lightpipe vs. usb vs. IEEE1394

[hk_runner]

I know lightpipe is for transmitting multitrack digital audio data from an external device to a computer. Could you tell me whether USB and IEEE1394 in a sound card are for the same purpose ? Or different purposes?

If they're for the same purpose, which one is the way to go when choosing a sound card?

I've used usb and IEEE1394 on my computer for non-audio purposes. I'm not familiar with lightpipe. I don't understand the spec of sound cards. Some of them have lightpipe, others have usb or both.

Is lightpipe sort of "old stuff" to be replaced by the more recent usb and IEEE1394? Which one is better? thanks

 

[gdoubleyou]

It depends on what you want to do. USB has limited bandwidth, most devices can only record 2 tracks at once.

With the current crop of 1394 interfaces you can record from 8 sources at the same time.

If you are a one-man band USB may be allyou need. If you plan on recording a group of muscians, 1394 or PCI card with multiple I/O would be better.

Lightpipe will still be around for a while. Standalone HD recorders and digital Mixers are still being manufactured with TOS-link/TDIF(Tascams version for 8-track digital I/O)

Then there is mLan, an extension to 1394 protocal developed by Yamaha that allows for digital audio/midi data to be sent down one cable.

USB2 and 1394b are about to be deployed, both have much higher bandwidth, only time will tell when devices will be developed.

 

[hk_runner]

thanks.

I'll probably buy a four-track digital recorder and a sound card so that I can send the recording from the recorder to the computer.

Does it mean that, if I buy a digital recorder with IEEE1394, then it's not necessary for the recorder to have lightpipe, and vice versa?

David

 

[ChuckU]

I'm not really qualified to answer this entirely, but, the MOTU 828 is a firewire setup that can do 8 analog, 2 s/pdif, and 8 lightpipe ins simultaneously for about $700. If you were looking at a decent four-track, I'd think you'd be approaching that price range.
Certain chipsets and firewire cards have been problematic with this device, however.

 

[Havoc]

The main difference is that while lightpipe is a standard for transfering audio, usb and firewire are general purpose interfaces for pc that can be used to connect audio perifericals to a pc.

So, if your 4-track has a lightpipe interface, a pc card with an adat connection is all you need. This will give you 8x (24/44.1 or 24/48) or 4x 24/96 depending on the gear. Only thing to take care of is clocking like with any digital interface.

With usb there are interfaces with 2 channels (some devices 4), but you need software drivers on the pc to access them. So you can buy a 2-channel AD converter and a usb hard disk, but connecting the two does not give you a portable harddisk recorder. There is need of a master device like a pc with the necessary drivers to get it working.

Firewire can give you lots of channels but the same conditions as usb apply.