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Do I need/want a new interface? If so, which one?

vindibona1

vindibona1

Apr 18, 2015
3,142
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#1
Consider me new to recording. I've done *very* simple things, mainly for sampling. So I bought M-Audio M-Track USB interface because it was cheap to get started. I've got a couple of mid-grade mics (AKG P170 x2, a Stellar X2 mic upgraded from a AKG P420 and a Shure SM58). For instruments I have an old Yamaha DX7 synth and a crap-load of guitars basses and trumpets (and an old out-of-tune spinnet piano). I've just paid the licensing fee for Reaper and just learning the basics and previously had limited time with Audacity.

With no performances in the foreseable future and nothing but time right now I want to stretch a bit and perhaps lay down some tracks that I can collaborate with friends on. One of the biggest drawbacks of the M-Audio interface is latency. I've got it pretty low but the sample rate is (I think) 256/44100 (?). I've seen a few interfaces that appear to be better than the one I have and was wondering if I could get some guidance. Of course with no current income cost (and need) comes into consideration. If I had to set a budget it would be below $200.

A few of the interfaces I'm looking at are:
Focusrite 6i6 (Gen2)
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (Gen 3)
Presonus 26c
Presonus 24c
Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD

I don't mind if it needs a wall wart for power, though I think my USB hub will have enough power to drive it (if plugged into the right port). I think I can get my hands on the Focusrite 6i6 gen2 in B-stock for $150.

What do you guys think? Stay put with the M-Track or one of the above... or a different one I hadn't mentioned? TIA
 
#5
Scarlett 4i4 also a good choice. Focusrite Control software is good for metering and routing, and can run on a phone or tablet so you can keep your DAW full screen, and place your interface wherever you want to.
 
#7
DigitalMan said:
Scarlett 4i4 also a good choice. Focusrite Control software is good for metering and routing, and can run on a phone or tablet so you can keep your DAW full screen, and place your interface wherever you want to.
Click to expand...

I would rather have most of the interface controls on the box itself and not on a screen somewhere. While I have a iPhone and older iPad, I'm not prone to use them very much. I like 27" screens :).

I can get a Gen2 6i6 for around $150. Is there something inherently better with the Gen3 Focusrites?

stratovani said:
This is the one I plan on getting once my $1200 comes in. PreSonus AudioBox USB 96. Comes with Studio One Artist DAW software.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

Why this one over any other (besides price), and what did you have before?
 
#8
vindibona1 said:
Why this one over any other (besides price), and what did you have before?
Click to expand...
I did all my research, YouTube videos, websites and the like, and to me this looked like the interface that would best meet my needs. Also the price wasn't too exorbitant, and it came bundles with DAW software, Studio One Artist, which came highly recommended. What I've been using is really old equipment - a Dell laptop running Windows XP, Cakewalk Home Studio 2002 for a DAW, and a Tascam US-144 audio interface, all dating from the mid-2000s.
 
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#9
stratovani said:
This is the one I plan on getting once my $1200 comes in. PreSonus AudioBox USB 96. Comes with Studio One Artist DAW software.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
My guitarist has the presonus mixer board with the studio one software. It's pretty cool. But, I'm still happy with my Focurite 18i8 and free reaper. Ain't done me wrong yet.
 
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#10
How many ins/outs do you need? MIDI in/out?
I'm very fond of my Mackie 2.2, which does 2 in (XLR & jack combi sockets), 2 out and MIDI in/out. It's cheap, and if I dropped it I'd be more worried about what I dropped it _on_.

About the sample rate you mentioned: 44100 (a.k.a 44.1KHz) is CD standard. Any particular reason not to go with 44800 (48KHz)? I ask because the latter is increasingly preferred - worth bearing in mind for collaborating.
256 will be the number of samples per period; there'll be another number (probably low single-digits) which defines how many periods it holds in the buffer at a time (I _think_ that's what it means).
Those three numbers together are the things that determine the latency, assuming your hardware can keep up with that rate.
On Linux, I have my 2.2 running at 128 samples and 3 periods, at 44.8KHz, and that's pretty much the limit for my nearly 3-year-old laptop. With those settings, the latency is low enough that I don't notice it.
So there's that for input.

Now, an important question: just how badly does the latency of your current setup affect your recording as it stands now?
Can you use hardware monitoring in that interface to work around the problem? That means that your interface sends a copy of the input signal straight to the outputs, avoiding the round-trip delay of going through the computer. If you can, you can hold off on spending that money for now.

And that leads us to the crucial question: are you sure the interface is the bottleneck? If it's the computer, then the interface isn't where you want to spend the money.
 
#12
Krisfield said:
Also, I'm currently using Focusrite and it's pretty reliable stuff.
Click to expand...

^This. I've been using my 2i2 daily since 2011 and i have only positive experience to share, whether it is about the drivers or the hardware.

Before that, i owned a Lexicon Ωmega; a nightmare to operate due to problems with drivers as well as overheating issues that couldn't be resolved even when i removed the top cover and used a small fan to generate some airflow.
 
#15
Frank Tuesday said:
What problems are you having with the latency? Reaper will auto correct the latency when recording, and if you direct monitor, everything should be in sync while tracking.
Click to expand...

How does Reaper auto-correct for latency? I'm just learning it... and the learning curve is like drinking from a fire hose.

It's just time for a new interface. The problem is that so many people homebound that the better interfaces are sold out. Sweetwater has no MOTU 2/4's in stock and no lower end Focusrites up until the 8i6 level. I might be able to get a 6i6 Gen2... Researching that.

QUESTION: DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF AN INTERFACE DOESN'T HAVE SEPARATE 48V SWITCHES (like MOTU M2/4)?
 
