Hi, IMO we should get used to USB class compliant devices _even without access to the hardware mixer_. With my new mobo (elCheapo,as well as the CPU, it's just an Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU G1840 @ 2.80GHz) I noticed that even if IRQs are shared with USB and even if it is impossible to unbind devices, even if IRQs of some components differ with each reboot, low latency without xruns is provided. I've got a RME HDEPe AIO PCIe card and a Focusrite Scarlett 2nd Gen 18i20 USB audio interface and get lower latency at 2 Periods/Buffer (dunno why some are using 3 Periods/Buffer) for the Focusrite USB, than I get with the RME PCIe card. I don't had the money to buy a RME class compliant USB device, but since I've got a job now, I much likely will replace the Focusrite with a RME USB device. Ignoring the approach of using an external mixing console for hardware monitoring, I guess access to the hardware mixer matrix, as well as to effects of the audio interface isn't really required, if latency is low enough. Those using a mixing console don't need to worry about monitoring latency and access to the audio interfaces hardware mixer at all and those not using a mixing console should consider that modern PCs with tendencies to drop PCI slots, come with improved hardware, higher RAM speed etc., so much likely software monitoring isn't an issue anymore. 2 Cents, Ralf _______________________________________________ Linux-audio-user mailing list Linux-audio-user@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user
