Brad Bowman wrote Fri Jan 18 2002: >So, in short, what are the issues with USB sound cards >under Linux? In particular, does it effect latency and >realtime reliability?
I purchset Emagic's EMI 2|6 low latency USB audio interface to may laptop (fancy box with 2 inputs, 6 outputs, 1 digital in and 1 digital out). All it needed was firmware loader, which I made (I will publish it as soon as Emagic gives me right kind of copyright header to the firmware file). After firmware loading the device is handled with linux kernel usb audio driver. I haven't have any latency problems. EMI is fast enough to monitor input signal, record it and monitor allready recorded tracks same time (44.1/48kHz 16/24bit). Emi also supports hardware monitoring of input signal (on windows), but I haven't needed that so I haven't look how it is enabled on Linux. My problems have been on mixer side; OSS does not support more than 2 channel ouput and ALSA does not support USB. I am not sure how ALSA supports multiple channels, but I believe there is Linux people using more than 2 output/input channels (I mean hardware outputs/inputs). -- best regards -- tapio laxström senior software developer / iptime oy