USB 3.0 & USB 3.1 Audiointerfaces / Market overview from 1.5.2021

The race between USB3.x and TB (Thunderbolt) (but is far from over. Whatever you decide for, the future will be USB4 / TB3 and therefore, apart from relying on a manufacturer with short-lived support, you cannot actually make a wrong decision when choosing the audio interface.

USB-C explained: How to get the most from it (and why it keeps getting better)
www.computerworld.com/article/2488194/usb-c-explained-how-to-get-the-most-from-it-and-why-it-keeps-getting-better.html

Spoiler: USB 3.0 (USB C) Audiointerfaces / Market overview from 1.5.2021

USB 3.0 (USB C) Audiointerfaces / Market overview from 1.5.2021

USB 3.0

Low Budget

1.) Audient iD14 MKII - 239 EUR // USB Bus-Powered /
Professional microphone preamps, good sounding AD / DA converter

2.) Steinberg UR24C - 205 EUR // USB Bus-Powered /
good sound, Direct monitoring, DSP chip for effects in monitoring

3.) Steinberg UR44C - 286 EUR // Incl. Power supply unit /
Class-A D-PRE microphone preamps, latency-free DSP-supported monitoring

Mid Budget
Steinberg UR816C - 579 EUR
Zoom UAC-8 - 594 EUR
Universal Audio Apollo Solo USB Heritage Ed. - 717 EUR
MOTU 8A AVB - 849 EUR

Prof Budget
MOTU 624 (1045 EUR)
USB 3.0 (44.1 bis 96 kHz) & Thunderbolt (44.1 bis 96 kHz)
With high-performance DAW hosts, the MOTU 624 offers a round-trip latency (RTL)
of just 1.6 ms at 96 kHz via Thunderbolt ™ - and only an unbelievable 1.9 ms via USB

RME Digiface Dante - 1299 EUR
RME Fireface UFX+ - 2198 EUR
Steinberg AXR4U - 2289 EUR

USB 3.1

ESI UGM192 - 112 EUR
- 24-Bit / 192 kHz DA and AD converter with 114dB dynamic range
- Microphone pre-amplifier with balanced 6.3 mm jack connection and switchable 48V phantom power
- Hi-Z instrument input with 6.3mm jack connection
- Line - / Headphone output with stereo 6.3mm jack connection

ESI Gigaport eX - 165 EUR
- 8 Analogue outputs (RCA -10 dBV)
- 24-bit / 192 kHz digital-to-analogue converter with 114 dB dynamic range
- 2 Separate headphone outputs

Steinberg UR22C - 149 EUR
- 2 Channel USB 3.0 Audio Interface with iPad Connectivity
- 32 Bit integer / 192 kHz
- 2 Class-A D-PRE microphone preamplifiers with +48 V phantom power
- Latency-free DSP-supported monitoring with REV-X Hall, Channel Strip and Guitar Amp Classics - also included as VST 3 and AU plug-ins
- Monitor mix control
- Mono switch
- 2 Microphone / Line combo inputs: XLR / 6.3 mm jack - Hi-Z switch at input 2 for electric guitar
- 2x Line outputs: 6.3 mm jack

Steinberg Guitar Recording Kit - 349 EUR
Recording Set:
Set specially designed for guitar recordings with interface and software amps

Set consists of:
- Steinberg UR22C Interface
- Line 6 Helix Native Software
- Cubase Artist Music Production System Software
- Cubasis LE app
- 5 m Guitar cable
- 5 Guitar picks

Features of the UR22C interface:
- USB 3.0 audio interface with iPad connectivity
- 32-Bit integer / 192 kHz
- 2 Class-A D-PRE microphone preamplifiers with +48 V phantom power
- Latency-free DSP-supported monitoring with REV-X reverb, channel strip and Guitar Amp Classics - also included as VST 3 and AU plug-ins
- Monitor mix control
- Mono switch
- 2 Microphone / line combo inputs: XLR / 6.3 mm jack - Hi-Z switch on input 2 for electric guitar
- 2 Line outputs: 6.3 mm jack
- MIDI input and output
- USB 3.0 power supply (power supply required for USB 2.0, not included)

Spoiler: USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0 - these differences exist

USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0 - these differences exist

USB 3.0 was released in November 2008 and, in comparison to USB 2.0, primarily entails higher data transfer rates.

