jillmus
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Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
Ok after copious amounts of research, reading reviews all over the net I've got the choice down to these 2. Both are apparently v. reliable, good drivers etc. Echo is pci and focusrite firewire. I use huge amounts of softsynths (write orchestral stuff a lot) so latency will be an issue (still need ins though for any 'live' instruments.
Please...any votes or comments or experience with either of these will stop me pulling all my hair out!
getting super DAW built so pc specs not an issue.
thanks all....
Jill
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j boy
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/09 16:06:00
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Just wondering... why have you limited your choices to those two specifically?
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jillmus
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/09 18:20:07
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for that budget range:
Drivers were said to be reliable with consistant updates
sound was said to be very clear and good
Low latency (zero latency hardware monitoring)
number of inputs
software to route ins and outs
also software to put reverb in without CPU usage
both had some inputs on the front (saves me having to reach into deep rack case)
Rackmountable
headphone socket on front panel
other 3 I seriously considered were
Motu 8pre
emu 1616m
Presonus firestudio
and as a possibility:
Alesis lo26
I think that's about it.
Jill
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Jim Roseberry
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/09 18:38:08
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If low round-trip latency is important to you:
Go with the Echo PCI
or
Go with the MOTU 8-Pre
The Focusrite has hardware based monitoring...
But that won't help to eliminate round-trip latency when you play thru software base EFX (AmpSims/etc) in realtime.
With the 8-Pre, you can get down to 5.35ms round-trip latency at 64-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k.
The best PCI/PCIe units get down to 5ms at these same settings.
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j boy
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/09 18:40:22
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Well since you plan to primarily use soft synths and so latency is a priority, Jim Roseberry (one of the DAW builders who posts on these boards) has recommended MOTU and RME as the best for that consideration. Dunno that the drivers on the ones you mention are capable of lowest latency performance at load. {edit} Doh! I see Jim already weighed in... beat me to it.
post edited by j boy - 2009/01/09 18:47:36
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jillmus
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/10 05:52:59
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ORIGINAL: Jim Roseberry
If low round-trip latency is important to you:
Go with the Echo PCI
or
Go with the MOTU 8-Pre
The Focusrite has hardware based monitoring...
But that won't help to eliminate round-trip latency when you play thru software base EFX (AmpSims/etc) in realtime.
With the 8-Pre, you can get down to 5.35ms round-trip latency at 64-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k.
The best PCI/PCIe units get down to 5ms at these same settings.
Thanks Jim...am leaning toward echo - (I like the 8pre but all the inputs are on the back). By 'round trip latency' do you mean what you hear back when working with soft synths/EFX? Sorry...not familiar with the technical terms. Also would we notice a huge difference between 5.35ms and 5ms? Thanks Jill
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Lanceindastudio
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/11 03:30:18
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Go echo they rock! Like jim said pci will give u great performance in regards to low latency* and the drivers are great and the sound is great
post edited by Lanceindastudio - 2009/01/11 21:51:37
Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS Motherboard i7 3770k CPU 32 gigs RAM Presonus AudioBox iTwo Windows 10 64 bit, SONAR PLATINUM 64 bit Lots of plugins and softsynths and one shot samples, loops Gauge ECM-87, MCA SP-1, Alesis AM51 Presonus Eureka Mackie HR824's and matching subwoofer
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jillmus
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/11 07:52:37
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ORIGINAL: Lanceindastudio
Go echo they rock! Like jim said pci will give u great performance in regards to performance and the drivers are great and the sound is great
Good to hear from someone who has an echo unit . So thats 2 votes for the echo! Thanks Jill
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Indyman
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/11 12:24:24
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jillmus - I have an Echo Darla24 (old technology, I know) that I still use and have never had a problem with. Every driver update has been rock solid. This card is not supported in Vista, but when I move away from XP, my next purchase will be another Echo card.
Intel i7-2600K, ASUS P8Z77-V motherboard, ATI 280X, MOTU AudioExpress, Win10 Professional (64-bit), SONAR Platinum, MOTU Midi Express XT, Korg DW8000/X5DR/Wavestation SR/CX-3 _______________________________________ " In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is" - C. Anderton
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jillmus
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/11 17:59:21
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ORIGINAL: Indyman
jillmus - I have an Echo Darla24 (old technology, I know) that I still use and have never had a problem with. Every driver update has been rock solid. This card is not supported in Vista, but when I move away from XP, my next purchase will be another Echo card.
