Skyline_UK
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Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
I'm upgrading my OS from XP to Windows 7 (64 bit I assume is the choice) and I understand that my old Audio Midisport 4x4 won't work with Windows 7 so I was going to buy a new MIDI interface. Pretty soon I'm going to upgrade my DAW and the new one will include USB3 sockets (as well as USB2) and I was wondering if I ought to be buying a MIDI interface now that will be USB3 compatible. But there are some questions:
1. Does USB3 speed compared to USB2 make any difference to MIDI transmission anyway?
2. Are USB3 sockets different from USB2?
Thanks
John
My stuff Intel Sandy Bridge i7 2600 @ 3.4GHz, 4 cores, 8 threads, 16GB RAM.OS & Programs drive: 240GB SSD
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chuckebaby
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2011/02/13 07:07:59
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in my situation finding an audio interface for windows 7 was a nightmare..its still relitively new so finding drivers is a problem..i returned 3 before i found 1 that worked...my favorite was the mackie oynx wich said windows 7 x64 capabilitys right on the box...i got it home and it wouldnt work..i went on to the forum where they were disscussing how tech support was telling them it wasnt capible anymore,after more testing its not compatible..another one was the alesis i02..no drivers its a plug and play and you must download asio4all..i didnt want that..i wanted to use a companys drivers(even though ive had luck with asio4all)
i settled on a very reliable interface...the presonus audiobox..the drivers are great and stable and the sound quality is great for around a buck and a half.just make sure when you get one to do some homework.they might say compatible but their not..read the forums on the product...good luck
Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64 Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GBFocusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
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Beagle
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2011/02/13 08:34:06
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MIDI transmission is only 480,000 Kbits/sec 31.5Kbits/sec. USB2's data rate is 480Mbits/sec. USB2 is way more than MIDI transmission needs for bandwidth. I would be surprised if you'll even find a USB3 MIDI controller device since it is so unecessary. even USB 1.1 is more bandwidth than MIDI needs. USB3 ports will still be standard with USB 1 & 2. that way you can still use older devices in the new USB 3 ports. Edited for stupid mistakes...
post edited by Beagle - 2011/02/13 14:33:06
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Eotm
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2011/02/13 11:09:50
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MIDI transmission is only 480,000 Kbits/sec. USB2's data rate is 480Mbits/sec. Do you realize that 480,000 Kbits/sec is equal to 480Mbits/sec? (barring the 1000 vs. 1024 factor...) And midi is 31.5 Kbits/sec, which is really, really, slow. Original USB is more than adequate for most midi chores. USB3 is backwards compatible, so you can plug USB2 stuff into them. But I'd just get a USB2 midi interface and plug it into a USB2 port.
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Beagle
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2011/02/13 14:32:05
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haha! oops. I just copied and pasted it in incorrectly!
Eotm is correct; MIDI is 31.5Kbits/sec which is a lot less than 480Mbits/sec which USB2 has.
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Fog
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2011/02/14 20:57:03
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I bought the cakewalk one..works fine in win7 64 AND you can chain 3 of them http://www.rolandus.com/p...=1093&ParentId=436 usb 3 is backward compatible.. so thats not an issue some companies and their drivers.. or lack of.or "oh lets discontinue a product and fill up more landfill" . thats why I went with the cakewalk one , even the old stuff is well supported.
post edited by Fog - 2011/02/14 21:14:24
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Jim Roseberry
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2011/02/15 00:22:44
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usb 3 is backward compatible.. so thats not an issue That's true... But right now the USB3 controllers aren't integrated into the chipset... they're 3rd party add-ons. In some cases, certain peripherals don't function well on these controllers. The FastTrack Ultra 8R has issues with USB3 controllers. The upside is that even if it did work fine, there's no benefit to connecting a USB2 device to a USB3 controller. As to the OP's question, there are currently no USB3 audio/MIDI interfaces... so it's a moot point.
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Beagle
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2011/02/15 09:04:59
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guys - I'll let John (skylight) verify, but reading his initial post he's not talking about USB3 AUDIO devices. he's asking about a MIDI interface.