- You can transfer data at up to 4.8 Gbit / s with USB 3.0. That is ten times faster than with USB 2.0, which has a maximum of 480 Mbit / s.

- Another advantage of USB 3.0 is that it works in full duplex. This means that data can be transmitted in both directions. With USB 2.0 you can only transfer data in one direction at a time.

- Furthermore, the maximum current strength of the USB 3.0 has been increased from 500 mA to 900 mA. This means that there is no external power supply for 2.5-inch hard drives.

- The maximum cable length for USB 3.0 is limited to 3 meters. USB 2.0 cables can be up to 5 meters long.

- You can tell by the color whether your computer has a USB 3.0 port. If the connection inside is blue, this is the case. Conversely, if it is black, it is a USB 2.0 port.

- USB 3.0 is completely backwards compatible with USB 2.0. This means that a USB 2.0 stick can also be connected to a USB 3.0 port and a USB 3.0 stick also works on a USB 2.0 port. Even with a USB 3.0 stick, the data is not transferred faster on a 2.0 port. A USB 2.0 stick benefits from slightly faster transfer rates on a USB 3.0 port.

 

Last edited: May 1, 2021

Is there any benefit by USB3.0/3.1 over 2.0? Bandwidth is not a limit, no better latencies.

 

You missed Motu 624.
8A is not a complete interface IMO.
624 is a complete interface with USB 3.1 Gen 1 (earlier called USB 3.0) speed and AVB which makes the expandibility really easy.
Also higher bandwidth = higher channel count. (not just physical channels, but even virtual channels as well)

 

Thank You. I add this to the List. Wow realy fast.

MOTU 624 (1045 EUR)
USB 3.0 (44.1 bis 96 kHz) & Thunderbolt (44.1 bis 96 kHz)
With high-performance DAW hosts, the MOTU 624 offers a round-trip latency (RTL) of just 1.6 ms at 96 kHz via Thunderbolt ™ - and only an unbelievable 1.9 ms via USB

 

A very good Question...

USB 2.0 vs USB 3.0 by Focusrite

We are often asked why there are almost no USB 3.0 audio interfaces?

The answer is simple, because although USB 3.0 offers a higher bandwidth, there are no significant advantages over the USB 2.0 protocol in terms of round trip latency.

This is not to say that the higher bandwidth of USB 3.0 is not beneficial in certain situations, but a USB 2.0 interface for our largest USB 2.0 interface, the Scarlett 18i20, offers more than enough capacity to handle 18 channels of audio at the same time and output 20 channels of audio.

Since USB 3.0 is backwards compatible to USB 2.0, USB 2.0 devices can be operated on USB 3.0 ports without any problems. This cannot be said of USB 3.0 devices that are intended to be used on USB 2.0 ports. Many current computers still mostly have USB 2.0 ports.

In summary, it can therefore be said that the USB 2.0 protocol is currently still the most efficient technology for professional multi-channel recording.

Source: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/de/articles/208820449-USB-2-0-vs-USB-3-0

Why are Focusrite Scarlett and Clarett USB interfaces USB 2.0 not USB 3.0?
https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/208095469

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THUNDERBOLT 3 AND USB-C AND WHICH SHOULD YOU USE?
https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/559...derbolt-3-and-usb-c-and-which-should-you-use/

Thunderbolt is currently the fastest connection type and about 4 times as fast as USB 3.0. As a result, Thunderbolt audio interfaces come with a high price tag and are almost exclusively found in the professional sector. Apart from the extremely fast transfer rate, there are no other special features

 

Last edited: May 1, 2021

RME on USB versions (that´s the Chief talking(@6:27)

 

USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 makes sense only if USB 2.0 doesn't suffice (means more than roughly about 74in/74out)