I run a hybrid setup centrered on Ableton on a macbookpro as master, distributing midi to external hardware with an ERM multiclock + overbridge (for my elektrons), tracking audio back with my audio interface and listening to everithing through ableton in sync.
Considering buying a new laptop, encentially because my 2011 macbook pro is CPU limited for mixing tasks. As the new macs are becoming pricier and pricier without any significant increase in CPU horsepower, i consider switching to windows based computers.
Now my question : how is windows 10 handeling audio and midi compared to macOS?
are there known issues with windows 10 regarding computer audio in general?
i’m essentially thinking, audio/midi jitter issues, old usb 1 handling, usb for audio and midi, overbridge…
There are some old discussions about it here at elektronauts, but a late 2016 update on that matter would be interesting i think!
yeh computer midi without additional timing hardware (expert sleepers, ERM, innerclock, etc) is never going to be “super tight” but when you get to that point its generally pretty hard to notice unless you have been doing this for a while and are familiar with that “locked in” type of sound…
the audio side of things doesnt have problems, never has - unless you are using like an internal sound chip like a realtek or whatever. when making music or recording with a computer, you need a real audio interface, period - theres no way around that, dont buy into whatever marketing tells you otherwise
honestly the ideas of “superiority” regarding OSX in terms of audio is a complete and utter myth… it does handle MIDI a bit better, but not by much - and I think windows 10 is designed to reach that level as well
I also think that an audio interface with a serious driver shouldn’t be a problem with either windows or macOS, regarding audio jitter ect…the real gripes associated with the os should be minor i think…but that’s just a feeling…
Midi clock is i think the real issue. but i have an ERM multiclock that should provide a satble and synced clock and various midi messages with no problem, on either with macOS or windows.
In fact I think i’m really affraid with usb handling for audio / midi in windows, as almost everything will run through it (overbridge, midi/audio data for other synths).
I also read here that USB 1.1 devices were not correctly reconized…things like this…
Anyway, jumping to a new OS or a new computer is always risky…
any over feedback would be cool!
Native audio windows drivers suck for DAW use, but once you add an audio interface with decent drivers it performs very very well, the options are: Steinberg in the low end market and RME if you want the best. I have tried other brands and I think their ASIo drivers are subpar compared to RME and Steinberg.
When it comes to MIDI the drivers on the interface are also very important, IME RME does this very very well.
Elektron drivers seem good also, so maybe an analog heat would be a good option fo those working mainly ITB, so you get analog saturation and a good audio interface with good drivers at the same time, not bad considering the cheapest RME goes for 750 too.
USB 1.0 is a fairly garbage method of AD/DA conversion when it comes right down to it… yeh its cheap, quick, easy to implement - but if you are looking for seriously pro quality you need to stay on the edge or at least close to it… thunderbolt, USB3, firewire, PCI-e, etc. etc.
and yeh, RME is by far the best brand of audio interface Ive ever used, by a longshot… of course I have no experience with the hyper expensive stuff like Apogee and Avalon and UA and all that
The bandwith of any protocol has nothing to do with the AD/DA conversion quality, that depends on the actual converters, noise floor/headroom and analog circuit at the inputs.