3.0 USB audio interface suggestions

Want to talk about music hardware or software that doesn't include Reason?
grueser3
Posts: 64
Joined: 03 Jul 2016

08 Mar 2019

I know this subject comes up a lot but I’m curious if anyone using a 3.0 usb interface could share what they’re using. I only need two inputs and have a budget of around $500 or less. Cpu I’m running is I9 9900k. Thanks for any advice.

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benjified
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09 Mar 2019

Are you specific about USB 3 to the exclusion of USB 2? I assume you’re running Windows yes?

grueser3
Posts: 64
Joined: 03 Jul 2016

09 Mar 2019

Oh yes sorry running windows 10, and Reason 10. I’m open to USB 2 also, just looking for low latency and of course budget.

Jmax
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09 Mar 2019

My suggestion would be this bad boy. Not the cheapest, but perfect in every way. They also just came out with the Black Usb-C interfaces which look very nice. Not sure if there's improvement with the latency with those as well. I have the old 44VSL, still works like a charm.

https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-192-Mobile

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QVprod
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09 Mar 2019

Jmax wrote:
09 Mar 2019
My suggestion would be this bad boy. Not the cheapest, but perfect in every way. They also just came out with the Black Usb-C interfaces which look very nice. Not sure if there's improvement with the latency with those as well. I have the old 44VSL, still works like a charm.

https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-192-Mobile
If you want low latency DO NOT buy the Studio 192. Has a terrible reputation for high latency unless you're doing audio recording only using their dsp.

@OP: USB 3 offers no speed benefit over USB 2. Under $500 everything's about the same latency wise except the focusrite stuff (Scarlett gen 2 and Clarett USB) which may be a bit faster. I'm currently using a gen 1 Scarlett 18i20. Latency is fine if I run at a 64 buffer. I'm on mac however.

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boingy
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09 Mar 2019

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2: Well-built, great price, rock solid ASIO drivers and some excellent bundled software.
Spend the rest of your budget on other stuff!

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bitley
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09 Mar 2019

Here's another one from the best company; Motu.

http://motu.com/products/motuaudio/track16

EdGrip
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09 Mar 2019

Yeah, don't get hung up on USB 3 rather than 2. For audio purposes, there's no difference.
You could get a used RME Babyface Pro for that price.

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guitfnky
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09 Mar 2019

I wouldn’t call MOTU “the best company”. their hardware is fine, but recently I had to email their support team with a simple “your firmware update instructions aren’t clear enough...can you help?” and it took them almost a month to respond. that’s not the sort of customer service I’d expect from “the best company”.
I write good music for good people

https://slowrobot.bandcamp.com/

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bitley
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09 Mar 2019

Ok, that's not what I've ever encountered, perhaps your question was hard to answer for a bored support tech...

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bxbrkrz
Posts: 3811
Joined: 17 Jan 2015

09 Mar 2019

grueser3 wrote:
08 Mar 2019
I know this subject comes up a lot but I’m curious if anyone using a 3.0 usb interface could share what they’re using. I only need two inputs and have a budget of around $500 or less. Cpu I’m running is I9 9900k. Thanks for any advice.
http://www.musictribe.com/Categories/Be ... HD/p/P0BJZ
757365206C6F67696320746F207365656B20616E73776572732075736520726561736F6E20746F2066696E6420776973646F6D20676574206F7574206F6620796F757220636F6D666F7274207A6F6E65206F7220796F757220696E737069726174696F6E2077696C6C206372797374616C6C697A6520666F7265766572

grueser3
Posts: 64
Joined: 03 Jul 2016

09 Mar 2019

Thanks everybody for the ideas, Definitely makes my choices easier. 😊 plus I never even considered a used RME baby face, that’s intriguing

