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Good cheap *low latency!* Usb interface for Ampeg SVX?

#21
You could try the ART tube MP with USB.

Sure it's a USB interface but the A/D converter in it is better than the Behringer. it converts at 24bit 96K.

I'm looking to get one too for on the fly single mic recordings (i've got a saffire pro already for multitracking)

Cheap - the design is time tested and you can use it for more than just 1/4" input needs.
 
#23
I agree the art is also a good choice. The problem with USB is that some computers have driver problems with them, and you never know which computers will fight it. I've used usb recording software with a few computers and it never ran smoother, then got it to someone elses house and had horrible results, if you don't have that computer USB may be the ticket. Also, some people don't care, but both firewire and usb record left channel mono, so you'd have to "convert" the wave to stereo to hear it from both speakers, or set whatever channel you are recording on to "mono". When i first started recording, that was the biggest problem i had, but i was young and dumb too!
 
#24
What hasn't been mentioned is that the Toneport series includes several bass amp and cab models as well as a number of great stomp effects from the Bass Podxt. For $99 additional you can upgrade to the full range of amps and cabs from the Bass Podxt. Line6 also releases great free updates every six months or so for their products--new effects and models-- and their Gearbox software is very easy to use. And you can still use Ampeg SVX with it if that's really important to you.

Note that all of these options involve latency when using the Ampeg SVX software. There's no getting around it. Depending on your system, you're looking at 3-20 ms of latency when monitoring software or plugins. Based on your specs, it'll be at least 10 ms with USB, I reckon. The Tonedirect monitoring in the Toneport means zero latency when playing through the Line6 tones. It just sounds and feels better to play without latency.

Anyway, my two cents. Toneport GX ($70) plus Bass Expansion ($99) gives you a ton of playing pleasure at almost half the cost of Ampeg SVX ($319).
 
#25
i agree with bingobingo about the latency issues you will have, but that is while recording with the SVX running. You could however record direct, then reroute the signal through the SVX and get your tone that way. The line 6 tone port is good, but i don't think line 6 has very many convincing sounds. If you use that, don't expect the head or cab to match the sounds, just use your ears to determine your sound.... looking at it you may wind up running a 360 head with a 1 18 cab while trying to coax an svt classic and 810 cab, that's an exageration, but roughly about how convincing it is.
 
#26
CrimsonGhost said:
the art tube usb is nice too, all around the same price range too, I wish there was a chart showing who has the lowest latency..
Click to expand...

Don't sweat the latency. A little is acceptable. A little more you can practice around. Sound travels about 1ft per ms. If you've got 20ms latency, it's like having the speaker 20ft from you. Just about anybody can handle that.

Here's a good article, although I think the author is being more sensitive to latency that he needs to be.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Keep in mind Ampeg-SVX is an application running in the PC memory. In standalone mode. It gets it's input from the sound card, processes it, and then sends it out to the sound card. This processing time of Ampeg-SVX is going to add is a latency you're not going to be able to adjust with choice of sound card.
 
#27
However, im doing ZERO recording,

I dont have an amp, so i want to do the following.
#1 plug my bass in,

#2 pop on my headphones,

#3 fiddle with the knobs on the ampeg svx software,
get cool tones, load up mp3's anf play along.

So thats where the latency plays in.

so thats why im looking for the best/fastest hardware interface for the money i have to spend.
 
#29
Blubass is right about recording direct to avoid latency. That's what makes a plugin like Ampeg SVX so powerful. You can tweak your tone to your heart's content without having to rerecord.

However, my understanding was that CrimsonGhost is looking for something to practice with. He didn't mention recording in his initial post. That's why I would still suggest the Toneport. With Toneport, he can even record dry while hearing the processed tones through his headphones. Then he could go back later to add the plugin. But again, I get the sense he wants to practice, not record. That's why I think he should start with Toneport and then add the Ampeg SVX if he decides he wants that particular $300 sound for his recordings.

I've got an old Guitarport that I love to practice with. I just open the Gearbox software and start playing. And they just upgraded the firmware to add several bass models and vocal preamps, so I'm pleased as punch. I don't use it for recording, though. For that, I run a Boss GS-10 and PodxtLive into an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 PCI card. PCI gives me great stability at very low latency.

BTW--seamonkey's mention of Reaper is worth noting. It's a great program. It can be very simple like using an old cassette 4-track or it can be just about as powerful as the major DAW software out there. I'm a Sonar user, but Reaper has really got my attention these days.
 
#31
I just read CrimsonGhost's last post. Seriously, give the Toneport a whirl. I suspect it's just what you're looking for. Go to the web page, look at all the specs, listen to the sound samples and watch the movies. Gearbox gives you tons of fun knobs to tweak. You can pull up sound files like mp3s or cd audio and play along with them. You can loop sections of the mp3's for practice or play the file at half speed. There's a built-in drum machine/metronome. For plug-n-go practice, you can't beat it.

http://line6.com/toneport/

The GX ($70) model would be all you need if you only want to use bass and electric guitar. The UX1 ($129) would be a worthwhile upgrade if you plan to record vocals or acoustic instruments because of the XLR mic input. I actually think you won't need the Bass Expansion upgrade unless you (like me) are an unredeemable tone junkie. Give it a whirl. If you don't like it, return it or sell it for what you paid.

Don't buy the Ampeg SVX software yet until you know you must have it. You can't return software. And it'll have very little resale value.

Good luck to you.
 
#32
thanks again for all your help, I like the toneport Gx, but im a little worried about headphone output, the UX1 has the headphone knob right on the front. Might be a lil easier to dial in.

I will have to ask somone who owns the GX and go from there.
 
#33
thanks again for all your help, I like the toneport Gx, but im a little worried about headphone output, the UX1 has the headphone knob right on the front. Might be a lil easier to dial in.

I will have to ask somone who owns the GX and go from there.
 
#34
Its going to be impossible to get zero latency. The biggest thing against you is the driver, the hardware and most importantly, the CPU and the software processing your audio. Expect some latency at best, and hopefully under 20ms which would be close to not audible.
 

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