Audio Interface - Connecting to PC

[Samfordia]

I'm in the fairly early stages of researching my first recording set-up. I will be requiring an audio interface, monitors and a DAW.

I have noticed that there are USB, firewire and thunderbolt interfaces. As I have a PC I wish to go with a USB audio interface but I'm not sure as to how it is connected. The Focusrite range have caught my eye but they have a USB 2.0 connector. Does this mean the other end that connects to the PC is also a USB 2.0? Or can it be a 3.0?

My PC runs Windows 10, 64bit and has 8gb of RAM. From what I have read in the beginners guide this is perfectly fine.

[Zenitram]

From my understanding, USB 3 inputs at your computer accept all USB devices, so it won't be a problem. It will simply operate at the 2.0 speed (which is fine).

[Samfordia]

There's not a problem with latency when using USB 2.0 speeds?

[Zenitram]

Not in my limited experience. A good computer, which you have, and a good interface, which you're going to get, with good software (Reaper, etc.), and you'll be fine.

[DBerriff]

My Focusrite Scarlett interface works just fine off my iMac USB 3 interface. A PC should be no different. It is worth searching the Focusrite knowledge bass if you have questions.

[url="https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207546885-Latency-Issues-with-Interfaces"]https://support.focu...with-Interfaces[/url]

Edited April 30, 2016 by DBerriff

[Samfordia]

Thanks for the link. Very helpful.

[4stringslow]

I also use a Focusrite Scarlett interface on a Dell i5/3.1GHz/16GB RAM PC with Win8.1 and using Reaper DAW. As mentioned above USB3 is backward compatible and works fine with USB2 devices.

Latency is not a problem when recording as the Scarlett has a 'direct monitor' switch so you always hear exactly what you're playing, but when replaying the result there can be a slight latency issue between the track you played along to and the piece you just recorded. However, this is so easy to fix in Reaper that I've not bothered to change the audio drivers as yet.

In my previous DAW PC (winXP) I installed ASIO drivers (checkout [url="http://www.asio4all.com/"]http://www.asio4all.com/[/url] and [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Stream_Input/Output"]https://en.wikipedia...am_Input/Output[/url]) and never had any latency issues, but I was also using a Firewire audio interface so it's maybe not a fully relevant comparison.

Edited April 30, 2016 by 4stringslow