[13:25] <Glorfindel> Any recommendations for an audio interface for XLR and ¼ inch plugs? Looking for something cheapish
[13:25] <Glorfindel> And USB preferably
[18:04] <OvenWerks> Glorfindel: assuming 2 channels is enough... The ART project series USB Dual Pre comes to mind.
[18:06] <OvenWerks> Also the Tube MP though that is only 1 channel if better sounding. They used to sell a USB Dual Tube Pre which I use.
[18:07] <OvenWerks> These all work fine down to less than 5ms latency (jack set to 64/2) ok. They are 16 bit USB 1.1 and just work with any HW I have tried.
[18:15] <OvenWerks> The next step up is pretty much the Presonus 1818VSL though there are other models with fewer inputs and outputs. It is 24bit USB2.0. With any USB audio IF I would read: https://community.ardour.org/node/8833?page=1 In particular the last three or so messages.
[18:16] <OvenWerks> It seems USB chipsets do matter for low latency audio... Intel and VIA = bad and NEC is good (TI may be good too.
[18:18] <OvenWerks> These are the USB chips on the Mother Board and with a desktop may require a good PCIe USB board to get around. For a lap top... outa luck probably for low latency sound... use higher latency.
[18:20] <OvenWerks> There are USB3 Audio interfaces.... but the price is generally $900 +
[18:20] <Glorfindel> OvenWerks: Thanks for replying!  I'd almost given up hope for this channel :D
[18:21] <OvenWerks> Glorfindel: we are not that active... sorry.
[18:21] <Glorfindel> I'm hoping for 2 channels at least, 4 would be better
[18:22] <Glorfindel> Na, I know how that is ;)
[18:22] <OvenWerks> Glorfindel: in general any USB 2.0 inteface that says it is USB2.0 compliant will work. Look for ones that do not require drivers for OSx.
[18:23] <Glorfindel> Ok
[18:23] <Glorfindel> Reading backlog one second
[18:25] <Glorfindel> What are the drawbacks of high latency?
[18:25] <OvenWerks> Glorfindel: for recording none really.
[18:26] <OvenWerks> for using the computer as a guitar effect anything above 128/2 is hard to play with.
[18:26] <OvenWerks>  same with using the computer as a live synth.
[18:26] <Glorfindel> Ahhh, ok. This use case is recording
[18:27] <OvenWerks> So basically for studio use high is fine and uses less cpu anyway.
[18:27] <OvenWerks> for stage use low latency is mandatory.
[18:28] <Glorfindel> Though I was thinking maybe I could route the audio through ardour and then back to a powered mixer for amplification
[18:29] <Glorfindel> This is for a small church so just vocals anyway
[18:30] <OvenWerks> Glorfindel: I play bass and find that by the time I get 30 feet from the stage (with a long cord) It affects my playing. I can hear the delay from when I play to when I hear and it is hard on timing.
[18:31] <OvenWerks> Singers may be different. But less than 10ms round trip seems to be ok from what I can tell.
[18:31] <Glorfindel> The speakers are 30 feet away too?
[18:31] <OvenWerks> Ya, I walk back to do sound sometimes.
[18:32] <OvenWerks> (when practicing)
[18:32] <OvenWerks> (also a small church BTW)
[18:32] <Glorfindel> From what I've read that's normal, 1ms of latency per foot
[18:33] <OvenWerks> But if you are recording only from the mixer and the vocalists are hearing themselves from the mixer (not the sound card) then it is no problem.
[18:34] <OvenWerks> We just use the builtin HDA Audio interface to record in our case)
[18:35] <OvenWerks> I use Aux6 (aux1 - 4 monitors aux 5 FX) to record at about 12 dB down.
[18:36] <Glorfindel> Well, what I had in mind is rather complicated and I'm using a phone, so sometime I'll get on a pc and explain, but I was going to go to pc -> tweak -> mixer as amp -> output
[18:37] <Glorfindel> Because I would need more aux outputs than I have otherwise
[18:37] <OvenWerks> Only thing to do is try.
[18:38] <OvenWerks> If you can get jack to run at 128/2 or better 64/2 you should be fine.
[18:38] <Glorfindel> I'd rather know if it's likely to work before I buy equipment... ;)
[18:38] <Glorfindel> Ok
[18:38] <Glorfindel> Thanks for your help! :)
[18:39] <OvenWerks> if you have more than one USB port on the computer, try them all for lowest xruns. It does make a difference.
[18:40] <OvenWerks> The first unit I meantioned was able to run at 64/2 on an old atom netbook (single core) with no xruns
[18:41] <OvenWerks>  I did have to make sure to use the right hand USB port and leave the second USB port on that side empty. But I could still use the USB port on the left side for other stuff.
[18:41] <OvenWerks> Glorfindel: My general practice is to take my computer to the music store and try before I buy. Good music stores will always say yes.
[18:48] <Glorfindel> I wasn't planning on going to a music store actually, eBay ;)
[18:48] <Glorfindel> I should look around, see if there are any in my area
[18:50] <OvenWerks> The place I buy has at least a one year it gets fixed no matter why it died. (spilled coffee on it included)
[18:52] <OvenWerks> (long and mquade in Canada)
[19:01] <Glorfindel> Oh nice