Lets have real talk about audio interfaces
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- KVRAF
- 6808 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
I remember feeding a ztar via hardware rompler (rom cards) and getting under 2ms using headphones. It was unnervingly fast. The audio hit my ear faster than playing a guitar on my lap.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4751 posts since 22 Nov, 2012
i know what you mean tho. having played around on 6 ms, i was able to get it down to 4 ms with 16 bit popping sound, but it's a strange experience. almost like it hits you before you play the key. it's like a clairvoyant experience. very surreal. it was startling.tapper mike wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 3:41 am I remember feeding a ztar via hardware rompler (rom cards) and getting under 2ms using headphones. It was unnervingly fast. The audio hit my ear faster than playing a guitar on my lap.
- KVRAF
- 3898 posts since 28 Jan, 2011 from MEXICO
Another: an RME second hand, the Fireface UC or the original babyface.
dedication to flying
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- KVRist
- 485 posts since 21 Jun, 2010
Good practice is to check manufacturer website for the driver updates - how often/when was the last one/how many OSes supported.
Take Native Instruments - you can be sure that the moment they release a new interface, they'll stop updating drivers for the older ones (and till they do, they rarely update anyway).
Zoom seems interesting, especially in the Thunderbolt area in which they seem to be the only reasonably priced option
Take Native Instruments - you can be sure that the moment they release a new interface, they'll stop updating drivers for the older ones (and till they do, they rarely update anyway).
Zoom seems interesting, especially in the Thunderbolt area in which they seem to be the only reasonably priced option
- KVRAF
- 3321 posts since 2 Jul, 2007
You could try to get a used Echo Audiofire 2. I love mine and it was designed for laptop use. MIDI ports, headphone jack.
However, Echo is out of the audio interface business and you'll need a firewire port
However, Echo is out of the audio interface business and you'll need a firewire port
- KVRist
- 49 posts since 13 Apr, 2009 from Belgium
+1 for RME : I learned it the hard way
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- KVRist
- 336 posts since 23 Apr, 2011 from Seattle WA
After skimming through most of this thread, one very important thing really hasn't been talked about: the quality of components in the computer itself!
You can hook the best interface up to a crappy computer and still get clicks and pops at low latency folks!!!
You can hook the best interface up to a crappy computer and still get clicks and pops at low latency folks!!!
Check out my cloud! https://soundcloud.com/schmidi_0
- KVRAF
- 3898 posts since 28 Jan, 2011 from MEXICO
what parts exactly?Schmidi wrote: ↑Thu Jan 03, 2019 3:34 pm After skimming through most of this thread, one very important thing really hasn't been talked about: the quality of components in the computer itself!
You can hook the best interface up to a crappy computer and still get clicks and pops at low latency folks!!!
A computer dedicated for DAW should have a decent CPu and enough RAM and HD/ SSD space, nothing more is needed.
dedication to flying
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- KVRian
- 688 posts since 17 Sep, 2007 from Planet Thanet
Chipset - remember all the trouble with Firewire chipsets not working with some interfaces. I believe some USB interfaces can be troublesome
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- KVRist
- 336 posts since 23 Apr, 2011 from Seattle WA
The right motherboard, RAM, and a dedicated graphics card make a huge difference in the stability and performance of a system.
Unfortunately, it's hard quantify outside of buying the parts and testing them yourself.
As a general rule I don't touch consumer series, under $500, laptop or desktops because they are almost guaranteed to use cheap parts.
That said, you don't have to spend a fortune either. My solution has been to buy good condition used workstation grade laptops. I've had great luck with the HP Elite Book line. Most major brands have a workstation line and there are some great used deals out there.
Unfortunately, it's hard quantify outside of buying the parts and testing them yourself.
As a general rule I don't touch consumer series, under $500, laptop or desktops because they are almost guaranteed to use cheap parts.
That said, you don't have to spend a fortune either. My solution has been to buy good condition used workstation grade laptops. I've had great luck with the HP Elite Book line. Most major brands have a workstation line and there are some great used deals out there.
Check out my cloud! https://soundcloud.com/schmidi_0
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4751 posts since 22 Nov, 2012
this has been a far more intensive and confusing endeavor then expected. so much misinformation and sales pitches out there. i found this interesting thread comparing the latencies of the roland and the steinberg. my guess is that this was posted in 2017 when the rubix was brand new and the drivers have probably been fixed by now. all new products seem to be released before properly vetted and then given hot fixes on the fly. probably a better solution to real world testing. not discounting rubix yet, i just need to find out if they have fixed the driver issues.
http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads. ... 2-mk2.html
http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads. ... 2-mk2.html
- KVRAF
- 4130 posts since 11 Aug, 2006 from Texas
The Quad Capture and S10 drivers on Windows 8/10 are very good at low latency. I routinely run them at 48k/24 with a buffer size that has about 4 to 6 ms latency. It makes playing real-time very responsive and my 6 year old core i7 doesn’t cause any audible stutters. You can still buy the quad capture and I consider it to be superior hardware to the rubix line.Dasheesh wrote: ↑Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:44 pm this has been a far more intensive and confusing endeavor then expected. so much misinformation and sales pitches out there. i found this interesting thread comparing the latencies of the roland and the steinberg. my guess is that this was posted in 3017 when the rubix was brand new and the drivers have probably been fixed by now. all new products seem to be released before properly vetted and then given hot fixes on the fly. probably a better solution to real world testing. not discounting rubix yet, i just need to find out if they have fixed the driver issues.
http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads. ... 2-mk2.html
Feel free to call me Brian.
- KVRAF
- 5680 posts since 25 Dec, 2004
a good power supply is somehow under-rated.rod_zero wrote: ↑Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:33 pmwhat parts exactly?Schmidi wrote: ↑Thu Jan 03, 2019 3:34 pm After skimming through most of this thread, one very important thing really hasn't been talked about: the quality of components in the computer itself!
You can hook the best interface up to a crappy computer and still get clicks and pops at low latency folks!!!
A computer dedicated for DAW should have a decent CPu and enough RAM and HD/ SSD space, nothing more is needed.
cooling...
anyway Woz thought long and hard about it all a billion years ago, one reason once you go mac, you never go back. In my honest and hard-earned user experience.
sketches... http://soundcloud.com/onesnzeros
some artists i support... https://bandcamp.com/spectraselecta
some artists i support... https://bandcamp.com/spectraselecta
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4751 posts since 22 Nov, 2012
nice post! i'm looking.bmrzycki wrote: ↑Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:51 pm
The Quad Capture and S10 drivers on Windows 8/10 are very good at low latency. I routinely run them at 48k/24 with a buffer size that has about 4 to 6 ms latency. It makes playing real-time very responsive and my 6 year old core i7 doesn’t cause any audible stutters. You can still buy the quad capture and I consider it to be superior hardware to the rubix line.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4751 posts since 22 Nov, 2012
bmrz i think they saw your post and yanked them all off the internet to force me to buy the rubix. i found a couple used but not sure if i want to take the chance.