Thanks Indyman We now have echo 3 votes focusrite 0 Looks like echo is the one to get thanks all for your input.. Jill
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Spaceduck
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/11 19:17:26
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ORIGINAL: jillmus
We now have
echo 3 votes
FOUR! I have a stack of Echo Monas (very similar to the Layla24) and never had a problem ...except when I lost an interface cable, and Echo sent me one FREE, didn't even charge shipping. Also like everyone else has said, their drivers are rock solid & updated regularly, even for 10-year-old models like mine. If you go with Echo I'm sure you'll be pleased 
post edited by Spaceduck - 2009/01/11 19:21:11
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jsykes
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/11 23:17:40
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I bought the Laya in 2004 and it has been flawless with heavy usage ever since. Not one problem ever.
Sonar Homestudio XL Dell laptop Echo Layla Takamine EAN-15C Ibanez Artcore Electoharmonix, Digitech, Tubescreamer, AdrennaLinn Advice from forum members
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DH123
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/12 16:02:46
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How do you test "Round trip" latency?
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jillmus
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2009/01/12 18:50:08
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Thanks spaceduck and jsykes, that's a resounding 5! 
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vechung
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2010/10/26 14:08:00
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So what are some of the best PCI/PCIe units with the best round trip latency? Also according to your opinion which ones are the best sounding?
Thanks
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jillmus
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2010/10/26 14:43:35
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OK to update.
Went with the echo 3g...seemed very good. Only problem was the headphone monitoring - unit is hardwired to stereo (1 and 2 I think) so anything coming in on say, 3&4 I couldn't hear through headphones. I use headphones a lot for monitoring.
Anyhow ended up selling it and buying the focusrite pro 40...and my word what a difference in terms of clean sound. It is fantatstic and loads better than the echo, lots more routing options, has some basic effects which are good for cpu etc. Love it and wouldn't go back to the echo, even though the echo is an OK unit.
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RogerS
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2010/10/26 15:22:37
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jillmus - I'm also using the pro 40, and I'm very happy with it. Make sure you get the latest drivers. One of the recent driver updates lets you use the Pro 40 with the computer off, and also enables it to be connected (stacked) with another Pro 40.
A favorite feature of mine is the loopback channel. Enjoy!
PE 8.5.3, Windows 7 Pro 64-bit, i7 920, GA-EX58-UD4P, 6gb Corsair DDR3, 2 x Barracuda 500gb, HIS Radeon GS-4670 Fanless 1gb DDR3, dual 24" monitors, Axiom 61, Korg Triton Pro, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, VG-99, Yamaha MSP5, Fostex PM0.5
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Anubis
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2010/10/27 00:02:52
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jillmus
Anyhow ended up selling it and buying the focusrite pro 40...and my word what a difference in terms of clean sound. It is fantatstic and loads better than the echo, lots more routing options, has some basic effects which are good for cpu etc. Love it and wouldn't go back to the echo, even though the echo is an OK unit.
I have an echo and a focusrite. And I concur. When I first heard the Saffire after a couple years with the Echo my reaction was... WOW! I heard so much more on both ends of the spectrum.
X2Studio_Win7(64)_SamsungChronos_QuNexus_QuNeo_Axiom25_Saffire24Pro_Saffire6USB_EdirolPCR300_Nocturn Amplitubes_AmpegSVX_StylusRMX_SampleTank/Tron_Komplete7_AddictiveDrums_TRacks3_Wavelab6 miTunes
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Bristol_Jonesey
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2010/10/27 05:11:51
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I've been using the Saffire Pro 26 for about 3 years and it's never caused a single issue.
Rock solid drivers, great I/O flexibility, and of course, Focusrite quality pre-amps.
CbB, Platinum, 64 bit throughoutCustom built i7 3930, 32Gb RAM, 2 x 1Tb Internal HDD, 1 x 1TB system SSD (Win 7), 1 x 500Gb system SSD (Win 10), 2 x 1Tb External HDD's, Dual boot Win 7 & Win 10 64 Bit, Saffire Pro 26, ISA One, Adam P11A,
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eikelbijter
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2010/10/29 19:53:44
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Xeon E3-1231V3, 16GB RAM, 480GB 840EVO SSD, MOTU 2480MK3, 424PCI w/ Sonar PlatinumDell XPS 18, i5, 12GB RAM, 500GB SSD+128GB SSD, Roland VS-100 w/ Sonar Platinum
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Lanceindastudio
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RE: Down to saffire pro 40 vs echo laylaG ?
2010/10/29 21:39:22
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ehco echo echo echo echo echo echo lol
Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS Motherboard i7 3770k CPU 32 gigs RAM Presonus AudioBox iTwo Windows 10 64 bit, SONAR PLATINUM 64 bit Lots of plugins and softsynths and one shot samples, loops Gauge ECM-87, MCA SP-1, Alesis AM51 Presonus Eureka Mackie HR824's and matching subwoofer
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