professional laptop audio solution that ISNT firewire?!?

[gemini8026]

Im going all out portable....

But, I need the lowest possible latency for my guitar / drums tracking in Cubase (I use all VSTI's) so the firewire latency is still too much.

What are a guys solutions right now?

I appreciate any help, its tough subject when everyone jumps right to firewire!

 

[JeffTD]

Firewire latency? What interface are you using?

 

[gemini8026]

with a quality PCI interface, 2-3ms is easily done. The inherent latency that comes from the firewire controller adds that small extra bit. It IS a difference when you do ALL of your tracking with VSTI's. Ive owned both a Firepod and a 410, and they cant match pci in terms of latency. Thats been tested by myself using that freeware latency tester!

 

[-Gavin-]

I used to get 3ms from my Edirol UA-25

 

[Potshot]

I have 3ms with my MOTU 828mkII also.

 

[seditz740novaprospect]

I have 3ms with my MOTU 828mkII also.

i have a firepod and i can get 3ms also its not as much the interface as it is the computer

 

[Metaltastic]

Dude, I regularly run my Mackie Onyx Satellite without any trouble whatsoever at 128 samples of latency (44.1k/24-bit), which according to Reaper is around ~2.9 ms of latency, and that should NOT be an issue (it's literally almost imperceptible latency when I'm monitoring my guitar through an amp sim and impulses). Hell, it even has an option for 64 samples of latency, which is ~1.4 ms, but then the pops and clicks start appearing (though I'm sure if I disabled wireless networking and such I could get it to work). But 3 ms should not be (and has not been for, well, anybody) a problem.

Oh, just read your post commenting on the inherent latency of the firewire bus - one thing that'd help (if that is indeed the case) is to get a FW card with a better chipset, but if you want the PCI route, check out RME's stuff, I'm pretty certain they make an interface that uses some sort of laptop card (PC or Express card, or maybe either).

 

[HeadCrusher]

Thats been tested by myself using that freeware latency tester!

Do you have a link for the tester?

 

[seditz740novaprospect]

you done need a tester


send somethign in and out of your interface to a different channel and record the imput to the daw then compare in ms that will tell you the exact latency

 

[beyond dead]

since buying an imac 2 years ago, ive never experienced latency that really was noticeable or troublesome.

 

[TomiR]

I have been struggling with bad latency issues, it's something like 6/11ms according to Reaper...

I am running at 44,1 at 24bit and my PC is a 2,3 quadcore with 2ghz with ram. I am using the built-in Firewire port.

Any help would be killer.

 

[Metaltastic]

What interface do you have dude?

 

[Metaltastic]

And to the OP, RME Multiface II and Expresscard are the solution you require.

 

[Lazzari]

after reading all of this problems with latency stuff.. why dont u guys buy a line 6 tone port ux2 ? is it that bad ?

 

[TomiR]

What interface do you have dude?

A Focusrite Saffire PRO 26 i/o with an M-Audio Octane via ADAT.

I just got this PC a while ago, built it with quality parts. I have downloaded and installed the Service pack 2 firewire update, have "fine tuned XP" for audio work, disabled the Firewire network connection etc., but those things had no effect.

It seems that the only way I can get the latency lower, is by adjusting the Firewire buffer setting. Nothing else has any effect.

If I have the ASIO buffer size at 2.0ms and the Firewire buffer size at 1.0ms, I get the Input latency to 3.6ms and the output latency to 5.5ms.

How low can you go with the ASIO/Firewire buffer settings?

Cheers mate in advance!

 

[TheDude]

This is another solution. Not that many I/O's but should be really fast.

 

[JeffTD]

A Focusrite Saffire PRO 26 i/o with an M-Audio Octane via ADAT.

My Saffire's I/O latency doesn't go any lower than yours while still being useable (no clicks/pops), unfortunately. That's the one thing I don't like about it!

 

[gemini8026]

And to the OP, RME Multiface II and Expresscard are the solution you require.

Bingo, i did some research and this is the cream of the crop for what I want!!!

 

[egan.]

I've never run into issues doing entire records on FW interfaces. 3ms is the equivalent delay of being 1 meter further away from the source.
Technically I guess I'm hearing my drummer's snare 10ms after he hits it during rehearsal but...

 

[gemini8026]

guys, please check this out... its a latency tester.... The number you see in your control panel dont reflect REAL WORLD latency.

http://www.centrance.com/products/ltu/

Im not an expert, but Ive referenced using pci cards from various manu's as well as my own personal Firebox/M-audio 410 units.

I have the $$$, and I want the lowest latency possible. The RME seems to be the best (and most expensive) choice!!

It's obviously not a huge market as there are such few solutions for us guys wanting to do EVERYTHING in VST instruments.

As mentioned though, im not an expert so please feel free to show me up, but is it not a known fact that the firewire interface introduces latency over PCI/PCI Express...