sound cards vs. USB devIces

  • Thread starter Thread starter stumpEd
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stumpEd

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Can anYone explain if there are benefits to audiocards such as delta66/omni vs. the new USB devices?

WHy woulDn't I want a USB device?
 
USB throughput is rather meager and therefore limits the number of tracks you can play back or record at once - I believe four at once is the max. Also, I believe there are some issues with M-Audio's USB devices - whether it's a driver or hardware issue, I'm uncertain.
 
I suggest you do a search on old topics, this comes up quite often.
 
USB 2.0 should eliminate the throughput problem, but I have yet to see any audio devices that make use of it. It will probably take another 6 months at least.
 
Yeah, it's pretty much unanimous that USB in it's common form sucks the big one, at 12Mbits/sec.

I learned that from my friends here at Homerecording.com, and many other sites agree.

What surprises me is how Home Recording magazine sings the praises of the new Mbox by Digidesign, when it quite simply has to suck just based on the throughput.

I can't wait to see who starts coming out with either more Firewire devices (that are hopefully smaller than the MOTU 828) or USB2.0 devices.

I really want to get a laptop setup, but the 828's too big and the USB devices are no good.
 
Granted, USB audio devices aren't as powerful as PCI cards BUT they do work. As long as you are OK with the limitations, they work fine.

I have a Tascam US-428 and a laptop and I've never been bothered by the 4 channel limit. Yeah, it would suck if I wanted to record a live band, but I never do that- just me one instrument at a time, so it suits me just fine. I've never needed more than 4 channels to record one instrument.

They aren't cost effective. You can get more features for the money with other kinds of devices, but if you have a laptop (or some other reason why USB is a valid option) and can work around the limitations- USB devices are wonderful.

Take care,
Chris
 
Since the search feature is still out of order, can someone tell me about the known problems with M-Audio's USB devices? A USB device like the Quattro would be ideal for me, since I'm planing to use a laptop as my main machine starting next year, but still keep the desktop at home. I don't need more then 4 inputs, at least not while using my laptop.

Oren
 
Chris Shaeffer said:
Granted, USB audio devices aren't as powerful as PCI cards BUT they do work. As long as you are OK with the limitations, they work fine.

I have a Tascam US-428 and a laptop and I've never been bothered by the 4 channel limit. Yeah, it would suck if I wanted to record a live band, but I never do that- just me one instrument at a time, so it suits me just fine. I've never needed more than 4 channels to record one instrument.

They aren't cost effective. You can get more features for the money with other kinds of devices, but if you have a laptop (or some other reason why USB is a valid option) and can work around the limitations- USB devices are wonderful.

Take care,
Chris
Click to expand...

If you wanted to record a live band, could you use a mixer and then run it into the Tascam US-428 and then to the laptop? I'm wondering if the USB port is fast enuff to keep up with the recording end using all 4 channels?
 
joemix said:
Try the Edirol UA-5. It works great, least trouble I've had from a sound card.
Click to expand...

I'd like to hear more about this. How much you paid for it, how the sound quality is. How are the pre-amps? Is there a latency problem? Is it only 2 simultaneous inputs?
Thanks
 
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i've got the m-audio duo and the wdm drivers work as long as you are only doing 44.1khz/16bit but if you want to do 48khz/16bit then you've got to use the MME driver instead. the unit just does not seem to work in 24bit no matter what you do.

also, every so often my input meters go tilt and all i hear is noise. if you hit the disable, then re-enable the record meters the noise goes away.

i'm either going to sell the m-audio duo and get the tascam us-428, or keep the m-audio duo and just use it for the built in pre-amp and purchase a vxpocket.
 
Man I have used the 828 and it is awesome. I did use it on a mac though. It worked easily right out of the box. I hardly think it is too big. You can a little soft case 2 space rack for like 79 dollars. Just carry that and your laptop bag. I don't see the problem. We actually found a carry on\briefcase bag with wheels that fit the laptop and the motu perfectly at office max. There is even room in it for two small diaphram condensors and two 25 foot cables. We use it for live stereo recordings of bands and symphonies and things like that.

Beezoboy
 
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