Totally off topic for the board.....I know....I am just desperate.  Any suggestions?  Model numbers?

Why texas Instrument? that's usually for firwire adaptors
Do you mean USB 2 or 3?

Not all USB 2.0 cards perform the same with audio.  I've heard that VIDIA USB controller cards do not offer optimum performance and should be avoided.

I think you mean "VIA" ...and yes...avoid them.  Chips are made by many...NEC, VIA...but Texas Instruments chips seem to be the best at communicating A/V stuff...dont know why.  I have searched everywhere.  No luck.

I have never heard of any recommendation for a specific chipset vendor for USB audio. The only context is the oft-repeated advice for TI chips in Firewire interfaces, and I've never been able to substantiate or even find the source of that claim. In lieu of hard facts to the contrary, I'd consider the USB chip manufacturer to be a non-issue.

I ran into the info on the Tascam support site.  I was quite surprised as well.  No vendors were listed however.  It just said to avoid VIDIA controller cards, which I think is another name for  as VIA controller cards.

In my past year and a half of scouring the net for DAW building info I have never once come across anything referring to USB requiring TI chips or anything specific really. As has been pointed out the TI thing is in regards to Firewire cards and MOBOs.

Never heard anything about USB chips either.  You should avoid on FW using cards w/ both USB and FW - tho if I had a choice I would skip them for USB audio, too.

TI chips are recommended for FW, but I've used a VIA for years w/ no problems.  I'm fixing to put it in a 64 bit computer and see how it works.  Still, today I'd buy a TI for FW.

Seems like some bad internet info on that site - hell, if they can't even get the name right I wonder about their solutions.

@

It's not that they won't work at all. Just that they are not the best choice. I also use a VIA card with one of my systems with usable performance. However IF I were having problems the VIA card would be one of the first things I would suspect. FWIW I've also used non TI firewire cards also but had more problems and crashes than with TI cards.

bitflipper


The only context is the oft-repeated advice for TI chips in Firewire interfaces, and I've never been able to substantiate or even find the source of that claim. 

Real world example here FWIW.


My old Dell laptop had an on board VIA chip set Firewire port. My Tascam FW-1884 would not work on that. Bought a TI Express Card; problem solved.


Of course now I have a new laptop with TI Firewire chipset.