Firewire or USB 2.0

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lemon2476

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There's probably another discussion out there just like this, I apologize.
But, I'm asking anyways.
I'm looking at a couple of audio interfaces. Of which, one is firewire and the other is USB 2.0
What do you guys like?
I've searched online but nothing I've found is less than 10 years old. Please let me know some pros or cons.
I just bought a new computer so I would need to purchase and install a firewire port. I have no problem with that. I am also a drummer who will be recording a full band with all 8 channels and then some.
Thanks,
Josh
 
Hey Josh,
There's no real problem either way.

People advise against firewire in the laptop world because it is dying out in laptops (apple excluded), but for a desktop machine I don't see any reason not to buy firewire.
As long as there's a free PCI slot and you don't mind putting a FW card in there, go for it.
I don't know for sure, but I imagine you can get pci-e ones too.


Sometimes I hear people talking about how USB interfaces are sharing bandwidth with other USB devices.
I don't know how true that is or how much of a problem it can cause, but there it is.

I say just shop for the interface that provides the I/O and functions you need, then buy it regardless of the connector on the back.
 
Well Firewire is faster than 2.0, but the former is also on the way out. USB speeds have evolved quite a bit and are now capable of handling usual channel counts at standard sample rates. The only interface to have so many channels it require USB 3.0 is the RME MADIface XT, which offered 196 inputs and 198 outputs most being provided by three MADI I/O connectors!

It's really gonna depend on what kind of interface you are looking at. Some revolutionary pieces of audio equipment are Firewire only, which is such a shame since new computers with Firewire ports are becoming increasingly rare.

All in all, I'd go with USB--its the way of the {budget home recording} future for now.
 
Steenamaroo said:
Hey Josh,
There's no real problem either way.

People advise against firewire in the laptop world because it is dying out in laptops (apple excluded), but for a desktop machine I don't see any reason not to buy firewire.
As long as there's a free PCI slot and you don't mind putting a FW card in there, go for it.
I don't know for sure, but I imagine you can get pci-e ones too.


Sometimes I hear people talking about how USB interfaces are sharing bandwidth with other USB devices.
I don't know how true that is or how much of a problem it can cause, but there it is.

I say just shop for the interface that provides the I/O and functions you need, then buy it regardless of the connector on the back.
Click to expand...

It's dying out in Apple, too! Now, I know firewire to USB can't work because of different protocol, but can't firewire to thunderbolt work?
 
That's why I said it's not dying out in Apple. Thunderbolt is directly compatible with firewire.
 
Haha, I took a quick google to make sure I was right, and that's the link I landed on.
 
Used to be, USB interfaces could only stream two channels and if you needed more channels, you had to have firewire. But I just bought a used Tascam US-1800 which can stream at least 16 channels through USB. I dont think the question needs to be asked anymore.

Look for an interface that meets all your other requirements and budget. Don't get stuck on which data protocol to use.
 
Lest I be accused of being anti firewire, I use a firewire system myself.

If you're buying new though don't touch it. As a system Firewire is dying and, even in the desktop world, it will be more and more difficult to find the hardware you need. As the hardware gets harder to find, software and drivers will rapidly become less supported.

Yes, there is a theoretical speed advantage to Firewire over USB2 but, unless you're going for a very elaborate system that can record and playback more than 16 simultaneous tracks, USB2 will be more than adequate.

I use a laptop for sound work and, even last November, had a dickens of a time putting together a computer that would work properly with my existing Firewire stuff. I'm convinced I'm on my last iteration of Firewire and will be using something else next computer upgrade.

USB3 (which is backwards compatible with USB2) and/or Thunderbolt will take over the world and, within a few years, Firewire will be just a footnote in the book of home audio--now is not the time to invest in it.
 
The Antelope Orion can run 32 channels in and out using usb 2.0 and so there is and never was a problem with usb,
. The stumbling block was in the hardware design and especially the drivers AFAIK.

The above is of course very expensive for the home recordist but the Tascam US 1800 mentioned is still the best bang for buck.

Firewire IS fading and surely anyone with a smidgeon of computer savvy would see the writing on the wall and not lumber themselves with potentially obsolete gear? (do not forget OS changes and therefore drivers can leave you stranded!)

Msoft have done some pretty stupid and VERY annoying things over the years but even they I think would not dare drop usb support!

Oh! And Tbolt cables are still bloody expensive?

Dave.
 
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