Noob is Choosing An Audio Interface

Well, after surfing and reading a lot, I've finally worked up enough nerve to sign up to the forums and ask some questions. This is my first post.

Introducing myself to Cakewalk years ago with Music Creator, I became familiar with the user interface, and last year found a new version of Sonar 6 Producer Edition on ebay for a great price. Now, I want to build a DAW after choosing an audio interface.

I find myself extremely interested in the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, I assume for the obvious reasons of features and DSP quality for the price.  But....I've read a lot of Jim Roseberry's comments regarding the round trip latency shortfalls and the warning to stay away form DICE II chipsets...

...and I've noticed that Cakewalk doesn't put Focusrite in their list of interfaces.

Yeah, I know...question....what is the question.....


Well, I have a few.


1.  Is the DICE II chipset still an issue with this interface and Sonar (I'll be using Sonar 6)?

2.  I've heard that Focusrite's sound quality outperforms the MOTU 828 MK3. Have you found that to be true?

3.  Is there a workaround the round trip latency problem or is that pretty much the way it is?


Hey, thanks in advance. And especially thanks to those I have read here for hours and hours and hours.....

I have a dual core 2.2 system at home w/ the TCK 48. No problems running it on my older system, and I get good latency - less than 10 ms roundtrip

How do you like the TCK 48? Pros? Cons?

Are you using Sonar PE?


Is it likely that the round trip latency would improve (all other things being equal) if I built a system around the Intel Core2Quad Q9550?


Anyone ever seen a post by Roseberry on the TCK 48?  I'm curious if he reserves comment  for TC Konnekt?

Wulfos,

start a new thread?  But really, we need more info to help.

Skit,

The TCK is a great piece of hardware.  The sound is good, a lot clearer than my old FirePod.  Everything I've dragged down to the pro studio that I've done on it translates really well.

The preamps are better, too, tho there are only 4 of them.  And lots of digital expandability above the 12 in and 10 out analog.  The hardware effects are very good.  The remote is great - more companies should make something like it.  I got a great deal on it.  The only other thing I considered was the Steinberg/yama interface, but they dropped the price after I bought the TCK.

I got it last year and the drivers were still a little flakey.  They worked, but the FirePod actually got lower latency.  After I installed the latest drivers that got better.  I have no problems with latency, tho it is hardly the best.

The only other complaints are the mixer software and the hardware fx.  The first is typically teutonic - through, logical but unnatural.  There are two different pages to set up routing - why couldn't they just use the tried and true mixer analogy?  The fx are great, but the vsti versions are too intensive for my machine.  I use them on specific tracks and mixing/mastering where I route them in and out rather than insert them on a track.

I highly recommend it since it works for me.  Esp. if you can find one for $700 as I did (scratch and dent) or $800.  They are back up to $1000.  The Impact Twin is their latest model, 4X4 I think w/ ADAT.  Not as many hardware fx, I think, but it is like $400.  Can't complain about the sound at that price.  But as always, be prepared to send it back if it doesn't for on your system.  That can be a pain in the neck to sort out.

good luck,

@