I just received a brand new MOTU 828mk3 hybrid. 1st thing I did was update the firmware from 1.00 to 1.01. (Win7/64, i7 4core, 7200rpm, 8gb ram, USB 2/3/fw...in a Sony Vaio laptop).
The firmware notes stated the update fixed USB 3.0 compatibility...NOT!. SPLAT didn't see any audio device whatsoever when plugged into USB 3.
I only have one USB 2 on the laptop and it's being used by my Motu midi express XT usb. That too, had issues with usb3. Motu support said it required a POWERED usb 2.0 hub in order to work. Well, it did.
Now, when I hooked up the 828mk3 hybrid to the powered usb 2 hub, SPLAT then found the device. So contrary to their statement they have yet to fix the usb 3 issue.
The problem I foresee now is the added latency I'm afraid I'll get having to go back and forth between that powered hub. Both devices should be connected directly to the laptop AFAIK.
...crossing my fingers.

Sanderxpander
I know this is going to sound unhelpful, but it really isn't. Occide, you have seemingly invested plenty in your computer with lots of RAM and a large SSD, you claim top notch performance, you "don't like limitations when you want to be creative", yet you want to spend the absolute minimum on an audio interface?
 
I don't see a happy solution here. You don't have to go with RME necessarily (though you will likely get great results), but it would definitely help you to not shop in the budget market if you want to improve the performance of your system.

 
Best post so far!  The audio interface and it's driver are the heart of any DAW system. 

Sanderxpander
I know this is going to sound unhelpful, but it really isn't. Occide, you have seemingly invested plenty in your computer with lots of RAM and a large SSD, you claim top notch performance, you "don't like limitations when you want to be creative", yet you want to spend the absolute minimum on an audio interface?
 
I don't see a happy solution here. You don't have to go with RME necessarily (though you will likely get great results), but it would definitely help you to not shop in the budget market if you want to improve the performance of your system.

Well, I'm usually not the kind of guy that buys cheap and then starts to cry. So your point is definitely helpful. But consider this please: What would you guys here, some make music for a living, think if a "noob" like me comes along, tells he's a hobbyist and then brags about his 700€ Motu?

tlw
If you want inexpensive try a basic Focusrite or, if all you need is stereo audio output not input, try using on-board audio chip on the motherboard using Sonar's WASAPI driver settings. That may do what you need.

Just tried the Realtek Onboard "Premium" Audio with WASAPI and my 48 Track Falcon Iris Neutron test. This is sadly a lot worse than the M-Audio. Or maybe I should be happy, cause I'm already maxed out at that price category?
 
EDIT: The M-Audio with WASAPI is a mess, too.
 
But I'll consider the Focusrite. Well people don't tell, but everybody does it sometimes, so I maybe order one from Amazon, test it and if it's not better send it back. Not the gentleman's way, I know. I blame the companies, why don't they add real numbers to their products, reliable tests they've made, comparison to other devices.

occide
What would you guys here, some make music for a living, think if a "noob" like me comes along, tells he's a hobbyist and then brags about his 700€ Motu?

I seriously doubt anyone here would care very much whether someone's a hobbyist or anything else. Saying what equipment you use isn't "bragging" unless done in a way intended to insult people. It's a way of sharing experience and knowledge and it also helps people suggest answers to problems if they know what someone's hardware is.

Most of the time this forum is a pretty relaxed place to be, the kind of competitiveness you find in some forums is very rare indeed here.

occide
Sorry I disagree with "Uncle Bob"s opinion. If you (or he) think it's true, some data would be nice. What was tested? Which CPUs, which mainboards, which chipsets, what DRAM, which soundcard(s), which software, which plugins... you get the idea. How was it measured? Against what was it compared?
 
So if anyone has a thing or two to say on the actual topic that would be great. I'm starting to wonder why I still come to this board. Slowly but surely getting hilarious.

FWIW, "Uncle Bob" has been building DAWs professionally for over 20 years.
He's been using DAWs for around 30 years.
 
I tested **ALL** of the higher end Ryzen motherboards.
Stress-test was DAW Bench (well known low-latency audio specific stress-tests).
Also ran generic Passmark tests...
 
Ryzen is not particularly great for higher-end gaming... due to the lower clock-speed.
Ryzen is good for heavily multi-threaded applications (video rendering).
For heavily multi-threaded applications at low-latency, you'll want fast RAM.
 
