Need a USB interface with multiple outputs

[tINY]

Get a firewire card and look for what you want with firewire...

USB interfaces tend to have few channels. There have been a few high channels counts out there on USB, but they are new and look cheap (though they may be fine).

It's too bad nobody makes a converter for the Azalea interface on the "i" platforms. It has plenty of ability on the digital side...





-tINY

[beedoola]

Thanks but I forgot to mentioned that I don't have a PCMCIA slot on my comp, just USB.

[MrCrowbar]

Tascam US1642. Big (19") but affordable, 4 line outs + stereo S/PDIF. The preamps and drivers are alright too.

[beedoola]

What about an Mbox 2?

[Mr. Wise]

Originally Posted by beedoola

What about an Mbox 2?

I would like to know that myself. Are there any inherent problems with these or a they rock solid pieces of equipment? I'm thinking about picking up a mbox2 mini... I only need one input for a mic.

[beedoola]

I know they supposedly work with Windows but I've always heard they're better with Macs...I'd like to know..

And I'm assuming the Mbox 2 is USB 2.0..?

[MrCrowbar]

Originally Posted by beedoola

I know they supposedly work with Windows but I've always heard they're better with Macs...I'd like to know..

And I'm assuming the Mbox 2 is USB 2.0..?

MBox 2 is USB1.1 (slightly better latency than USB 2) but it's enought for the number of channels it can do. Mine on Mac was pretty terrible, made my Mac occasionally crash in the middle of recording and always during shutdown; and by crash I mean this little screen: http://www.dashboardwidgets.com/show...Panic-1p0f.png

The sound quality is just ok and it works well with Protools, but that's it.

[joedoc]

Fireface UC!

[beedoola]

Originally Posted by MrCrowbar

MBox 2 is USB1.1 (slightly better latency than USB 2) but it's enought for the number of channels it can do. Mine on Mac was pretty terrible, made my Mac occasionally crash in the middle of recording and always during shutdown; and by crash I mean this little screen: http://www.dashboardwidgets.com/show...Panic-1p0f.png

The sound quality is just ok and it works well with Protools, but that's it.

Slightly better latency? Would it be worse since its 1.1??

Originally Posted by micbrowser2010

Fireface UC!

I'm guessing thats firewire, I con't have a FW port..

[Ziekdope]

Originally Posted by beedoola

I'm guessing thats firewire, I con't have a FW port..

nope it's usb

[3770]

Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, 2 in 4 analog out.
Saffire 6 USB Audio Interfaces

Lots of gain in the preamps and headphone-out.

[jnorman]

lexicon U42s - 4 channels. i thikn there is also an 8 channel version. good pres, stable, and USB2. works great for me.

[MrCrowbar]

Originally Posted by beedoola

Slightly better latency? Would it be worse since its 1.1??

Nope, USB 1.1 actually has lower latency but it has much less transfer speed than USB 2.x.

It's kinda like a high speed train versus a 6 lane highway. The high speed train can't transport a lot of passengers at the same time but will get there fast (low latency). The 6 lane highway has more throughput, but gets clogged up easily and sometimes there's even jams. USB2.x has a more loose protocol and the computer's operating system decides when the data should arrive and prioritize. The 480Mbps is a theoretical maximum that is never really achieved and much less sustained (unlike Firewire). Some data packets (a few milliseconds of audio) actually arrive very quickly but need to be buffered so that can be played back in the right order. If you've ever set your ASIO latency/buffer too low, you'll have notices clicks and pops; that's the packets not arriving in time or arriving in the wrong order.

USB 1.1 is used for most computer keyboards and mice for that reason: the latency is lower and especially the mouse feels more responsive.

[beedoola]

Originally Posted by MrCrowbar

Nope, USB 1.1 actually has lower latency but it has much less transfer speed than USB 2.x.

It's kinda like a high speed train versus a 6 lane highway. The high speed train can't transport a lot of passengers at the same time but will get there fast (low latency). The 6 lane highway has more throughput, but gets clogged up easily and sometimes there's even jams. USB2.x has a more loose protocol and the computer's operating system decides when the data should arrive and prioritize. The 480Mbps is a theoretical maximum that is never really achieved and much less sustained (unlike Firewire). Some data packets (a few milliseconds of audio) actually arrive very quickly but need to be buffered so that can be played back in the right order. If you've ever set your ASIO latency/buffer too low, you'll have notices clicks and pops; that's the packets not arriving in time or arriving in the wrong order.

USB 1.1 is used for most computer keyboards and mice for that reason: the latency is lower and especially the mouse feels more responsive.

great analogy, thanks a lot.

So we got votes for the Focusrite, Lexicon, Fireface UC,

Mbox2?

**Edit, I looked up the Fireface UC and saw that it was $1200, ha, thats out of the question...

[Polychrest]

These have been around for a while and do a decent job:Cakewalk UA-101 Hi-SPEED USB AUDIO CAPTURE :: Overview

[beedoola]

anyone else have any opinions?

I found this other thread...

Are there any good USB 2.0 audio interfaces???


Anyone using the Edirol UA-101?

[English Bob]

My band uses an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R - 8 ins, 8 outs, USB interface - but that's probably too much for what you want? It's a 1U rackmount.

It works well enough, and the effects are appreciated by our singer who likes to hear himself bathed in reverb. We wanted enough inputs to record the whole band (and I wanted 8 inputs for digitising some old projects from 8 track tape), otherwise we may have gone for the plain Ultra.

[bash]

Native Instruments Audio Kontrol works well for me. 2 in, 4 out.