Echo Audiofire.

[Doc Jones]

been using an echo layla 24 for over 10 years now. And I still think the converters are top notch on this unit!

[Hollowcell]

Yeah the more I read, the more I find people are very happy with the converters on the Echo stuff - I mean the converters in the Audiofire 2, 4, and some of the 12s are the same as the ones used in the RME-Fireface400.

The only thing is that there are a few complaints about latency, which isn't the best for a live solution to my needs. How is the latency on your card?

[Doc Jones]

no problem there. I routinely run my Echo at 256 buffers which I think equates to about 6ms of latency. Basically not noticeable at all.

[Hollowcell]

Cool, thanks for the feedback Doc. I am actually looking forward to breaking the bonds of the studio!

[Hollowcell]

Got the Audiofire Doc, and the sound of it isn't bad at all. The only thing is I can't seem to get the latency down to what I would really like for a live setup.

On the laptop and in Ableton I am getting the following:
Input Latency: 5.08ms
Output Latency: 5.08ms
Overall Latency: 11.6ms
(these numbers are what Ableton is telling me - the Echo control panel says something much lower, but it just aint so)

Also the numbers above are on quite an intensive set that is running stable at a buffer setting of 128 and at 48k.

Any ideas on how to get this lower? And if any of you other guys are reading this, what kind of latency are you getting within Ableton?

[Doc Jones]

11ms isn't too bad, though I can understand why you would want it lower. I don't think this will make much of a difference, but I run all my audio at 24bit/44.1k. Perhaps try dropping it down to 44.1?

[Hollowcell]

Yep, dropping it down to 44.1 gives me a minimal reduction but I'm still in the 11s. To make matters worse, I put in one of my new sets last night (huge with a heap of VSTs) and I had to put the buffer up again! Live FX will be fine, but live soft-synths just isn't gunna happen.

My laptop is a C2duo XPS1210 with a couple of gig. The only thing I have to look into is what FW chipset it's running.... Bastard thing.

Again, if any of you other guys are running Firewire audio interfaces I'd be keen to hear what kind of latency Ableton is giving you.

EDIT:
Here are the numbers I am getting with the huge set that's running now:
Input Latency: 7.26
Output Latency : 7.26
Total Latency: 14.5