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guitfnky
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09 Mar 2019

bitley wrote:
09 Mar 2019
Ok, that's not what I've ever encountered, perhaps your question was hard to answer for a bored support tech...
I was really surprised by it...I’ve loved my MOTU stuff for almost 10 years now. I think this is the first time I’ve needed tech support on my original firewire 8Pres (which is a good sign, in all fairness). they gave me the answer, but after it took them almost a month to even respond, I didn’t expect a response at all. a heads-up that they were looking into my situation, and would get back to me would’ve been perfectly acceptable. just left a bad taste in my mouth.

and it shouldn’t have been a difficult question—the issue was literally that the instructions said “use the firmware installer and follow the directions”, but there was no indication of where to get the firmware installer. they sent the link, and 10 minutes later, all was good (except the service experience).
I write good music for good people

https://slowrobot.bandcamp.com/

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pushedbutton
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09 Mar 2019

pretty sure usb 3 is quite pointless when it comes to audio interfaces, unless you're sat with a small orchestra.
@pushedbutton on twitter, add me, send me a message, but don't try to sell me stuff cos I'm skint.
Using Reason since version 3 and still never finished a song.

Jmax
Posts: 665
Joined: 03 Apr 2015

09 Mar 2019

QVprod wrote:
09 Mar 2019
Jmax wrote:
09 Mar 2019
My suggestion would be this bad boy. Not the cheapest, but perfect in every way. They also just came out with the Black Usb-C interfaces which look very nice. Not sure if there's improvement with the latency with those as well. I have the old 44VSL, still works like a charm.

https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-192-Mobile
If you want low latency DO NOT buy the Studio 192. Has a terrible reputation for high latency unless you're doing audio recording only using their dsp.

@OP: USB 3 offers no speed benefit over USB 2. Under $500 everything's about the same latency wise except the focusrite stuff (Scarlett gen 2 and Clarett USB) which may be a bit faster. I'm currently using a gen 1 Scarlett 18i20. Latency is fine if I run at a 64 buffer. I'm on mac however.
Yes it's true PreSonus does have a higher latency, I think? I'm never tried another interface. I've had a few Audioboxes. I used to experience pops and clicks, until I upgraded my system.
A friend of my got the Scarlett. But we found the driver software pretty outdated looking (not sounding). Not that it really matters, but PreSonus has the one up on that for sure.
I actually always thought USB 3 was quicker and resulted in lower latency. I stand corrected! actually read up on it after i read your reply and you're totally right. Shit balls.
What are you thoughts on USB C? would this improve latency at all.

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QVprod
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09 Mar 2019

Jmax wrote:
09 Mar 2019
QVprod wrote:
09 Mar 2019


If you want low latency DO NOT buy the Studio 192. Has a terrible reputation for high latency unless you're doing audio recording only using their dsp.

@OP: USB 3 offers no speed benefit over USB 2. Under $500 everything's about the same latency wise except the focusrite stuff (Scarlett gen 2 and Clarett USB) which may be a bit faster. I'm currently using a gen 1 Scarlett 18i20. Latency is fine if I run at a 64 buffer. I'm on mac however.
Yes it's true PreSonus does have a higher latency, I think? I'm never tried another interface. I've had a few Audioboxes. I used to experience pops and clicks, until I upgraded my system.
A friend of my got the Scarlett. But we found the driver software pretty outdated looking (not sounding). Not that it really matters, but PreSonus has the one up on that for sure.
I actually always thought USB 3 was quicker and resulted in lower latency. I stand corrected! actually read up on it after i read your reply and you're totally right. Shit balls.
What are you thoughts on USB C? would this improve latency at all.
I didn't mean Presonus interfaces in general. Just specifically the Studio 192 is bad. The Quantum on the other hand gets a lot of praise. It's thunderbolt though. I think your friend has a gen 1 scarlett (that's what I have). The 2nd gen ones have a modern mix software. USB C is just a connector. It's still USB 3. Thing is, USB 2 is more than fast enough for low latency audio. RME interfaces have extremely low latency on USB, comparable to thunderbolt interfaces. Most companies just don't write drives as good as RME.

