ChuckC - I'm not an expert where I can cross compare units, but my experience with Focusrite has been excellent as well and I would definitely recommend the OP to give Focusrite a long look before buying something else.

If low round-trip latency is a major priority... and budget is a concern... checkout the Presonus 1818-VSL.
Less than 5ms total round-trip latency at a 64-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k (which is excellent).

If all your using it for is recording a live band or drums then the Tascam cannot be beat for price point ( $299) ...
 Drivers were terrible in the past under XP 32 bit but I have yet to hear complaints from anyone using an up to date system. The RTL is not great but I don't think any interface at this price has good RTL. If this is only for tracking live audio it will not matter anyways. 

Then return to a smaller low latency interface for your overdubs and mixing. 

Anyone knows something about the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20??


It looks very good but I have no experience with Focusrite or USB audio interfaces, I' am looking for one for myself. 

MF says it's in stock and ready to ship but sweetwater says  is expected to be available by May...

Sonico - are you going to set up on a desktop or laptop?

If it's a desktop, the unit is probably well suited to your interest.

If you're going to be on a laptop, and also you don't have a pressing need for 20 outputs, the Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 is really superb. It's also rugged and portable.

That's great news!!

Actually I'am going to using it on both desktop and laptop, My Firestudio Project works great but my new laptop doesn't have a FW input so I have to use an express card and don't like that.
Also, I've seen a tendency to USB instead of FW so I think my next audio interface will be USB.

How is the latency on the 18i6?? I' am very used to monitoring with fx while tracking and rehearsing so latency is important for me.

Sonico - you can set the latency to 2ms on the Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 - which is like zero latency for recording. You can't hear it. The accompanying software is easy to use and you can easily raise the latency for mixing etc.

Sonico - you can set the latency to 2ms on the Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 - which is like zero latency for recording.

FWIW, That 2m is just for the ASIO output buffer.
If you're monitoring thru software, round-trip latency is the sum of the following:

• ASIO input buffer
• ASIO output buffer
• Latency of the A/D and D/A converters
• The driver's hidden safety-buffer

The unit's round-trip latency is thus significantly higher than 2ms.
About the best you'll find (from any unit) is ~5ms total round-trip latency at a 64-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k

The Focusrite's forte' is quality of sound for the $
If you're looking for the lowest possible round-trip latency, there are units that go lower (RME, MOTU, Presonus VSL to name a few).

So Jim, Overall which one do you think is better between a Focusrite 18i20 and a VSL1818.

I understand that at round trip latency VSL1818 wins, but what about drivers, preamps, features, etc.

I own a Firestudio Project and I' am very happy with it but I've heard that the VSL1818 has a problem with the preamps easily overloading and difficult to set without clipping??

Thanks for your comments!!

So Jim, Overall which one do you think is better between a Focusrite 18i20 and a VSL1818. I understand that at round trip latency VSL1818 wins, but what about drivers, preamps, features, etc. I own a Firestudio Project and I' am very happy with it but I've heard that the VSL1818 has a problem with the preamps easily overloading and difficult to set without clipping??

I'd give a slight edge (slight) to the Focusrite on fidelity.
1818-VSL has the edge regarding round-trip latency.
Given those two choices, I'd take the 1818-VSL

The VSL preamps are similar (if not identical) to those used in Presonus VSL digital mixers.
These units are used in a lot of live venues to mix/record simultaneously.
We have a club/client in Nashville doing this...