluctant to upgrade to win 10, the concept of having virtually no privacy and being force-fed ads on the lock screen and start menu is beyond my personal limits.

https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... patibility

https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... er-support

thunderbolt on windows through an adapter is not officially supported. I think I'll go with the scarlett, not worth the hassle and some money spared.

Regards

fedexnman · Post by **fedexnman** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:43 pm

Also on NEWER PC builds the Thunderbolt on the Mobos are usually type USB-C/Thunderbolt3 too and not the old Thunderbolt 1 or 2 ... I'm not sure how that's working out either compatibility wise .... I'm still plugging along with a FireWire interface lolz huh .....Still .... those Focusrite Clarett range of interfaces are really nice for the price .... I also here the mic pres are really super a nice in the Clarett range of products ...I guess the interfaces are kind of RME lite IMHO ....

Kaine · Post by **Kaine** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 1:53 pm

monsterbeetle wrote: My question is the following: its it possible to have a thunderbolt audio interface work at low latency with good stability by using a thunderbolt 3.0 PCI-e adapter card under windows 7 ? I read that the thunderbolt port is just an external input to the PCI-e bus, but I'd be reassurred if someone with actual experience could confirm it will work,
Thx

Needs to be supported at the BIOS level AND have a physical header to support the card.

What motherboard do you have?

monsterbeetle · Post by **monsterbeetle** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 10:21 pm

Hi, my motherboard is an old Gigabyte UD4, it has a few PCIe ports available, however I'm stuck with win7 and cannot upgrade so I guess I am stuck with USB for now, until win10 becomes a privacy respecting OS (which I doubt) or until Apple puts out new gear with not completely obsolete hardware actually worth buying.

Ho and btw focusrite announced windows official compatibility today for Clarett under win8.1 and win10 but not win7, thunderbolt 3 compatibility is on the roadmap as well.

https://global.focusrite.com/thunderbol ... patibility

Cheers

Kaine · Post by **Kaine** » Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:54 am

The is a UD 4 in pretty much each and every generation going back 10 years, you'll have to be a bit more exact.

Checking against your chip model I'm going to take a punt on the P55A-UD4? If so, that predates the capability to handle Thunderbolt by a good few years I'm afraid.

Skorpius · Post by **Skorpius** » Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:06 am

monsterbeetle wrote: I'm more than reluctant to upgrade to win 10, the concept of having virtually no privacy and being force-fed ads on the lock screen and start menu is beyond my personal limits.

These are exactly my thoughts. Which is why I'm not going to switch to WIN 10, and why I'm regularly following the development of a viable future alternative:

http://reactos.com/

Sorry that this is a little off topic..

lalo · Post by **lalo** » Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:34 am

Skorpius wrote:
http://reactos.com/

Sorry that this is a little off topic..

great but no 64x support...i'm still on win7 tho...i guess i'll have to switch with next PC build 'cause i'd like to go TB.

Astralv · Post by **Astralv** » Sun Apr 02, 2017 3:06 pm

monsterbeetle wrote:Thx fedexnman,

I'm more than reluctant to upgrade to win 10, the concept of having virtually no privacy and being force-fed ads on the lock screen and start menu is beyond my personal limits.

https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... patibility

https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... er-support

thunderbolt on windows through an adapter is not officially supported. I think I'll go with the scarlett, not worth the hassle and some money spared.

Regards

yeah, privacy is very big issue. Every time I am in a shower, undressing in my bedroom or having intimate moment, Microsoft wants to know if I need anything.

What ads? If somebody has ads, they have a virus. There is no ads. I am yet to see one. Had Win 8 and Win 10 since release day. There is still a way to upgrade now. Just run the updater and it will register itself. Do the image backup just in case. If it fails- do clean install. It is not that serious. I am so happy the days of Win 7 issues are all in the past.

I know Asus has Thunderbolt cards for some of their motherboards.

thunderbolt pci express adapter under window 7 ?