When running DAW Bench (using their Multi-band compressor for load):
The 6850k bests the 1800x when running the 32Bit version of the multi-band comp.
The 1800x bests the 6850k when running the 645Bit version of the multi-band comp.
 
You can find my original thread for the test specifics.
 
In "Uncle Bob's" world, he has to build DAWs for clients (not just himself).
That dramatically changes perspective.
The current state of flaky X370 motherboards would be a nightmare.
 
As an example, "Uncle Bob" just sent Fred Coury (drummer for Cinderella - now a TV/Film composer) two well endowed DAWs.  Fred is the kind of client who can afford zero downtime.
Do you have any idea the backlash good ol "Uncle Bob" would would receive if Fred's dealing with tight deadlines for The Night Shift... and he suddenly has to pull all system RAM or clear the CMOS to restore SMT?
"Uncle Bob" can't/won't let that happen.
So... thoughtful "Uncle Bob" built Fred's machines using X99 motherboards and 6900k CPUs.
 
BTW, It's not enough for AMD to simply equal Intel (and especially not at equal price points).
Intel is a well established rock-solid platform.
Clients who can afford zero downtime can't be dealing with flaky components.
They've got work to finish on tight deadlines.  Saving $100 is penny wise... dollar foolish.

I have used cheap computers to make recordings. Windows and Linux. I also have a studio cat computer from Jim.

Really, it depends on your threshold for tolerating failures. When it really matters, what will you use? I'm talking about live performance cases where you don't want to have to apologize for some glitch.

If you have a little tolerance for 'oops', your total cost can go way down.

Forum software is swallowing entire posts again, so sorry if this goes through twice...
 

Jim Roseberry
...
FWIW, "Uncle Bob" has been building DAWs professionally for over 20 years.
He's been using DAWs for around 30 years.
...

1.) You're a little late to the party.
 
2.) If you'd read the entire thread you'd noticed that the fuzz wasn't about you but about other guys falsely interpreting your test. Although I'm no longer sure about that. Like I said before, it's all a mater of relation. When everyone is so freaking competent around here, let me introduce myself, too. I'm a professional programmer for more than 15 years, add my youth and it's 22 years. I've built PCs (not especially DAW PCs) basically since they existed, I've built commercial PCs and servers for several years at a local company. I've had professional training in electronics for 3 years (+ another 15 as hobbyist), I repair Laptops, find the blown parts in a complex circuitry with a multimeter.
I wanna make music just for fun. I'm having fun, but it kinda stops when people around here feel the immediate urge to jump to defend either their beloved Sonar, their dogma or whatever. When I make music, I DON'T want to fix stuff, cause I basically have to do that all day. I want it work, nothing else.
 
So everyone around here respects you, and that's ok. Many people around here disrespect me, that's ok too. But don't mix up "I've done this for my whole life" with "I know the last and least answer to any question about that topic". I certainly try not to fall into that trap. If you seriously represent the opinion that Ryzen 7 CPUs are bad for making music I'd say go check your numbers again. Maybe test more than just one plugin times 200. Any semi-professional tech Youtuber does that.
 
EDIT: Before you get that wrong. I said "Uncle Bob" not in an attempt to disrespect you, Jim. I said it because someone quoted you like "my uncle Bob said" without proper introduction or a context I could understand. It wasn't meant offensive in any way towards you personally, but still I apologize for that term.
 
Oh and by the way, to anyone else: If you really want to defend Sonar, maybe you shouldn't pick that much on customers around here, we're the people that are paying for the continuous development of it. I've mentioned in another thread already that some topics tend to drift towards "toxic" rather quickly if someone hits a nerve.

duplicate post  

Where did you get the idea that the people replying to this thread are making money with there DAW's. I think some of us HAVE made money either playing live or doing some home studio recording but the opposite is true and this is generally a hobby. Sonar is a great DAW but still remains a home studio staple. 
Interfaces can be had for $79.  
From my experience all interfaces priced below about $500 perform about the same so your whole thread title is pointless. 
Your quest is for a $300 interface. The latency factor will be negligibly different at that price point between brands and models. 
 
You've set your budget and that's a good start. Now it's up to you to shop for the interface with the features you want. You asked us and we all said the same thing. If your worried about latency, spend more money and get an RME, LYNX or MOTU. This is pretty simple for most to figure out.