I understand that my old Audio Midisport 4x4 won't work with Windows 7 so I was going to buy a new MIDI interface.
I was wondering if I ought to be buying a MIDI interface now that will be USB3 compatible.
he doesn't say anything about wanting to buy or upgrade a new AUDIO interface. just MIDI. however, Jim's last comment:
As to the OP's question, there are currently no USB3 audio/MIDI interfaces... so it's a moot point.
is still valid for either type of device.
post edited by Beagle - 2011/02/15 09:27:33
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rumleymusic
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2011/02/15 12:33:56
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I heard that USB3 was not USB1.1 compatable, only with USB2.
At any event USB3 MIDI would be serious overkill. Even audio interfaces such as the RME UFX can run its entire channel count through USB2 without problems. Though I am sure more bandwidth will come in handy for daisy chaining interfaces in the future.
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bearscat123
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2012/01/13 01:24:53
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Hopefully not off topic. However, I am having latency issues using usb to midi cables with my laptop (has usb 2.0 ports). Did not have that problem with my older large cpu with a separate sound card. Was hoping that usb 3.0 might be a solution to negate the latency issue. Perhaps not? Maybe the problem is simply the integrated sound card? Would I have the same latency issues even if I used an external usb sound card?
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bearscat123
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2012/01/13 01:28:01
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Forgot to mention. With my older cpu, plugged my midi interface into the game port.
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Anubis
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2012/01/18 00:30:32
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Focusrite has USB 3.0 beta drivers for some of their interfaces. But they're more for stability than performance.
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Beagle
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2012/01/18 09:14:38
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bearscat123
Forgot to mention. With my older cpu, plugged my midi interface into the game port.
bearscat123
Hopefully not off topic. However, I am having latency issues using usb to midi cables with my laptop (has usb 2.0 ports). Did not have that problem with my older large cpu with a separate sound card. Was hoping that usb 3.0 might be a solution to negate the latency issue. Perhaps not? Maybe the problem is simply the integrated sound card? Would I have the same latency issues even if I used an external usb sound card?
latency is not due to MIDI cables or MIDI devices, it's due primarily to the soundcard and its drivers. what soundcard are you using?
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bearscat123
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2012/01/18 11:40:04
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My laptop has Soundmax Integrated Digital HD Audio, with an ADI UAA Function Driver for High Definition Audio. Suspect the integrated audio is the culprit since my old Windows 98 cpu with an old Ensoniq PCI performs without a glitch. (My laptop, by the way has a 1.86Ghz processor and 3 Gig of ram, so should not be a problem there).
Query: does anyone know of a External USB plugin Soundcard w/drivers that has successfully avoided the latency issues in Midi Recording? Was thinking about somthing in the Soundblaster Audigy line if a external usb plug in device is available.
The latency issue, by the way is that if I have a tempo track and have it playing while I am recording a melody line on my guitar via Roland GI 10 mdi interfact, the two are are not in sync. Same problem if I attempt to record in fingerpicking while playing back the melody.
Thx for your help. Be nice to be able to retire my old clunky CPU some day.
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spacealf
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2012/01/18 12:31:58
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Soundblaster audigy is not a sound card, the closest is Extreme Gamer.
Use ASIO drivers that account for latency so you record and listen together. Without that, nothing else works. There will always be latency, so you have to account for it and ASIO drivers do that, other drivers for sound do not.
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JohnoL
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2012/01/18 19:04:38
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M audio lists a driver for windows 7 for the midisport 4x4.
Don't know if it works or not.
I have a midisport 2x2 and at one time m-audio was not planning on supporting it on win7 but they eventually did. (I never tried it)
I ended up getting an edirol 2x2 that works with windows 7. I left the midisport on my old Vista machine.
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Monkey Mouse
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Re:Upgrading MIDI interface - USB3 relevant?
2012/01/19 21:28:42
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M-Audio has 64 bit Windows 7 drivers for your midi interface on their website. MM
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