Is USB fast enough to record a 24 bit / 20 Track Session?

[csiking]

I always use Firewire drives but there is a great deal on Phantom External USB 500GB and I was wondering if I should do it. I am on a Mac if it matters.

Thanks

[Bierce85]

I have successfully monitored/mixed a 45 track 96 khz session that was playing back off a USB drive. Can't really say if it will work you. You kind of just have to try it and see how it goes, however if you've only got one firewire bus and you're using both a firewire drive and interface you might actually see improved performance using a USB drive.

[csiking]

Thanks Bierce,

The only thing I want to make sure is this can I record say 20 track at one time. Yes, monitoring and mixing probably would be the same but recording may be different.

Anyone?

[Bierce85]

I'd say it's worth a shot. What sample rate do you record at? This is a big factor. 20 tracks at 96 khz is like 40 tracks at 48 khz. Theoretically if I was able to monitor 45 tracks at 96 khz and you'd only be recording and monitoring 20 tracks at a lower sample rate it is a possibility but no one can really tell you for sure unless they've used the exact same stuff you're using and even then it's not a definite answer. I'd say at a higher sample rate there's a good chance you'd run in to problems but again, I can't be sure.

The DAW your using can play a big role in how well this works also. I was able to monitor that 96 khz session on a USB drive in PTLE, but when I transfered the same session in to logic 8, I wasn't even able to to monitor it off the same drive using it's firewire connection instead. All I got was system overload messages "disk to slow". This is admittedly a bug in Logic but still something to consider.

Also, whats how many RPMs is this drive you're considering buying?

[PoorGlory]

I record in 48K/24bit using USB drives all the time. I mix OTB using the 18 outputs of my 002R with no issues ever.

[cooker]

the only problem with usb (for any kind of devices)is that if the cable is cheap, flowing info from the cable wouldn't be stable (never recorded with usb soundcard but probably could couse muddy sound or jitter).

[csiking]

Thanks for all the input folks...

More info I guess would have been good. I will be using Digital Performer on a G5 Dual 1.8 recording at 24bit either 44.1 or 88.2...it's a live gig so once I get all the input info I will test it at 88.2 to see if any hick ups if not then I will go with that. I will be using a Fireface 800 and a Presonus Firestudio as my two interfaces along with my Portico 5012.

It sounds as if this shouldn't be an issue so I think I will go for the drive...unless someone tells me other wise by tomorrow.

I do have another FW drive that I could back that info up onto the new 500GB drive and then take both for a precaution.


Thanks for the help.

[andsonic]

No issues with me. I just mixed a 60 track project @ 24/48. I'm using Samplitude or PT M-powered on a PC. USB 2.0 is as fast (or faster) then firewire 400. could it be a Mac thing? I've always heard that Mac's have issues with USB 2.0

[cooker]

firewire works faster with mac's because the defoult setting on windows limits the transfer speed to 4/1 of the normal firewire speed(could be fixed by tweaking registery). I guess since microsoft invented usb and apple invented firewire, its normal for microsoft to slow down the transfer speed of firewire or usb issues happen with mac's