...besides the RME UCX or UFX (cause I'm afraid his dad will get mad at me) :-)
 
My young nephew is an ace guitar rocker but he hasn't done any project recording. He owns some nice amps but he's become enamored with guitar modeling and the fantasy of having dozens of amps in a one stop interface. He's going to spend a day in the studio with me tomorrow and I'd like to help him set a goal for saving up and buying a low latency usb I/O box, a starter DAW, and an amp sim so he can get started with learning about recording.
 
It seems to me that the best way to start is with a small and low priced usb rig that has a great driver, but I haven't been paying much attention to what's best these days.
 
Thanks.
 

Of course you will get all the usual suspects, but at least look at this one:
http://www.akaipro.com/product/eiepro
I took a chance on it, because I liked some of the special features it offers, and I couldn't be more pleased.
The original drivers truly sucked, and spawned a lot of bad reviews, but the current (2.9.55) drivers are rock solid.
I don't have any real amps here, so I am using amp sims exclusively. I also record a lot of soft synths played live.
In both scenarios, low latency performance is crucial, and it hasn't let me down.
Yes, it has an old school look to it, but those front panel controls offer a lot of flexibility.
It absolutely cannot be USB powered, and requires the included 3.5 amp power supply.
It's a sleeper, but for my money, it smokes other units in its price range($249)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRpCXWSC8TE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwBR1OfHRtM

Awesome for a zero latency experience and fantastic for guitars and microphones. Probably available around $250.

http://forum.dawbench.com/showthread.php?1548-Audio-Interface-Low-Latency-Performance-Data-Base/page13
 
 

Hi Robert,
 Thanks for the news about the Akai. I had helped a local with one of these a year or so back and remember the older drivers. That's some good news you have to share.
 
 Hi Lava,
  The KB37 format seems like it could be a great way for him to get started fast. Thanks for the idea.
 
 Hi Cactus,
   I'm a big fan of DAW bench, as it seems to focus on the more fully functional gear, but sometimes I think it seems both dated and incomplete. I've been thinking of "down grading" to a MOTU PCI-e 24 I/O and the chart reminded me why. :-)
 
 Thanks everyone.
 
 I thought I recalled there were a few cheap USB rigs that really outperformed the others for latency. The Roland boxes and the M-audio Ultras come to mind. Yes? No? Have the drivers for many of these devices achieved parity?
 

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UR44/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=none&utm_term=DSA_-_Product&adpos=1t1&device=c&network=g&gclid=CIOL68XG4L8CFehaMgodxzcAkg
 
Check out the specs.  It works with iPad too. It performs very well.

Thanks Jimmy!

My Presonus 44VSL has a 7.3ms roundtrip latency.

Thanks very much Clint.
 
That is exactly the info I am looking for and it is also the info that seems so hard to find.
 
The 44VSL was one unit I had eyeballed before posting the OP.
 
I have also been looking at the M-audio M-Track Quad and that is because I think I recall the M-Audio ultra at having ultra quick drivers.
 
May I ask; are you using a 128 sample buffer? If so, is there a 64 sample option?
 
Thanks!

I just learned that with the M-Track Quad you can only access the sample buffer size selection within the DAW. They don't have a separate driver dialog. It's unclear to me if "DAW" means Pro Tools only or if any DAW will access the sample buffer size selection.
 
Crazy.