PCI Audio interfaces

[EclipseManiac]

Hello,

So ive been wondering whats a pci audio interface?
Whats the differences between a pci interface and a usb or a firewire?

So for the newbie question, i cant find any useful info on google.

 

[cobaltaudio]

a PCI interface is a card that you plug in directly onto the motherboard which will of course involved opening up the computer.
They are generally designed to just give you inputs and outputs, no gain on level control, pads or anything like that, just in and out.

If you get a pci card/'interface' it will need to plug into something like a mixing desk, or rack-mounted pre-amps or something like that.

A USB or firewire interface just off the top of my head can include mic amps, MIDI connection, headphone ports, line outs, inserts, monitor connections etc etc etc.

 

[Shadow_7]

They plug into your PCI ports on your Desktop computer. Versus the USB port or Firewire port. PCI has the highest (current) bandwidth, so you can run a lot of tracks without a lot of latency. Firewire comes in second place for bandwidth. And USB in third. A distant third. At least until USB3 is common and with soundcard options that use it.

 

[asturel13]

As others have said, a PCI card is just a soundcard that plugs directly into the slots inside your pc, normally with a rack of some sort that plugs into it with various inputs and outputs and it usually has 48v phantom power for condenser mics also. I'm currently looking at the Layla Echo 3G for my own set-up.

 

[witzendoz]

The Layla Echo 3G is an external sound card that connects to a PCI card via a cable, as apposed to the PCI cards that have the audio connectors on the back, which then end up at the back of the computer.

The advantage is that noise is reduced as the audio is kept away from the computer.
It's easier to connect things as the interface is rack mounted.
The connectors are better laid out as there is more room.

I bought (many years ago) the original 20bit Layla and loved it. I still have it in the control room connected to my back up PC (windows 2000) and it still works.

Cheers
Alan.

PCI card with external interface



PCI card with connectors on the back