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Re: USB vs. FireWire
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Re: USB vs. FireWire


  • Subject: Re: USB vs. FireWire
  • From: Jeff Moore <email@hidden>
  • Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 16:33:40 -0700

When comparing USB 1.1 and FireWire, FireWire is the clear winner. There really isn't any comparison presuming price isn't a factor (USB is definitely cheaper). The biggest factors that make FireWire better are the higher throughput and the much more stable and higher resolution timing.

For USB 2.0, as you say, the audio class spec is still not quite finished. From what I know, it sounds like the committee is learning from the mistakes of 1.1 as well as including some of the nice things about FireWire. That said, we won't really know if USB 2.0 will cut the mustard until the spec is finished, hardware starts shipping, and we get a chance to bring up a driver for it.

On Oct 6, 2005, at 3:16 PM, Thane Heninger wrote:

Can anyone comment on the preference of USB or Firewire for professional audio?

It would seem that USB is more ubiquitous and with high speed operation, it should work well. And yet, looking in the marketplace, the Edirol UA-101 seems to be the only product that uses USB 2.0 high-speed multi-channel, high frequency I/O. Most products use FireWire.

Is it because the USB 2.0 Audio spec has not been completed? (Speaking of which, does anyone know when it will be complete? Has it faltered in the committee?)
Are there technical hurdles that make it more difficult to bring a USB audio product to market?


Today I watched the replay of the Audio Hardware and MIDI session (205) from the last WWDC. It suggested that USB was for hobbyists and FireWire was for Pro applications. However, it was comparing the USB 1.1 speeds.

One concern we have is for maintaining our clock. Would we have more jitter on USB than FireWire?

Thank you for any comments and real world experience you can share,


--

Jeff Moore
Core Audio
Apple


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References: 
 >USB vs. FireWire (From: Thane Heninger <email@hidden>)

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