"I realize this, and I agree that must be where it came from. But it's been 14 years since USB 2 was introduced. I don't know when USB 2 interfaces started to appear, but it can't have been much more than five years after that. That would make it nine years now and still there is this misconception that Firewire is better. I don't really have a point beyond being puzzled that many people still seem to believe this."



Moving away from sound cards, when I first got a dual port external hard drive I also had a Mac pro with Boot camp on it. I did a little test by transferring the same files (about 70GB worth) onto the drive via Firewire 400 and USB 2.
When booted up as a PC the file transfer was very slightly faster via USB2, however when in Mac mode the transfer was quite a bit faster via Firewire.  (All transfers using the same usb/firewire port and the same HDD with the transferred files deleted of the external hdd after each transfer). So it may be the Apple promoted firewire as better because it was on a Mac, whereas on the PC they are much closer?

No Firewire will generally be faster for large file transfers. I'm not disputing this at all. I'm merely saying the difference is entirely irrelevant for audio interfaces, see my post on the last page.

mike_mccue
I hear what you are saying Jim, The ADAT connections are ideal for devices that haven't been made for a couple of decades but using them as extra analog inputs comes with some gotchas that may not be obvious unless you have used them.
 
32 actual analog input channels on one integrated clock gets my blood pumping.
 
It seems to make all the gotchas go away.
 
The idea that it might work great on USB seems awesome.
 
Plus the Orion has the extra 16 channels of Lightpipe if you want to go down that path, or really need to transfer from an ADAT.
 
I'd love to learn if Antelope's USB drivers have low latency and how they compare to the MADI implementation.
 
 
:-)

 
Hey Mike,
I've used my Orion32 for short periods via USB (mostly out of curiosity) and IIRC correctly the latencies were roughly on par with what has been reported (e.g. here: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun13/articles/antelope-audio-orion32.htm#para4).
 
My only gripe with the Orion is that its routing is somewhat limited. It's very difficult (if not impossible) to do multiple headphone mixes with just the onboard mixer.
 
Dean

When connecting external HDs:

• USB-2 tops out between 35-40MB/Sec
• Firewire 400 tops out ~40MB/Sec
• Firewire 800 tops out ~80MB/Sec
• USB-3 tops out ~550MB/Sec (if using an Intel USB-3 controller)  

 
Mac vs. PC shouldn't matter (both are using essentially the same hardware)
Note, you won't see that full 550MB/Sec when connecting a single conventional HD via USB-3... as the HD itself will max-out below 200MB/Sec.

Thanks for the info Dean.
 
best regards,
mike

Hey Dan,
 
I stand by my TC Impact Twin interface. You can get one of these new on the net for around $300. Incredible sound / value. 
 
Take a look at this article I found when when researching interfaces, in this case I was reading about the focusrite forte. However I was happy to find some other related nuggets in the testing charts that included information about other interfaces. Notice the Impact Twin fared well with a few of the top rated interfaces. 
 
Most of the interfaces today are good to very good! All the best with your search.

Jim Roseberry
When connecting external HDs:

• USB-2 tops out between 35-40MB/Sec
• Firewire 400 tops out ~40MB/Sec
• Firewire 800 tops out ~80MB/Sec
• USB-3 tops out ~550MB/Sec (if using an Intel USB-3 controller)  

 
Mac vs. PC shouldn't matter (both are using essentially the same hardware)
Note, you won't see that full 550MB/Sec when connecting a single conventional HD via USB-3... as the HD itself will max-out below 200MB/Sec.

And again, even the lowest of those figures equals at least 350 tracks at 24 bit, 44.1KHz. You will simply never even come close to figures like that.

Sanderxpander
I realize this, and I agree that must be where it came from. But it's been 14 years since USB 2 was introduced. I don't know when USB 2 interfaces started to appear, but it can't have been much more than five years after that. That would make it nine years now and still there is this misconception that Firewire is better. I don't really have a point beyond being puzzled that many people still seem to believe this.

Jim Roseberry
•USB-2 tops out between 35-40MB/Sec
•Firewire 400 tops out ~40MB/Sec

 
As you see USB is far more variable with speed. You are likely to have a dedicated interface with firewire, not so with USB (you are plugging other USB stuff into it). Finally the protocol with Firewire is a lot more efficient in audio and video environments (streaming data). This is the reality.
 
BTW Focusrite has just released another Firewire based Saffire....

Aren't you the one who always objects to vague statements and wants people to quantify and be specific? Statements like the above are what maintains this misconception. None of the above statements are based on fact and none of them have any meaning with regards to the real world performance of the audio interface.

As to FW vs. USB - some people still insist on buying slot-based interfaces, which are better (don't FW and USB basically plug into slots?) but not in a real world sense.  Disinformation persists long past its due date.  Any of these choices, given the right drivers, will work.
 
And what is interesting is the manufactures seem to be turning to "premium" stereo interfaces as a way to part us from our money.  I'm hoping to get in the new Tascam unit and see how much better it is than my TC, which is very good.  I'm betting (and hoping) it ain't so I don't have a reason to spend money (again!) on an interface.