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USB 3 has been out for a while. It's supposed to be faster than firewire. But I have searched Musicians Frienmd and other online music stores for the strings "USB3" and "USB 3" with no hits.

Does anybody here know if a USB3 audio interface is available yet from any manufacturer?

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Right, I haven't seen any either. It is a bit odd after this much time.


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Pat if you google “usb3 audio interface” you will find some, including these:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--AARUSB3

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/A...CFfE7MgodtEMA5A

good luck.


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Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

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Hmm. The Aardvark (great name!) clearly says USB3, but I think we're looking at a mislabeled Ethernet connection. Perhaps there is a breakout cable not shown?

The Presonus, though, is not yet available and the description is unclear: does it run on USB3 at USB3 speeds, or is there just software to allow it to work when plugged into USB3?

Last edited by Matt Finley; 05/10/13 07:01 AM. Reason: corrected info on Aardvark

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Matt,

Makes a good point.

I purchased a "USB3" specified 1 tera backup HD.

It does work, but does not seem to be any faster than my
older ones.

Good Luck!


FrankB

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in the case of the Aardvark product, the ad suggests that USB3 is the NAME of it (because it has 3 inputs and 3 outputs)

I saw nothing in the ad for either product that said it supports the USB3 protocol. If either of them did, I'm thinking it would show up repeatedly throughout the ads because everyone is looking for a USB3 compliant interface.

In both cases the interface is listed simply as "USB"

For me, that's a red flag.

EDIT:
the Aardvark ad says "this product is no longer available at ZZsounds"

Last edited by Pat Marr; 05/10/13 07:09 AM.
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Originally Posted By: Pat Marr

EDIT:
the Aardvark ad says "this product is no longer available at ZZsounds"

Perhaps someone read this thread and then spotted the Ethernet connection labeled as USB3? That was quick.



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Usb3 compliant just means that it "should" run under usb3, which is not always the case. Both specs wouldn't warrant the usb3 performance anyway, 2-3 channels at 48Hz.
I have a focusrite Scarlett 8i6 which is usb3 compliant and runs nicely under usb3. I think the whole range of Scarletts are like that now. It was a choice between the focusrite and the presonus when I got my new laptop, but presonus couldn't guarantee compliance at the time.
It's a bummer that cardbus has died, I loved my emu1616m.


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I don't find it surprising that there isn't any USB 3.0 audio hardware available yet. First of all, it runs at 5Gb/s, so to be able to utilize the data transfer capability of that, you have to have the ability to transfer the incoming and outgoing data at 5Gb/s, which is pretty durned fast.

Since USB 2.0 can easily handle multiple channels of 24/96 audio, there is not real reason to invest in upgrading to USB 3.0, at least for audio devices. My question becomes, how many of you are running more than 8 channels in, and 8 channels out at 24/96? If you are, what devices are you using, and have you considered a PCI-e solution?

I don't see the NEED for anything more than USB 2.0, right now. But, on the other hand, I don't see a need for anything more than 24/48, either, at least not in my studio. Oh, and don't get me started on 192k, or 384k sample rates, either.

Gary


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It could become a problem as newer notebooks tend to only have usb3 ports. Then you have to find a soundcard at least compliant with usb3. Not all soundcards are, and as most companies don't use it, they don't test it either.


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The USB3 port should be backwards compatible, therefore it should run a USB2 device as designed.

You do not have to have a USB3 device just because your machine happens to support USB3 ports.


--Mac

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Mac, I've been blogging on Musikmesse synth products. Can't believe that there isn't some
USB 3 blossoming out right now.

Read Craigs article on synths and look for more detailed tech analysis of the brand new hardware.

I've got run and find if any
RV neighbor has some Vino to share.

Dreamer, dream on.....


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Korg...Karma,Triton Classic, PA-80, M-1+
AkaiSampler-S5000, Roland.. X5080 Rack/G-1000 Arranger
Various Guitars/Basses Amps Pedals Rec.Equip.


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Let's look at this.

24 bits x 96kHz sample rate = 2304000 bps
Times 2 for stereo = 4608000 bits per second.
Times 8 for eight stereo channels = 36,864,000 bits per second
Time 2 for both directions = 73,728,000 bits per second.
Times 2 to double the speed in both directions = 294,912,000.

USB 2.0 bandwidth, 480,000,000 bits per second. Even with overhead, I've still got 100Mb/s to play with. So, basically, on a single USB 2.0 controller, I could probably run 8 stereo channels down, and 8 stereo channels up without any problem.

If you're going to do more than 8 by 8, you should probably be looking at the PCI or PCI-e interfaces.

This is why you aren't seeing any USB 3.0 audio interfaces.

Mac, can you check my math, make sure it's correct, please?

Gary


I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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MADIface XT from RME, if you can afford it, claims to be the world's first USB 3.0 device.
RME Home

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When I was having lots of trouble getting 2014 Everything Pk. to install on my P.C., I had it plugged into one of the two USB3 ports. I was instructed by P.G. Support to not use the supplied HD in a USB3 port. Sometimes it will cause problems in a setup, and BB prefers USB2 instead.-----Leon

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OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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