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View Full Version : PCI vs. FireWire MOTU interfaces


mdub
03-04-2003, 06:59 PM
Aside from resolution and I/O choices, is there a performance difference (e.g., latency) between PCI-based and firewire-based audio interfaces? Particularly, for MOTU products?
cmchamp
03-04-2003, 08:45 PM
Mdub:
It all depends on how you're monitoring. If you're depending on the hardware for monitoring, the PCI424 based solution are the only ones (to my knowledge) that offer ZERO latency CueMix monitoring. If you're monitoring your vocalse, instruments, etc. from an outboard mixer, as I do, then latency really isn't an issue.
Cory
mdub
03-05-2003, 08:54 PM
So, are you saying that when you monitor tracks playing back from DP while you record another track, you don't experience any latency issues when using your external mixer setup? Am I misunderstanding you?
cmchamp
03-05-2003, 09:22 PM
Nope. I monitor the source (vocal, guitar, keyboard etc.) from the mixer (1604VLZPro or Mackie 32*8). There is no latency this way. MOTU has a MIDI/Audio timing template that takes care of the MIDI/Audio timing issues. As long as I keep monitoring my source from the mixer, there are no latency issues. There wouldn't be with either the PCI or FireWire options. The only time latency comes into account is when you are monitoring the source through the interface. The PCI 424 offers Zero Latency DSP monitoring through CueMix. The PCI324 and FireWire options also provide CueMix monitoring, but it's not "Zero" latency.

Does that help?
mdub
03-06-2003, 06:32 AM
Yes- that helps a lot
prism
03-10-2003, 02:32 PM
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think CueMix is supported on the PCI 324 under OSX with the new drivers.

Best Wishes
cmchamp
03-10-2003, 02:38 PM
Prism:
I don't know about the PCI324 drivers and OSX. I installed them, and they work great for system playback, etc, but as yet, I don't have any audio sofrware to check out. DP isn't ready for OSX yet. I wouldn't be surprised if MOTU abandoned CueMix for this card as it really wasn't that great a feature anyway. The new DSP CueMix on the 424 card I'm sure ROCKS! Can't wait to get one.
prism
03-10-2003, 08:41 PM
I'm using the MOTU 2408 mk 2 with Cubase SX in OSX.2.4 right now. Like a lot of folks, I'm waiting for an OSX version of DP. I also monitor through a mixer to eliminate the latency issue. What I've read about the new PCI 424 card for the 2408 mk 3 is impressive though. Especially for those that forego a traditional mixer in their setup.

Best Wishes