KVR Audio

Quietinthedark · Post by **Quietinthedark** » Tue May 21, 2013 7:39 pm

Can I please get some recommendations for a 2 channel out USB 2.0 interface for live playing of VST softsynths.

I'll be running a Novation USB Midi controller into it. Currently for recording on the laptop I'm using a Focusrite 2.2, which works, but it is just an issue of convenience, the Focusrite also serves as part of my 'home stereo' set up most of the time.

For the live set up, I don't need nice preamps or even phantom power. Just decent outputs and low latency.

martygras · Post by **martygras** » Tue May 21, 2013 11:03 pm

I've been using the Tascam US-144 MKII for years live and it is versatile, reliable and affordable. I needed phantom power/xlr's and s/pdif and midi.
(I am still running 32 bit plugs.)

Bus-powered USB 2.0 audio interface
(2) XLR microphone inputs with phantom power
(2) 1/4" balanced line inputs
Switchable guitar level input
1/4" stereo headphone output
MIDI input and output
S/PDIF stereo coaxial input and output (US-144mkII only)
Individual Line and Headphone out level controls (US-144mkII only)
Up to 96kHz/24-bit audio resolution
Zero-latency hardware monitoring
Mac and Windows drivers included

If you don't need anything besides audio out:
I also use an "Echo Indigo" IO PCMCIA card in another laptop for audio only. Very high quality specs.

Quietinthedark · Post by **Quietinthedark** » Wed May 22, 2013 12:32 am

Thank you. I was looking at that Tascam.

JavaJ · Post by **JavaJ** » Wed May 22, 2013 5:09 pm

Have you tested out your onboard sound chip. Even my Presonus AudioBox USB had more latency then using my onboard. I just went that route instead as I am concerned more about maximizing my resources over pristine sound quality (for live use of course).

Quietinthedark · Post by **Quietinthedark** » Wed May 22, 2013 5:23 pm

JavaJ wrote:Have you tested out your onboard sound chip. Even my Presonus AudioBox USB had more latency then using my onboard. I just went that route instead as I am concerned more about maximizing my resources over pristine sound quality (for live use of course).

Yes. The onboard latency is not an issue. There is some grainyness to the sound though. When playing the same track thru the focusrite versus the onboard, there is clearly a difference. And it is not the 16 bit versus 24 bit issue, I am not thinking of how to describe it really other than grainy.

Maybe it is not enough to worry about for live use.

JavaJ · Post by **JavaJ** » Thu May 23, 2013 6:42 pm

Yup, that will be the biggest thing if you compare a headphone output to proper outputs. For me, on my Mac, it is not an issue- but I know on my old PC laptops it was- too bad.

Audio interface for live use...