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boingy
Posts: 791
Joined: 01 Feb 2019

09 Mar 2019

bxbrkrz wrote:
09 Mar 2019
grueser3 wrote:
08 Mar 2019
I know this subject comes up a lot but I’m curious if anyone using a 3.0 usb interface could share what they’re using. I only need two inputs and have a budget of around $500 or less. Cpu I’m running is I9 9900k. Thanks for any advice.
http://www.musictribe.com/Categories/Be ... HD/p/P0BJZ
I don't know if it has improved but the only ASIO driver option with the Behringer I had was the free ASIO4ALL driver, which was never really happy on my system and I never got the multi-client thing working properly. It basically worked but I spent too much time in the driver control panel and I would never go back to those drivers.

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bxbrkrz
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Joined: 17 Jan 2015

10 Mar 2019

boingy wrote:
09 Mar 2019
I don't know if it has improved but the only ASIO driver option with the Behringer I had was the free ASIO4ALL driver, which was never really happy on my system and I never got the multi-client thing working properly. It basically worked but I spent too much time in the driver control panel and I would never go back to those drivers.
Yes. RME would be my number one choice for the OP, but maybe he could be happy with this low cost purchase, his pc and his basic needs. It's one more option.
It was a long time ago but I think the only thing I was missing with ASIO4ALL was a loopback function.
757365206C6F67696320746F207365656B20616E73776572732075736520726561736F6E20746F2066696E6420776973646F6D20676574206F7574206F6620796F757220636F6D666F7274207A6F6E65206F7220796F757220696E737069726174696F6E2077696C6C206372797374616C6C697A6520666F7265766572

botnotbot
Posts: 290
Joined: 26 Oct 2017

10 Mar 2019

boingy wrote:
09 Mar 2019
I don't know if it has improved but the only ASIO driver option with the Behringer I had was the free ASIO4ALL driver, which was never really happy on my system and I never got the multi-client thing working properly. It basically worked but I spent too much time in the driver control panel and I would never go back to those drivers.
This should no longer be an issue, thankfully, as Windows 10 finally comes with a USB class-compliant ASIO driver.

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Deep Schulzz
Posts: 246
Joined: 23 Jan 2015

10 Mar 2019

I'm using the Zoom UAC-2 USB 3.0 Interface - since about one year. A very affordable and powerful audio interface with best audio qualities. It needs an Intel CPU I believe - in my case an I7 8700K. Works perfectly for me.
Image

Image

grueser3
Posts: 64
Joined: 03 Jul 2016

10 Mar 2019

Thanks deep schulzz, that’s a new one for me, I’ll check it out.

jlgrimes
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Joined: 06 Jun 2017

15 Mar 2019

grueser3 wrote:
08 Mar 2019
I know this subject comes up a lot but I’m curious if anyone using a 3.0 usb interface could share what they’re using. I only need two inputs and have a budget of around $500 or less. Cpu I’m running is I9 9900k. Thanks for any advice.
I was eyeballing the Focusrite Clarett. I think it is USB 3.0.

That said I use a Scarlett 2i2 gen2 for live shows and it is perfect for that task in regards to a low latency compact USB2 device that is bus powered.



I remember Arturia showcasing another model that supposedly had good pres and is bus powered.


What exactly are you trying to do by the way? I think USB3 can provide more current to power interfaces but bus powered interfaces are more rare than I expected especially with more high end interfaces.

I think RMEs are the standard (I like how they support multiple standards in one box) but their prices are probably well above $500.

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ScuzzyEye
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15 Mar 2019

jlgrimes wrote:
15 Mar 2019
I was eyeballing the Focusrite Clarett. I think it is USB 3.0.
I'm probably going to be getting the Clarett USB later this year too. The USB connector on it is a USB-C port, but I saw this in the manual: "WARNING: This equipment is only compatible with USB Type 2.0, 3.0 or 3.1 ports, or Thunderbolt™ 3 ports." So it appears they've put a USB-C connector on a USB2 port. That's fine, and as you said, USB2 has enough throughput that you can easily run 40 channels of audio through it. Might save a ms or so of latency with a true USB3 or Thunderbolt port, but I'm not worried about it.

