Opinion requested: USB audio

[anarchosyn]

See Opinions - Mac/Cubase (http://www.no-future.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1661) for the full exposition on my nature, history and existence with music.

Just real quickly though, I'm planning on picking up a m-audio Quattro (http://www.m-audio.com/products/m-audio/quattro.php) to run audio in/out and midi for my G4. The problem is, this is usb v1.1, which has a notoriously bad rep when it comes to audio (due to bandwidth issues).

I not only plan push audio OUT of the quattro, but I plan to be mixing the audio of at least 2->5 external synths and drum boxes INTO the quattro (for mixing back OUT with internal VST sounds).

I've never used a USB audio box before, should I be thinking of getting something that is firewire?

What down sides have YOU experienced with USB audio?

Lastly, what decent midi/firewire boxes exist for replacing the Quattro in my mind? I've never used firewire before, would I need two ports to run two boxes? I only ask because all the firewire stuff I've seen has been either exclusively midi or audio, and not an all in one box like the quattro.



Thanx.

[c s]

i've been using the egosys (esi) waveterminal u2a (2in/2out) for almost 2 years no without any problems at all (under windows at least). so usb 1.1 is definitely enough for 2 channels. the latency is great if you set the driver to 'fast' speed which eats a lot of cpu power though.

[pille'ocheoni]

im planning to buy a quattro soon myself.i have two friends that have one,and they have no complaints,one is running xp,and the other is running 0s9.so i havent heard any bad things myself but would like to hear some if they exsist.motu makes a rockin usb*firewire card/breakout.but way out of my pricerange./pille'

[piscaries]

emagic's 2|6 is supposed to be pretty good too but i've never heard it.. nor the quattro for that matter...

[_JM]

I've got an EMI 2|6 and it's great. The only problem I've had was an annoying hum in the outputs. Turned out the USB bus wasn't providing enough power. I added an external DC power supply and it's fine now.

[anarchosyn]

Originally posted by pille'ocheoni
im planning to buy a quattro soon myself.i have two friends that have one,and they have no complaints,one is running xp,and the other is running 0s9.so i havent heard any bad things myself but would like to hear some if they exsist.motu makes a rockin usb*firewire card/breakout.but way out of my pricerange./pille'

Want some bad reviews? Check the bottom of this page (http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.MDOQUATTRO&z=1564361632559).

;)