USB 3.0 Audio Interfaces

What's good people? Could be either an external sound card or mixer type one. What do you guys use? Cheers.

Pretty sure they don’t exist

Yeah seems not. I've just been doing some research and I think you're right. That's cool I'll just use my Focusrite Saffire 6 for the mo.

I remember checking when I bought my new laptop which has only USB-C ports, and sure enough there are a bunch of really high end interfaces that I definitely did not want to buy. But they exist: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/best-studio-gear/1222697-ten-best-thunderbolt-usb-c-audio-interfaces-2018-a.html

Edit: USB C is probably the wrong term, but searching with that brings more results than USB 3.0.

Interesting yeah my laptop has usb c and 3.0 so I guess that must mean it can run a Thunderbolt Soundcard. I need to look into this but I doubt I'll be in the market for one for a while yet as they do seem pricey!!!

Usb 2.0 is still good enough for interfaces with 16 input channels 

Yeah unless you're going mental at 192Khz with a dozen or so simultaneous inputs USB2 definitely has enough bandwidth to cope with what you'd want it for !

  On 8/28/2019 at 1:26 PM, TheBro said:

Interesting yeah my laptop has usb c and 3.0 so I guess that must mean it can run a Thunderbolt Soundcard. I need to look into this but I doubt I'll be in the market for one for a while yet as they do seem pricey!!!

Nope, that does not mean you can run a Thunderbolt soundcard — this is exactly why this race towards everything supporting a USB-C connector is a really fucking stupid idea.

USB Type-C is a physical connector, which is being used by multiple protocols. As such, it isn't a standard at all. So what it means is that if you buy anything with a USB Type-C connector, you had better seriously geek up on tech specs and make sure that anything you buy to connect to it is 100% compatible, otherwise you could physically damage both devices (I mean, fire and flames and fumes).

USB-C and Thunderbolt are not the same — they just share a physical connector. And even then, because the pin-outs are different, there is the potential to literally fry devices by plugging one into the other that isn't supported.

  On 8/28/2019 at 4:45 PM, oscillik said:

Nope, that does not mean you can run a Thunderbolt soundcard — this is exactly why this race towards everything supporting a USB-C connector is a really fucking stupid idea.

USB Type-C is a physical connector, which is being used by multiple protocols. As such, it isn't a standard at all. So what it means is that if you buy anything with a USB Type-C connector, you had better seriously geek up on tech specs and make sure that anything you buy to connect to it is 100% compatible, otherwise you could physically damage both devices (I mean, fire and flames and fumes).

USB-C and Thunderbolt are not the same — they just share a physical connector. And even then, because the pin-outs are different, there is the potential to literally fry devices by plugging one into the other that isn't supported.

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Wow I didn't know that .. thanks for the good advice man. Is it fair to assume that the USB is USB 3.0 though because I've ordered a USB 3.0 hub and I'm guessing the laptop I bought recently must have at the very least USB 3.0?

  On 8/28/2019 at 5:05 PM, TheBro said:

Wow I didn't know that .. thanks for the good advice man. Is it fair to assume that the USB is USB 3.0 though because I've ordered a USB 3.0 hub and I'm guessing the laptop I bought recently must have at the very least USB 3.0?

Honestly — it's not a good idea to assume anything where USB Type-C and USB 3.0 are concerned. Check the technical specifications for your computer and make sure that it is compatible with stuff you're buying.

USB Type-C is the stupidest thing ever conceived.

Mm I checked the Tech Specs and my laptop is USB 3.1. https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-14-cf1506sa-14-intel-core-i5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-gold-10193330-pdt.html

and I bought this hub to go with it https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DWQBBZX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I hope they work together.

Yeah they'll play together fine - The hub will operate at USB 3 speeds when plugged into your USB3.1 port but like most (all?) USB hubs will be backwards compatible for slower speed devices (i.e. USB 1.0 & USB 2.0) too.

  On 8/28/2019 at 1:40 PM, xox said:

Usb 2.0 is still good enough for interfaces with 16 input channels 

there's some w/32 i/o simultaneous because the drivers are so good and the USB chip in the interface is custom or something. also, there's USB 3 MADI interfaces so you can get that and hook up like 64 i/o channels if you want to go nuts. 

i've read some issues w/thunderbolt interfaces on macs because of the T2 chip causing problems. 

but there's some good stuff in thurnderbolt and USB 3 from Antelope audio and RME. all pretty spendy and probably overkill for typical producers but RME drivers are really good. i'm still using my fireface800 bought new around 2005/2006. expanded the inputs w/a lynx aurora8 long ago so i get 16+ inputs when needed. no complaints.