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annababy
New member
i know its been probably asked a million times already but which is a better converter and which sounds better a firewire or usb which do the pros usually use firewire
BeniRose
New member
Firewire is a more common interface for converters, because it has a set speed across all the devices plugged into it. USB is actually faster, but when you start adding things like a mouse, printer, keyboard, etc. it slows down a lot. Neither of them "sound better", since the converter itself determines how it sounds, and firewire or USB is just the method it uses to get the converted signal into the computer.
Shadow_7
New member
USB is a slower bus. If you need more than 2 channels you can run into issues with a USB device. If only from a lack of options and other issues if it's not your only USB device.
Firewire is a little more common because you can cram more channels of input on the same bus. And it generally has less latency when multi-tracking. 8 or 16 channel devices are common for firewire.
PCI is the faster option. But many devices have to use breakout boxes to get out of the electronically noisy part of the computer.
Firewire is a little more common because you can cram more channels of input on the same bus. And it generally has less latency when multi-tracking. 8 or 16 channel devices are common for firewire.
PCI is the faster option. But many devices have to use breakout boxes to get out of the electronically noisy part of the computer.
A
annababy
New member
so what exactly is the convertor doesnt it come with your firewire box you buy
BeniRose
New member
Converters just convert analog signal to digital and back again. Most instruments produce analog signals, such as a microphone, guitar, keyboard (although I suppose some of these also produce digital ones, and some start digital and output analog). A converter will take this analog signal and convert it into digital, so it can be sent to the computer (either via firewire, usb, or a few other options that are a bit more "professional"). The computer only works in digital, so in order to play back a signal, it also has to convert the signal back from digital to analog, since speakers work off analog signals. If you're unsure of what the difference between an analog and digital signal are, look it up. In short, analog is letting the flow of electricity represent the signal, where as digital is letting 1s and 0s represent the signal.
Most recording interfaces are actually multiple units in one. Most of them contain a few pre-amps, which will boost a weak signal such as a guitar or microphone to line level, which is what the converter expects to get to convert it to a signal. The converter than passes it off to the interface, whether it's usb, firewire, or something else, and sends the signal to the computer.
You could actually buy separate units to do all of these things, running a microphone into a pre-amp, which then goes out into a converter, which then pipes digitally into an interface such as a Presonus V-Fire. There's actually all sorts of ways you can arrange things. For example, I have a an ART pre-amp with a digital output, which means there's a built-in converter on the pre-amp, so I can send digital signal directly to my interface without using the converters in the interface.
Anyways, I hope that didn't overwhelm you. It took me quite some time to figure a lot of this stuff out, but if you have any more questions or need any more clarification, don't hesitate to ask, you've come to the right place! We've all had to learn this stuff one way or another, and I think amongst a community of people who are just as passionate about it as you are is a great place to do it!
Most recording interfaces are actually multiple units in one. Most of them contain a few pre-amps, which will boost a weak signal such as a guitar or microphone to line level, which is what the converter expects to get to convert it to a signal. The converter than passes it off to the interface, whether it's usb, firewire, or something else, and sends the signal to the computer.
You could actually buy separate units to do all of these things, running a microphone into a pre-amp, which then goes out into a converter, which then pipes digitally into an interface such as a Presonus V-Fire. There's actually all sorts of ways you can arrange things. For example, I have a an ART pre-amp with a digital output, which means there's a built-in converter on the pre-amp, so I can send digital signal directly to my interface without using the converters in the interface.
Anyways, I hope that didn't overwhelm you. It took me quite some time to figure a lot of this stuff out, but if you have any more questions or need any more clarification, don't hesitate to ask, you've come to the right place! We've all had to learn this stuff one way or another, and I think amongst a community of people who are just as passionate about it as you are is a great place to do it!
A
annababy
New member
thanks
that was very helpful thanks again
that was very helpful thanks again
GuitardedMark
New member
So if im going to record max 2 tracks with effects at a time should i be even considereing usb 1.1? What is the impact to me of 1.1 vs 2.0 vs firewire 400?