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Hi, folks... been searching and searching and can't seem to find anything that's not confusing to me. As the subject states, I need an external (USB 3, preferably - the blue slots, right?)sound interface for my Windows 8 machine.
Any recommendations you may have would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks a bunch.
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Why does it have to be USB3?
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Right, USB3 is a partly blue slot, at least the ones I've seen. But I don't know of any USB3 sound cards yet. From what I've read, the speed of USB2 is ample for the job. If you decide to buy something using USB3, let us know how it works.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Why does it have to be USB3? Of course, I could go with USB 2... ran out of open slots. If I have to use 2.0, I'll just have to keep unplugging one of my external devices. Thanks.
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Thanks, Matt. I can't seem to find anything USB 3 and might have to go with USB 2... as mentioned above, ran out of open slots.
At any rate... anything to worry about compatibilty with Win 8?
Thanks again.
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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We're at 8.1 if you updated, and yes, there are some devices whose drivers do not work (or require workarounds to install) so check for compatibility before purchase.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Mike, you might consider getting a USB2 hub for certain peripherals, and giving the interface a dedicated port on the PC itself. I learned the hard way that moving an interface from port to port sometimes messes with functionality. I moved my Presonus AudioBox USB and found that certain programs no longer recognized it.
The only fly in the ointment I've found with the AudioBox is that there is no uninstall utility for its drivers; you have to go into the registry and manually delete things. Ridiculous, if you ask me, but that's what it takes to get it working again. From now on I'll make certain it gets plugged in to the same port every time.
Your mileage, of course, may vary, but that's how it is over here.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Why does it have to be USB3? Of course, I could go with USB 2... ran out of open slots. If I have to use 2.0, I'll just have to keep unplugging one of my external devices. Thanks. Hi MikeK, The best of the USB audio devices for recording purposes are actually USB 1.1 and there is a good reason for that. USB 1.1 coding is fully mature and offers some features sorely needed for multitrack audio recording that are not found in the later USB offerings. Also, there is really no gain to be had as far as the amount of bandwidth for audio multitracking anyway. The 1.1 can do the trick and does it well and is robust at it. Attempts by some of the best mfrs to use USB 3 have been iffy to nonworking. That said, you can plug any good quality sound device that uses USB 1.1 into those USB 2 ports. FOCUSRITE Check them out, known for excellent hardware and very good drivers. And the DRIVERS and how well they are written and supported are the key to success in this instance. There are other brands, of course. Focusrite seems to be enjoying a good track record all around, though. --Mac
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All great info, guys! I think I've decided on one that will work. I understand what you are saying about USB 1.1, Mac, but I can't imagine that USB 2 will make such a huge difference... if I am wrong, please correct me, Sir. But I will take a look at FOCUSRITE, before I make my final decision. Richard: yeah - good advice. I'll get one. Here's what I have in mind, Win 8 compatible guaranteed. http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1166It's only $269 ... so, not too bad for all its features. Whatcha think?
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Thanks, Bob. I actually looked at that one earlier, since Mac mentioned that brand. Looks pretty good and would probably do just what I need it for. Choices, choices  Still trying to make up my mind and I have until February to do so... that's when I buy an interface along with the latest BIAB/RB version (bonus time) Appreciate your input, Sir
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Mike, Once you get into more than just a couple of channels, you will find that most manufacturers are using USB 2.0, at least that is my unscientific analysis of the situation. I quickly perused ye good olde Sweetwater Catalog - which has a really nice interface comparison chart in it - I would recommend getting this catalog JUST for this one chart. In the Winter 2013 catalog it's on page 349. It can help you to weed out stuff you aren't interested in. M-Audio are another company rather well known for keeping up their drivers. The Fast Track Pro was a great interface that is now legacy and supported by AVID only. However, it has Win8 drivers on the AVID site. I did learn something today, M-Audio is no longer affiliated with Avid and they have a new product lineup that is separate from the old M-Audio product lineup. I did have one issue with my Presonus FireBox - there was bleed from the on-board headphone circuit into the analog input stage. You can actually hear this at the 3:55 and following fade out of this song where the click track pokes it's way into the recording: https://soundcloud.com/rockstar_not/scott-lake-rest-ye-orionNote, I was not using any mics in this song, so if you immediately suspected headphone speaker bleed into a mic - that was not happening. It happened internally inside the FireBox. I had it ruin more than one recording. There was also a high pitched whine that would happen on high input signal gains (no not feedback) now and then. I found out about both of these issues after my 1-year warranty expired. PreSonus did not want to replace or repair my unit.
