Thread: audio over USB v. optical

"Firewire devices are (generally) more recommended than USB. Firewire is not "processor dependent" like USB is, and usually experiences much fewer conflicts with the computer compared to USB." Quoting an article I have here on reviewing most mainstream audio interfaces. This is why you don't see many interfaces using USB to record or playback large amounts of audio.

There are options though if you do what to stick with USB that are alreay put together. First off you can get a USB to ADAT converter and an 8 channel line mixer, with preamps to boost your output voltage. Or you can get somthing like the MOTU 828 seen here http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/828MkIIusb/

My thoughts on this are the drivers are going to be the most important thing. I know that our EMU has the ability to take the windows output and send it to one of 20 channels doing whatever processing you want to do to it individually isolated to that single channel. You can also route this to most high end software DSP's right within the built in patch mixer.

I think you are looking at major, major, software issues along with limited bandwidth and processing power to run USB. If you are going to bother getting all this stuff together, why not just upgrade your PC a little and run a PCI based card that does everything you want it to do, and boost the output voltage on a pre-existing unit? They do exist. Behringer makes a 230 dollars ADAT mixer that comes with 8 preamps with individual outputs. I doubt you can get 8 volts, but something like this seems like a more viable solution.

Why re-invent the wheel?

You know you make a great point, if things go as planned I'll have room for a PCI card which will end up being a much more integrated solution and use less processor power. This is still an interesting idea though, at least the high output voltage if nothing else.

Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

I'm really worried about size there. I for one don't have anywhere left to put something like that in the car. At that point, we might as well go with the DBX drive rack and just modify the PSU like people have done in the past.

hey red, thanks for that... the dbx driverack is exactly what I've been looking for all along, just didn't know it, wish there was a big kiss smiley, although I doubt I'd ever use it on anyone else

hey red, thanks for that... the dbx driverack is exactly what I've been looking for all along, just didn't know it, wish there was a big kiss smiley, although I doubt I'd ever use it on anyone else

You defected! Noooo.... hahahaha. Enjoy that piece. If money wasn't an option and competing with it didn't put me in the highest class, and I had the room, I would have done it too.

Originally Posted by comet28024

I think you are looking at major, major, software issues along with limited bandwidth and processing power to run USB. If you are going to bother getting all this stuff together, why not just upgrade your PC a little and run a PCI based card that does everything you want it to do, and boost the output voltage on a pre-existing unit? They do exist. Behringer makes a 230 dollars ADAT mixer that comes with 8 preamps with individual outputs. I doubt you can get 8 volts, but something like this seems like a more viable solution.

Why re-invent the wheel?

I think the problem for PCI is the space requirements. Not sure though. I prefer the PCI route and RED already has a PCI card with 4V outs, but I think she was looking for a USB DAC vs USB soundcard, although I think anything more than a 2 channel stereo USB DAC becomes a soundcard.

is there software that can create a virtual sound card, that can then route the signals to different sound cards?

YEs. It's called Virtual Audio Cable (VAC). It should be listed in the software options for tuning thread.

Originally Posted by durwood

You defected! Noooo.... hahahaha. Enjoy that piece. If money wasn't an option and competing with it didn't put me in the highest class, and I had the room, I would have done it too.

nah man, no defection here, I do still need to do my da conversion & the driverack is just one solution for one car, I'm still interested & involved here

I didn't even think about this pushing a car up to the pro class in competition, not an issue for me, I have no plans to compete, but I could see how that could be an issue too...

Originally Posted by turbocad6

nah man, no defection here, I do still need to do my da conversion & the driverack is just one solution for one car, I'm still interested & involved here

I didn't even think about this pushing a car up to the pro class in competition, not an issue for me, I have no plans to compete, but I could see how that could be an issue too...

Yep they get you with either any processing equipment powered by 120V, or modifications to existing equipment if I remember correctly. IF you want to run with the big big dogs then that is the way to do it.

Well good to hear you'll still be involved. I didn't think you could resist other ideas in this realm.

Originally Posted by comet28024

There are options though if you do what to stick with USB that are alreay put together. First off you can get a USB to ADAT converter and an 8 channel line mixer, with preamps to boost your output voltage. Or you can get somthing like the MOTU 828 seen here http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/828MkIIusb/

As stated above, size is a concern, a BIG concern in an install in a car.

I think you are looking at major, major, software issues along with limited bandwidth and processing power to run USB.

Point taken, that's why I wanted to facilitate discussion.

If you are going to bother getting all this stuff together, why not just upgrade your PC a little and run a PCI based card that does everything you want it to do, and boost the output voltage on a pre-existing unit?

Why? Because I'm already doing that. I already have an x-meredian that has close to 5v outputs. I'm already modifying it.

I have another reason I want to design something like this...another reason that I see something like this being very beneficial.

They do exist. Behringer makes a 230 dollars ADAT mixer that comes with 8 preamps with individual outputs. I doubt you can get 8 volts, but something like this seems like a more viable solution.

As stated above...SIZE SIZE SIZE!!!!

Why re-invent the wheel?

because the wheel as I see it being needed still doesn't exist.

Originally Posted by durwood

Yep they get you with either any processing equipment powered by 120V, or modifications to existing equipment if I remember correctly. IF you want to run with the big big dogs then that is the way to do it.

Well good to hear you'll still be involved. I didn't think you could resist other ideas in this realm.

that's what I thought too...but apparently in USACi isn't not a rule...who knows...

My goal for my current project (which is already underway and is completely aside from this thread) is to compete with the big dogs without having to necessarially go to processing like the DriveRack and the like.