
USB signal will cut out in cables longer than 16ft, but aim for using 3-6ft cables if possible. Use shorter cables: Smaller distance means faster data transfers.This includes any recording gear or audio interfaces (especially controller with built-in interfaces) Important devices get priority: Certain hardware should always be plugged directly into the computer to prevent latency.Other issues to think about when it comes to plugging your hub:
That means that the above scenario (2 controllers and a sound card) would be possible, although not recommended for data reasons.
Best usb 2 hub for mac full#
Self-powered hubs draw their energy from an AC adaptor as well as the computer, providing a full 500mA of power to each individual port. The most important feature to look for on a USB hub is if it’s self-powered or not. The end result would be a device failing to start up or intermittent audio problems.
Small controllers with moderate LEDs (like the Midi Fighter) pull around 150mAĪs you can see from the list above, 2 Midi Fighters and sound card would draw too much current if pulling from a single port. Small audio cards like the Audio 6 pull around 200mA. Large Audio Controllers with lots of LEDs (like the Kontrol S4) can demand at least 400mA. The precise power requirements of each product vary greatly so here are some rough examples of demands in various types of products: This is sufficient to power all equipment that complies with the USB rules, and can run off USB alone. It’s in the power requirements of each device that hubs start to run into trouble.Ī single USB 2.0 port on most laptops provides up to 5 volts and 500mA of power to your devices. Though mostly used to transfer data, USB is also essential in powering your studio components and giving life to all the LED’s and circuits. Many elements in the studio depend on USB power / Photo: Wikipedia Commons Currently USB 2.0 is the standard built in to most electronics, but even that is quickly becoming obsolete. USB has gone through many upgrades and changes since it first became available and many hubs can be deceiving in how up-to-date their hardware is. One of the challenges with finding the right hub lies in the fact that there are so many options. Read on for our recommendations and advice on what might be the best solution for you. It turns out that not all hubs are created equal, and some may be better suited to your needs. Almost everything that can connect to a computer now features USB – your audio interface, DJ controller, sampler, external hard drive, mixer, and other components are all competing for a limited number of ports. The easy fix is a $15 USB hub from Radio Shack, but this often leads to power and drop out problems.