I’m contemplating building a new computer and wonder what the best internal audio card with the lowest latency might be. I’m currently using MOTU M4 with my notebook because the built-in soundcard has horrible latency. I’d like to do more with an internal soundcard if I do get around to building a new desktop mini-tower.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have – when I look at the internal soundcards I don’t see any mention of latency times so I’m hoping some personal experience can give me good insight.
Hi,
first of all, you definetly need an audiointerface to manage latency issues. You are spot on about this.
RME is on of the premium choices with excellent drivers, minimal latency, and no issues at all for many years to come, especially on a Windows OS. However, this is the deluxe option which is more expensive than other routes. Having said this, Steinberg offers solid audiointerfaces, too.
What exactly do you want to do, how many input channels do you need and have you got a price range in mind?
Go for a second hand RME PCIE if you are on a budget or a new one if not. Those are the two options
RME for life!
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Why would you need an internal interface if it’s a desktop? Agreed with others though about RME although you will still need an external box for preamps
Haha, we’ve been there before…
It’s only a matter of time until this turns into a full-fledged RME vs other audiointerfaces thread… again 
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RME all the way!
The reason I’m asking is because I’m working alone, using mainly a MIDI keyboard for input, or possibly a wind-synth (both of which have USB interfaces for MIDI input). The last time I had a desktop computer I wasn’t into DAW software or audio recording, thus my question. I know that when I was first using Cubase on my notebook computer the latency of the built-in soundcard was horrible (I couldn’t play anything it because of that), which is why I got the MOTU M4 interface. The big issue wasn’t the latency with recording the MIDI data – it was in hearing back what was playing for me to play along with. The MOTU M4 solved that because I use that for the output to my headphones and I can play easily when recording new tracks.
But if I get a solid internal audio card with very low latency in output to speaker/headphones what I’m doing should be fine without the external interface.
What I’m doing is using a MIDI keyboard for input and listening to the audio output through either speakers or headphone. Using the built-in soundcard in my notebook computer the latency for playback was so horrible that I couldn’t record. That’s what I’m hoping to avoid when I get around to building a new desktop.
It seems the RME is the one everybody’s recommending so I’ll investigate that further.
Thank you everybody for your thoughts about this!
If you don’t insist on internal the RME Babyface pro fs is a great low latency USB interface with very useful assignable buttons on the front. The wheel is great as a volume control as well which is easier to reach for than a mouse.
thank you!
I used Steinberg UR22C for several years but it’s inputs are terrible. I replaced it with Arturia Minifuse 4 and it’s way better than Steinberg. If you need small form factor then you can go for Minifuse 1 or 2. It’s almost 10 times less to spend than for a Babyface.
All I can say is that I bought an RME PCIe RayDAT almost 10 years ago and have never since had to think about things like drivers, latency etc. Although it may seem expensive, the time and expense I saved that was previously spent messing around with (and having to replace) other stuff (including MOTU on Windows) made the RME a real bargain.
For future-proofing, I recently acquired an RME DigiFace USB, because I’m considering a new PC build, and modern motherboards don’t have many PCIe slots. Using this single USB2 device, I can continue to use my existing ADAT- and SPDIF-connected analog frontend kit.
And the drivers are still simply the best.
Another vote for RME. I’m using an 11 year old AIO card+Input Expansion card (so 2 slots). Big initial outlay, the things last forever.
If you have the room go for a big tower where there’s room to grow.
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One more vote for RME.
After I don’t know how many… decades? I have had to quit using my old trusty-great sounding-never a problem -Hammerfall Multiface, just because now I am using an Intel NUC so the PCI card does not fit.
But I may go back to a tower computer, in which case I will gladly keep using my old great RME.
For the win!
Unless you need to use it on a train…
Sure, but it is perfect if you don’t have to move it.
It is amazing how this hardware keeps working flawlessly after so many years and different operating systems (Windows in my case).
will echo that, RME for life, been using since 2001 and never looked back