KVR Audio

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:02 pm

monsterbeetle wrote:By the way, I just installed the new 2.0beta driver and it brought a noticeable improvement wrt dropouts, they now only happen once in a while like every 10 to 20 seconds instead of every second.

The only sad thing is that the very short buffer sizes have disappeared.

That's strange. I can select buffer sizes down to 64 samples. What is the lowest you can go?

UPDATE : everything working stable now !!!!

YAY!

strangely, using ASIO4ALL allows me to get lower latencies than the saffire driver itself directly.

That's odd. I haven't even tried to install ASIO4ALL on my Win7 machine, but maybe I'll try. I haven't really had any issues that I'm aware of though with the stock drivers. So maybe it's good not to touch them.

Thanks a lot to all of you for helping me out! I knew it was a software only problem, looks like focusrite is really going in the right direction with these new drivers!!!

It does seem so, at least at first glance!

Brent

andiw · Post by **andiw** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:09 pm

jcschild wrote: the Saffire is NOT known for low latency... so dont expect much.

I don't know what tests you did but I can run my Saffire 24 Pro and my MacBook with 32 samples buffer and set the safety buffer in the control panel to 'short'. Logic 9 reports a roundtrip latency of 6ms wich is the best latency I ever had on a computer.

From my experiences Windows Vista (and maybe Windows 7) is not known for low latency. At least the soundcard manufacturers are still struggling with the new audio architecture Vista has.

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:22 pm

andiw wrote:
jcschild wrote: the Saffire is NOT known for low latency... so dont expect much.
I don't know what tests you did but I can run my Saffire 24 Pro and my MacBook with 32 samples buffer and set the safety buffer in the control panel to 'short'. Logic 9 reports a roundtrip latency of 6ms wich is the best latency I ever had on a computer.

From my experiences Windows Vista (and maybe Windows 7) is not known for low latency. At least the soundcard manufacturers are still struggling with the new audio architecture Vista has.

Gets popcorn.....

jcschild · Post by **jcschild** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:28 pm

i am not even going to bother

but pass the popcorn anyway

monsterbeetle · Post by **monsterbeetle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:05 am

so if get an iMac 27", Will i get stable low latencies with this card, like 64 samples ?

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:08 am

monsterbeetle wrote:so if get an iMac 27", Will i get stable low latencies with this card, like 64 samples ?

Well, if you dont mind corrupt or blank display - go for it :

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3181

This issue isnt resolved for some people.

andiw · Post by **andiw** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:34 am

monsterbeetle wrote:so if get an iMac 27", Will i get stable low latencies with this card, like 64 samples ?

yes.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:39 am

monsterbeetle wrote:so if get an iMac 27", Will i get stable low latencies with this card, like 64 samples ?

You might. But you can also get those latencies on any decent Windows machine as well. Not that there are never any problems. There will be issues with certain setups on any OS. But most modern machines are perfectly capable.

Brent

monsterbeetle · Post by **monsterbeetle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:40 pm

I've been refraining from buying a MAC for over a year now. I was ready to go and buy an iMac 27" for Xmas but some dude told me that new macbook pros were due out soon, packing the new mobile core i5/i7. So I'm still waiting, and meanwhile decided to shell out the bucks for a focusrite and a win7 license instead... silly me.

andiw · Post by **andiw** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:50 pm

I know this situation. But with this attitude you can always wait, there will always be something better in 6 months ...

If you need to be mobile i'd say buy a MacBook pro. If you want more processing power IMHO there's no better (and better looking

option than a 27 i7 iMac

monsterbeetle · Post by **monsterbeetle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:59 pm

Or maybe an iMac 27" at home, and an MBP 13" for showing-off on the go. to get that kind of money I'd have to sell my car or rob a bank.

The thing is that I'm fed up with windows administration, antiviruses, hand-managed updates for non system software, registy cleaners, defraggers, etc...

andiw · Post by **andiw** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:36 pm

monsterbeetle wrote:The thing is that I'm fed up with windows administration, antiviruses, hand-managed updates for non system software, registy cleaners, defraggers, etc...

I can feel your pain ...

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:27 pm

monsterbeetle wrote:Or maybe an iMac 27" at home, and an MBP 13" for showing-off on the go. to get that kind of money I'd have to sell my car or rob a bank.

The thing is that I'm fed up with windows administration, antiviruses, hand-managed updates for non system software, registy cleaners, defraggers, etc...

I only use MS Security Essentials which is free. Dont need anything else. Ive found the more utils you use, the more trouble they cause. If anything goes funny with a new plug, I revert to my GHOST image. For DAW, I use Windows 7 32 bit on its own hard drive with no utils whatsoever and no net connection. Did that with XP for years and no issues.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:31 pm

monsterbeetle wrote:Or maybe an iMac 27" at home, and an MBP 13" for showing-off on the go. to get that kind of money I'd have to sell my car or rob a bank.

The thing is that I'm fed up with windows administration, antiviruses, hand-managed updates for non system software, registy cleaners, defraggers, etc...

Ya know, I've used one computer after another after another using everything from XP to Vista to now Windows 7 as well, and I have never kept an anti-virus running at all times. I just do a weekly or bi-weekly scan. And you know what? No viruses. ALL my computers are on the net ALL DAY long. No viruses.

Don't assume that you won't have any issues with a Mac though. And don't assume there aren't any maintenance tasks that will need done. There are.

I think OSX is slick. I also happen to think Windows 7 is slick. I don't have anything against OSX and wouldn't mind getting another Mac for one or two specific programs that are Mac only. But the grass isn't always greener, and you shouldn't go by the silly Mac commercials either. Not a lot of truth involved there.

Not trying to turn this into a Mac vs. PC thing, but more trying to keep it real and at least get you thinking about it more before buying a new machine.

Good luck.

Brent

RCKSREC · Post by **RCKSREC** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:31 am

andiw wrote:
jcschild wrote: the Saffire is NOT known for low latency... so dont expect much.
I don't know what tests you did but I can run my Saffire 24 Pro and my MacBook with 32 samples buffer and set the safety buffer in the control panel to 'short'. Logic 9 reports a roundtrip latency of 6ms wich is the best latency I ever had on a computer.

From my experiences Windows Vista (and maybe Windows 7) is not known for low latency. At least the soundcard manufacturers are still struggling with the new audio architecture Vista has.

Greetings all. My 1st post. Great info and knowledge available here. Awaiting my arrival of my macbook 3.6/8gb/500gb,7200rpm machine and studio essentials too.I've been beating my head to the wall trying to decide on interface choices? I'll be using Logic studio 9.Recording myself mainly. Duet? TC TWin? DSP 24? I realize the Duet is what it is. A Great product. Finnaly here I find info on the DSP 24. So how is it working with the macbook pro now that you have used it for two months or so? Any Issues? Easy to use for a new guy on the block? The TC Twin and DSP 24 seem very similar. I'm new to home recording-my first investment and go at it. Salesman is pushing me to get DSP 24 over Duet(ins/outs) and says to avoid the Twin cause of driver issues and TC"s interfaces are not so "good". Any help? Suggestions?
Thank you.

Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP hardware compatibility list