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boingy
Posts: 791
Joined: 01 Feb 2019

15 Mar 2019

ScuzzyEye wrote:
15 Mar 2019
jlgrimes wrote:
15 Mar 2019
I was eyeballing the Focusrite Clarett. I think it is USB 3.0.
I'm probably going to be getting the Clarett USB later this year too. The USB connector on it is a USB-C port, but I saw this in the manual: "WARNING: This equipment is only compatible with USB Type 2.0, 3.0 or 3.1 ports, or Thunderbolt™ 3 ports." So it appears they've put a USB-C connector on a USB2 port. That's fine, and as you said, USB2 has enough throughput that you can easily run 40 channels of audio through it. Might save a ms or so of latency with a true USB3 or Thunderbolt port, but I'm not worried about it.
I looked at the Clarett stuff but I came to the conclusion that the very small differences between that and the the Scarlett stuff were not, for me, useful. The limiting factor in my live stuff is not the audio interface hehe. So I saved some money and bought the Scarlett 2i2. It's probably the 9th or 10th audio interface I have bought over the last 30 years or so and it is definitely the best so far. I just don't need really high end stuff. YMMV.

danc
Posts: 1017
Joined: 14 Oct 2016

18 Mar 2019

boingy wrote:
15 Mar 2019
ScuzzyEye wrote:
15 Mar 2019


I'm probably going to be getting the Clarett USB later this year too. The USB connector on it is a USB-C port, but I saw this in the manual: "WARNING: This equipment is only compatible with USB Type 2.0, 3.0 or 3.1 ports, or Thunderbolt™ 3 ports." So it appears they've put a USB-C connector on a USB2 port. That's fine, and as you said, USB2 has enough throughput that you can easily run 40 channels of audio through it. Might save a ms or so of latency with a true USB3 or Thunderbolt port, but I'm not worried about it.
I looked at the Clarett stuff but I came to the conclusion that the very small differences between that and the the Scarlett stuff were not, for me, useful. The limiting factor in my live stuff is not the audio interface hehe. So I saved some money and bought the Scarlett 2i2. It's probably the 9th or 10th audio interface I have bought over the last 30 years or so and it is definitely the best so far. I just don't need really high end stuff. YMMV.
One thing to take into consideration - although should be a secondary consideration (first should be that you get a good quality device)... if you own Focusrite equipment, they offer some amazing give away plug-ins every few months under their Plugin Collective club... https://focusrite.com/plugin-collective. Each offer lasts for like 2 months - so, you have plenty of time to catch them. Most are something free... and added to that 50% off anything in the plugin companies entire range.

Seriously - over the last year, they have literally [virtually] paid me back well over the cost of my audio interface and more!

e.g.

- Mastering the Mix - they gave me LEVELS and GROW (although they don't work in Reason once you register them - whatever?!! I spoke to Tom at MTM and he is very aware that their registration process knackers Reason).

- Accusonus - free Regroover Standard - plus £59 offer to upgrade to Pro.

- Audiothing - free set of plugins and 50% off anything else I wanted.

- D16 - they gave me SIGMUND for free and I was given Punchbox for 50% off.

- Eventide - free EQUIVOCATE ad 50% anything else I wanted.

- Positive Grid - free BIAS AMP.

- Sonarworks - free 6 months use.

- XLN - free ADDICTIVE KEYS.

- AAS - pick a plugin for free from list.

- Soundradix - free Radix Surfer EQ.

- Plus Fabfilter, SugarBytes, Izotope, Nugen etc.

etc


As you can see - these aren't old, pointless and unwanted plugins.
Check my Soundcloud:

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