#16
All modern DAW correct for latency on record. They just do.
The DAW will account for this latency when it records. What you hear in realtime won't, you'll need to play with the drivers.

Your latency concerns seem to stem from the M-Audio when trying to listen to the processed VST in realtime at the same time you're recording.

vindibona1 said:
M-Audio interface is latency
Click to expand...

Try the ASIO4ALL driver: ASIO4ALL - Universal ASIO Driver For WDM Audio
It works great if the stock drivers are old

vindibona1 said:
I think my USB hub will have enough power
Click to expand...

Don't do that. That puts two USB devices in serial and can slow things down.
Plug the interface directly into the PC

If your trying to listen to VST effects at the same time you record, the VST's will add latency.
Using ASIO4ALL and just my PC soundcard I can get latency of under 10ms for VSTs that just do EQ and Distortion, and some light room reverb.

Also check out: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Read the whole page top to bottom
Search internet for How to optimize a PC for DAW
 
#17
vindibona1 said:
How does Reaper auto-correct for latency? I'm just learning it... and the learning curve is like drinking from a fire hose.

It's just time for a new interface. The problem is that so many people homebound that the better interfaces are sold out. Sweetwater has no MOTU 2/4's in stock and no lower end Focusrites up until the 8i6 level. I might be able to get a 6i6 Gen2... Researching that.

QUESTION: DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF AN INTERFACE DOESN'T HAVE SEPARATE 48V SWITCHES (like MOTU M2/4)?
Click to expand...

Not much risk in using a single 48v switch. A couple of exceptions: ribbon mics, and line-level devices. For line level, you should use the line inputs, or a DI. Ribbon mics, you just have to be careful, or use an isolation transformer so the 48Vdc doesn't hit the ribbon.

Phantom Power and Line Level Gear | Sweetwater
Will it hurt anything to leave the phantom power on? Will it damage my...
 
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#18
seamonkey said:
All modern DAW correct for latency on record. They just do.
The DAW will account for this latency when it records. What you hear in realtime won't, you'll need to play with the drivers.

Your latency concerns seem to stem from the M-Audio when trying to listen to the processed VST in realtime at the same time you're recording.



Try the ASIO4ALL driver: ASIO4ALL - Universal ASIO Driver For WDM Audio
It works great if the stock drivers are old



Don't do that. That puts two USB devices in serial and can slow things down.
Plug the interface directly into the PC

If your trying to listen to VST effects at the same time you record, the VST's will add latency.
Using ASIO4ALL and just my PC soundcard I can get latency of under 10ms for VSTs that just do EQ and Distortion, and some light room reverb.

Also check out: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Read the whole page top to bottom
Search internet for How to optimize a PC for DAW
Click to expand...

Well... I downloaded ASIO4ALL... And something is terribly wrong now. I cannot get Reaper to recognize input settings on either or my main computers. :O ! I may have to try restoring to an earlier time on my laptop. No reason why my desktop would be having problems- unless the M-Track is just broken. Arghhhh!

I think I like the MOTU M4 or M2... But the 6i6 uses a wall wart, which may be good in my situation not needing the PC to power the thing. Convenience of plugging in the power is not a problem... But will USB-c be faster than USB-A?
 
#19
vindibona1 said:
Well... I downloaded ASIO4ALL... And something is terribly wrong now. I cannot get Reaper to recognize input settings on either or my main computers. :O ! I may have to try restoring to an earlier time on my laptop. No reason why my desktop would be having problems- unless the M-Track is just broken. Arghhhh!

I think I like the MOTU M4 or M2... But the 6i6 uses a wall wart, which may be good in my situation not needing the PC to power the thing. Convenience of plugging in the power is not a problem... But will USB-c be faster than USB-A?
Click to expand...

I've never used ASIO4ALL, so I can't help there. Check this video out. May help.

USB 2.0 (TypeA) can carry 42 channels of mono audio at 48k 24bit, so don't worry if what you buy has the latest and greatest USB. If you can connect it to your computer, it is more than adequate.
 
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#20
vindibona1 said:
Well... I downloaded ASIO4ALL... And something is terribly wrong now. I cannot get Reaper to recognize input settings on either or my main computers. :O ! I may have to try restoring to an earlier time on my laptop. No reason why my desktop would be having problems- unless the M-Track is just broken. Arghhhh!

I think I like the MOTU M4 or M2... But the 6i6 uses a wall wart, which may be good in my situation not needing the PC to power the thing. Convenience of plugging in the power is not a problem... But will USB-c be faster than USB-A?
Click to expand...

It's a good idea to always set a restore point before installing anything on Windows
Seriously - anytime you install or update set a restore point.

In this case though you can just uninstall ASIO4ALL and everything will revert. Windows Key -> Settings -> Apps -> ASIO4ALL

Mr Tuesday's youtube post on ASIO4ALL is a good example.
When you install ASIO4ALL it is now the driver you pick in REAPER - not the M-Audio. ASIO4ALL will inturn show you the M-Audio as one of the inputs and outputs.

ASIO by default is single connect. You can only have one application working with ASIO. If reaper is using the ASIO then other apps can't.
If you had setup the M-Audio to be multiclient where it could play Windows audio like from Youtube at the sametime you were using a DAW (Reaper) then you were not using ASIO. Windows audio is very latency prone no matter what the settings are. Multiple apps are all trying to use it at the same time.

Having said that, there are multiclient ASIO applications that work with ASIO4ALL. This isn't your goal now if you just want low latency with Reaper. Multi-client doesn't help with latency.

DPI-Latency checker is a good app to run to see if your PC is up to running at low latency.
 

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