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Your USB 3 connection should work for a USB 2 device, backwards compatible. "In USB 3.0, dual-bus architecture is used to allow both USB 2.0 (Full Speed, Low Speed, or High Speed) and USB 3.0 (Super Speed) operations to take place simultaneously, thus providing backward compatibility." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_3.0
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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I recently purchased an Avid Eleven Rack bundled with Pro Tools 11 that seems to be working fine with my Windows 8.1. Of course, I just got it and haven't really used it a LOT, but so far haven't had any problems. Realize, though, that could change and any moment, lol.
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Mike,
Once you get into more than just a couple of channels, you will find that most manufacturers are using USB 2.0, at least that is my unscientific analysis of the situation. I quickly perused ye good olde Sweetwater Catalog - which has a really nice interface comparison chart in it - I would recommend getting this catalog JUST for this one chart. In the Winter 2013 catalog it's on page 349. It can help you to weed out stuff you aren't interested in. Oh boy, how am I going to explain my setup... it's quite unconventional LOL! On my previous machine, I had a FireWire card installed. Not possible on this new machine, because I don't have a slot for it. The way I had my old machine set up: I had/have a Roland FireWire FA-101 interface. Initially, I just used that for my recording purposes and that worked just fine. Still with the old machine: I bought a PreSounus Studiolive 16.4.2 ... also a FireWire product. I wasn't happy with the sound levels and clarity of the sound, hooking up the Studiolive directly into my FireWire card. So, here comes the funky setup: I kept using my FA-101, however: I hooked up the XLR outputs from the Studiolive to my FA-101's two XLR front inputs. Then I had the main out (L/R) going to my speaker, while my FA-101 was still hooked up to the FireWire port of my computer. Results where fantastic. So, what I am attempting to achieve with the USB interface is the same setup as I had it with my FA-101, hoping, I get the same results in sound quality. That's it in a nutshell. Under the old configuration, I've had live guests in my home studio, them hooking up to the Studiolive whatever they needed to perform (mics/instruments). I would air my radio shows via the internet that way and again, results were outstanding. Got to get creative, I guess! LOL! Thanks for your great input, though
Last edited by MikeK; 11/21/13 02:58 PM.
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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I recently purchased an Avid Eleven Rack bundled with Pro Tools 11 that seems to be working fine with my Windows 8.1. Of course, I just got it and haven't really used it a LOT, but so far haven't had any problems. Realize, though, that could change and any moment, lol. LOL - keep me up to date, please
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Appreciate your input, Jim. But, as I explained above, that's what I'm looking for. Basically an interface, interfacing with my StudioLive 12.4.2. And, really, I have not worked with MIDI in countless years. So, that's not even a concern to me. Appreciate the input, though. Thanks!
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Hi Mike,
I have been using the focusrite scarlet 8i6 through usb3 ports for over a year now with no problems. Usb2 units are compatible with usb3 but usb1.1 units are not. Focusrite are geared up for windows 8 so you shouldn't have problems there.
Chris
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If you are that tied to the Focusrite - understandably so, I think the most reasonable route for you is to go shopping for a music-only desktop, used, where you can install that Firewire card that you used to use.
Any other solution is going to be as kluged together as what you wrote above. Seems kind of an oxymoron to have a great multi-channel recording interface (the Focusrite mixer) sitting there as just a mixer and having to go analog out out of the thing to reconvert A/D into a different device.
I would think you could pick up a capable used desktop machine that will accept the firewire card, for less money than the channel count is going to cost you with a capable USB channel count interface.
Last edited by rockstar_not; 11/22/13 06:14 AM.
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