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Laptop Audio Interfaces:

This is probably a dumb question but it appears that the audio interfaces available for lap-tops are in short supply and I'm concerned about latency issues with USB. RME is the leading contender but with a $1500.00 price range for both HDSPe card and break-out box, that puts it well outside my price-range. ECHO Indigo IO has been discontinued.

So, what should I do? Save up for RME, Chance it with Indigo, or is there some other option I'm over-looking/something affordable on the horizon?

EDIT: Let me refine this to avoid further confusion -

My ideal card/interface has next to 0 latency and is 24 bit, 96kHz.

It's for a PC laptop.

Ideally should have headphone output, stereo output and stereo input.

How many ins/outs do you need EZ?

Just for head-phones, speakers, and maybe a front end mixing console. The Front end's in the distant future, though, and for the time being, I'll be working out of the box, so to speak.

I'm thinking one of the small profile interfaces like the RME Babyface or Apogee Duet. I don't have any experience with either one, though.

The MOTU MicroBook might be worth checking out as well.

I should say this is going to be a PC laptop so that rules out the Apogee line (I think). RME is boasting ultra-low latency issues but with a wealth of disconcerting disclaimers. The upshot is that RME's compatible with USB 3.0 and I'm not foreseeing a problem relating to Reason 6 (I've always been impressed with how Propellerheads works with Audio). Sonar 8.5 (with an upgrade to X1 expected in the near future) gives me a little concern, though.

Still, I'm definitely entertaining all options, at this point, and as reluctant as I am, USB might be the way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker I should say this is going to be a PC laptop so that rules out the Apogee line (I think).

Yeah, that was brainfart on my behalf. No more morning whiskey shots for me, I guess.

You won't have any latency issues just because it's USB. It's as much to do with your PC's processor as the interface itself.

If you want something small, i'm currently using a Saffire 6 which works really well, although i've heard good things about the NI Komplete Audio 6 as well.

If you want to integrate a mixing console, maybe consider something like the Yamaha MW12CX straight off the bat as that's a mixer with an audio interface already built in. I had one once and they work fairly well.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Yeah, that was brainfart on my behalf. No more morning whiskey shots for me, I guess.

No harm. I had tried to avoid making this thread and could populate a few paragraphs with what I have typed into google and the resulting links - including a stellar review for E-Mu's discontinued line of 1616M audiocard and breakout box which left my heart distending down into my small intestines. RANN may celebrate the fact that I was waived off of the E-Mu line and ten-star reviews are probably written by desperate marketing executives but I'm still looking at a narrowing market for decent PCMCIA cards due to ever-changing industry protocols and the fact that I belong to a niche market for them.

quote:

Originally posted by tehlord You won't have any latency issues just because it's USB. It's as much to do with your PC's processor as the interface itself. If you want something small, i'm currently using a Saffire 6 which works really well, although i've heard good things about the NI Komplete Audio 6 as well. If you want to integrate a mixing console, maybe consider something like the Yamaha MW12CX straight off the bat as that's a mixer with an audio interface already built in. I had one once and they work fairly well.

I'm considering going that route. One of the reasons I want the physical card is because, by my understanding, that takes a load off of the processor. Not sure if USB provides little more than an interface but I'm even thinking about CME's line of keyboards, for that - just to get value-added functionality otherwise. Just because of the slim pickin's in such cards, however, I'm reconsidering whether a laptop is such a good idea, after-all.


Good to know about the latency, though.

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker ...but I'm even thinking about CME's line of keyboards,...

I would stay as far away from CME keyboards as you can. I've looked into them on numerous occasions and the reviews and advice I've gotten from people who have owned them is that they are incredibly buggy, have terrible drivers, and support is non-existent.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik I would stay as far away from CME keyboards as you can. I've looked into them on numerous occasions and the reviews and advice I've gotten from people who have owned them is that they are incredibly buggy, have terrible drivers, and support is non-existent.

Just looked at them for the last time. They look lovely on paper but don't seem to be implemented well, at all.

for what it's worth I had a Saffire 6, which is actually USB 1.0, and didn't run into any latency issues.

An interface doesn't directly take the load off your CPU, although the better quality drivers they provide often have a similar (lower CPU usage for a given buffer setting)

Bump for RANN, who's kind of in the same market I'm in.

quote:

Originally posted by meriter for what it's worth I had a Saffire 6, which is actually USB 1.0, and didn't run into any latency issues.

I had been looking at the Saffire 6 for awhile but like the OP, I need one headphone out, one or 2 lines out and one input.

My scratchamp that came with final scratch 2 has all of these features but its a little too bulky for my needs

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker Bump for RANN, who's kind of in the same market I'm in.

Sorry EZ, laptop death caused temporary TA posting latency.

I know it may sound like a long way around (but it's not):

Pcmcia Firewire card, then an Echo audiofire 4. I've had my AF4 for nearly two years now and I couldn't be happier. Can get latency down to 2ms without it getting shitty and it's stable as a rock.

IMO, RME are great but I just don't think there's $1250 worth of difference in audio quality between the two, unless you need all that extra I/O and money is no object/quality is highest criteria over cost etc.

If you really don't want to go the FW route then you could alwys get the RME babyface?

Re: Laptop Audio Interfaces:

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker This is probably a dumb question but it appears that the audio interfaces available for lap-tops are in short supply and I'm concerned about latency issues with USB. RME is the leading contender but with a $1500.00 price range for both HDSPe card and break-out box, that puts it well outside my price-range. ECHO Indigo IO has been discontinued. So, what should I do? Save up for RME, Chance it with Indigo, or is there some other option I'm over-looking/something affordable on the horizon? EDIT: Let me refine this to avoid further confusion - My ideal card/interface has next to 0 latency and is 24 bit, 96kHz. It's for a PC laptop. Ideally should have headphone output, stereo output and stereo input.

I have the multi face with pcmia. Pretty much new. 600

if firewire is ok, Echo Audiofire 4 (as usual).

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