PCI to USB?

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guitarmonkus

guitarmonkus

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I'm posting this question again because no one responded the last time. I have a laptop with a USB port and an Express port. I wanted to know if there was an adapter to set up a PCI audio interface to either the USB or EXPRESS? Also, if there are any suggestions for a good PCI audio interface out there, I'd be grateful. I only need one input at a time, for guitar bass and vox.

Thom
 
Because the one I've tried (M Audio Fast Track) has very low gain and terrible latency, and I was told it was a USB problem. No?
 
guitarmonkus said:
Because the one I've tried (M Audio Fast Track) has very low gain and terrible latency, and I was told it was a USB problem. No?
Click to expand...

Probably not.

What processor does your laptop have, and how much RAM?

What software are you using?
 
RAM is 512.

Intel® Celeron® M 370 Processor (1.50 GHz, 400MHz FSB, 1MB Cache)


I'm using Sonar 4 Producer Edition.
 
guitarmonkus said:
RAM is 512.

Intel® Celeron® M 370 Processor (1.50 GHz, 400MHz FSB, 1MB Cache)


I'm using Sonar 4 Producer Edition.
Click to expand...

That ought to work just fine.

Were you using a condenser mic? Did you have the phantom power turned on?
 
guitarmonkus said:
Because the one I've tried (M Audio Fast Track) has very low gain and terrible latency, and I was told it was a USB problem. No?
Click to expand...
If it's a USB problem, then how is that going to be improved by using PCI over USB? It's still USB...

There are adapters out there that claim to provide PCI functionality. The problem? The PCI bus is a lot faster than the USB bus, so it will actually be slowing the interface down even more. Then there's the extra overhead of translating the communication between different busses. Internally, the USB ports attach to the internal PCI bus. So using an adapter like that would be taking PCI, converting it to USB, and then right back to PCI again. Not very efficient.

A USB powered interface isn't going to be able to provide much gain at all, especially when running off a notebook. There just isn't enough power running on the USB bus for that.

Did you check the M-Audio website support area about issues with latency? Even though USB is vastly inferior to firewire for audio purposes, you shouldn't be having any serious latency issues unless you don't have something set up right, you are using a USB1.1 port, or you don't have the right drivers installed.
 
sile2001 said:
If it's a USB problem, then how is that going to be improved by using PCI over USB? It's still USB...

A USB powered interface isn't going to be able to provide much gain at all...
Click to expand...

Respectfully, sir, you are seriously mistaken in both contentions. It is not a USB problem, and a USB device can provide plenty of gain.
 
From the specs of the laptop, I'd look into finding out if the USB is USB 1.0, 1.1 or USB 2.0. USB 1.0 and 1.1 wouldn't cause total failure, but if the USB device was geared around USB 2.0 running in 1.0 or 1.1 there would be a noticeable difference in damn near everything as compared to its performance in USB 2.0.


"I have a laptop with a USB port and an Express port."

I'm not sure what you mean by "express port", can you provide further info.? :confused:
 
Disregard, I got bored and looked up the fast track, it runs via USB 1.1, so I'd venture to say that you are good in that aspect. I'll see what else I can find.
 
Your celeron may have something to do with it. another thing you can do is buy a firewire PCMIA card and get a firewire interface. If you suspect your USB is too slow then getting a PCI to USB (if one exsistes) will not help since your still using the same USB port.
 
After talking to spec dudes at Dell, they assure me that the Express port is their new standard on laptops. I asked him if PCI was compatible, and he said no. I don't know anything about this, but thank you very much for your help! I know now to not focus on an adapter, but maybe another solution like the Firewire PCMIA? What is that?
 
guitarmonkus said:
After talking to spec dudes at Dell, they assure me that the Express port is their new standard on laptops. I asked him if PCI was compatible, and he said no. I don't know anything about this, but thank you very much for your help! I know now to not focus on an adapter, but maybe another solution like the Firewire PCMIA? What is that?
Click to expand...
PCMIA is the card slot on the side of your laptop it may take one or two cards. I guess you can say its the PCI of the the laptops cause you can get ethernet, usb, firewire, audio, modem, video capture and some other cards. the firewire cards are like this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001STHQ4/102-6211935-2029768?v=glance&n=172282
the firepod is a fire audio interface. you can search for firewire based audio interfaces.
 
apl said:
Respectfully, sir, you are seriously mistaken in both contentions. It is not a USB problem, and a USB device can provide plenty of gain.
Click to expand...
Respectfully, sir, I did not say it was a USB problem. The gentleman who started the thread suggested that it might be a USB problem, and I was merely stating that even if it WAS a USB problem, a PCI to USB to PCI conversion would make it even worse.

Also, the USB specification allows for a maximum of 500mA from a single powered USB port. Many notebooks, in the interest of conserving battery, cut that number to 300mA or sometimes lower. Once you've finished supplying 2 mic inputs with phantom power being converted from a 5V, (and being generous) 500mW power source, and the draw from the rest of the circuitry, that doesn't really leave a lot of juice left for the preamp gain. Hence, the M-Audio Fast Track Pro's stellar 40db of gain.
 
Sile2001,

Being a notebook based recorder, what would you suggest I do about this lack of power that the USB is providing? I only have a USB port and an Express port. Dell people say the only way to hook up a Firewire is by using a USB to Firewire adapter, thus defeating the whole point.

Suggestions?
 
guitarmonkus said:
Sile2001,

Being a notebook based recorder, what would you suggest I do about this lack of power that the USB is providing? I only have a USB port and an Express port. Dell people say the only way to hook up a Firewire is by using a USB to Firewire adapter, thus defeating the whole point.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

Some of the Firewire boxes accept external power.
 
guitarmonkus said:
Sile2001,

Being a notebook based recorder, what would you suggest I do about this lack of power that the USB is providing? I only have a USB port and an Express port. Dell people say the only way to hook up a Firewire is by using a USB to Firewire adapter, thus defeating the whole point.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Well, you options are somewhat limited at the moment. Really, a USB interface should work alright. If it's not, then something isn't configured correctly.

As for firewire, there are companies that are working on ExpressCard firewire cards, but the ExpressCard standard is so new that they just aren't in production yet.
 
what model laptop do you have? I’ve not seen a laptop with no PCMIA slot unless its a super cheap laptop. if that’s the case then you may just want to upgrade to something more suitable for recording.
 
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