Powered USB hubs and audio quality

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Powered USB hubs and audio quality
Posted on: 12.11.2013 by Maude Milesky
I have a powered USB hub that doesn't work very well. When I run audio through it I can hear it hiccup or something. Like the latency is too low, which it isn't. I would run the audio out straight from my USB port on my computer but then I wouldn't be able to connect anything else.
Have any of you run into this problem?
Will this happen to any USB hub or am I safe buying a different one?
Any suggestions?
Neville Blackinton
14.11.2013
Originally Posted by frankle
Back to some simple fault finding ...

Plug in your hub, and your audio device ... Does it fault? If yes, find another hub or audio device, if no, plug in your next item ... Continue till the issues occur.

Also, your sig says "MBP" ... From memory they have at least 2 USB ports, what's in the other one? Try using 1 for your audio device and the other with hub and everything else?
Hahaha I was about to post the same thing til I saw yours. I have a hub and have never had a problem. I put my soundcard on it's own dedicated USB port, and then route all of the other devices (X1, CDJs, etc) through the hub.

So what is connected to the other USB port?
Nick Sakowicz
14.11.2013
Originally Posted by nem0nic
As for recommended hubs, I still use and recommend the old 7 port Cables Unlimited hub. That hub isn't available under the Cables unlimited brand anymore, but it's still available through several other brands (it's an OEM product). http://www.amazon.com/USB-2-0-7-PORT.../dp/B004Y35DRE
THIS - have five of these with no problems at all.
Cassie Sangermano
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
This keeps coming up, and I don't know what the answer is.

As a community, we MUST have a favourite MTT hub? Anyone have any idea what it is? And what a reasonable price for one is? And if a 4-port hub is more stable than a 7-port hub? (I use a 7 port powered hub that I got off eBay - I need a 7 port hub because I plug external HD's, and a mouse, and a keybaord into my laptop, before I've even plugged in any AI's or midi controllers).

Also - can you use MORE than 1 MTT hub at a time? I'd like a 4 port hub for non-audio stuff, and a 4 or 7-port hub for music stuff.
I doubt there's much of a difference between a 4-port and a 7-port, if you plugged the same 4 items into a 4 port and a 7 port I don't believe there would be much difference. Obviously plugging 7 items in will probably make things a bit worse, but I guess it depends what you're plugging in. A mouse and a keyboard aren't gonna make much difference, but 3 hard drives, 2 midi controllers and a soundcard would.

I see no reason why you couldn't use more than 1 hub at a time.

I personally use a powered 10 way hub I got from Maplins. No idea of the make (it's not a well known one like Belkin or anything), and I only use at max 5 of the sockets anyway, but most of the time it's just 3 (DMX dongle, Xone:K2 and a wireless mouse). Has worked perfectly for me so far, but then I'm not sending massive amounts of data through it.
Deloras Daisley
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by pbcrazy9898
I have a powered USB hub that doesn't work very well. When I run audio through it I can hear it hiccup or something. Like the latency is too low, which it isn't. I would run the audio out straight from my USB port on my computer but then I wouldn't be able to connect anything else.
Have any of you run into this problem?
Will this happen to any USB hub or am I safe buying a different one?
Any suggestions?
I usually run my audio directly and use the MIDI through a USB hub. USB 3.0 ports might work better for you now. But will need make sure you PC runs USB 3.0
Rochel Gleese
15.11.2013		For a MacBook Pro I always plug my audio 10 into its own jack and the HUB which has 2 x X1 and a F1 and Maschine into the other one
Alphonso Deitchman
15.11.2013		Not sure how to use the method described in that MSDN page, but my new D-Link 7 port hub (H/W Ver C1) shows up as two devices called "USB MTT 2.0 Hub" within Task Manager, as does my monitor (Dell U2412M).
Margareta Mogilevsky
15.11.2013		http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr....aspx#singlett

Finally something useful for my PC at home besides gaming ...
To find out if I have a single or multi TT hub

Before I cop it, I do use it for Ableton Live 9 Suite, Komplete 9 Ultimate and Maschine 2.0 (just upgraded) as well
Ninfa Mazariegos
14.11.2013		These "D" style USB connectors are great for mounting a USB hub inside of a rack case. https://www.parts-express.com/neutri...ickel--092-278
Alphonso Deitchman
14.11.2013		An unpowered hub can usually supply around 400 mA of current, so if the total current draw of the connected devices is below that it should work (in theory).
Ruben Stolt
14.11.2013		To use a powered hub or not all depends on wether there is a soundcard or not (I personally would always give my soundcard it's own USB port) or in case of no soundcard on the hub; how many LED's a controller has.
Alphonso Deitchman
14.11.2013		These two are working nicely with 2x CDJ 2000s, DJM 900 (sound card), and an X1. Even without the hub power supply.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005GLDAVE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0002AFZVM
Ruben Stolt
14.11.2013		Would be good to have a roundup of powered USB hubs, splitting it into two groups:

- For hanging on soundcards
- for hanging on multiple controllers without soundcard.
Neville Blackinton
14.11.2013
Originally Posted by frankle
Back to some simple fault finding ...

Plug in your hub, and your audio device ... Does it fault? If yes, find another hub or audio device, if no, plug in your next item ... Continue till the issues occur.

Also, your sig says "MBP" ... From memory they have at least 2 USB ports, what's in the other one? Try using 1 for your audio device and the other with hub and everything else?
Hahaha I was about to post the same thing til I saw yours. I have a hub and have never had a problem. I put my soundcard on it's own dedicated USB port, and then route all of the other devices (X1, CDJs, etc) through the hub.

So what is connected to the other USB port?
Alphonso Deitchman
14.11.2013		So there's nothing you can buy from Amazon UK for example? The only option is to buy generic OEM hubs imported from the US?
Nick Sakowicz
14.11.2013
Originally Posted by nem0nic
As for recommended hubs, I still use and recommend the old 7 port Cables Unlimited hub. That hub isn't available under the Cables unlimited brand anymore, but it's still available through several other brands (it's an OEM product). http://www.amazon.com/USB-2-0-7-PORT.../dp/B004Y35DRE
THIS - have five of these with no problems at all.
Diogo Dj Dragão
14.11.2013		For those who want to understand the difference between a multi-TT and single-TT hub, this is still a great reference - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ology,677.html

As for recommended hubs, I still use and recommend the old 7 port Cables Unlimited hub. That hub isn't available under the Cables unlimited brand anymore, but it's still available through several other brands (it's an OEM product). http://www.amazon.com/USB-2-0-7-PORT.../dp/B004Y35DRE

I've also used this smaller hub in several projects and have no complaints. It's easy to hide, it can be taken apart and placed into other devices, and performs well. http://www.amazon.com/USB-Ports-Mult.../dp/B004AXAZU8
Monroe Vandeslunt
13.11.2013		USB PCI-E card into thunderbolt enclosure to thunderbolt...

0 bandwidth issues, low latency link, powered
Normand Kaminsky
13.11.2013		I have some no named brand 7 port powered hub that works well and i use it with hard drives and midi controlers (dicers, x1, ipad but not all at once)

i also have the beatport non-powered hub that i have run the same things plus CDJ2000s in hid and never had a problem with.
Cassie Sangermano
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
This keeps coming up, and I don't know what the answer is.

As a community, we MUST have a favourite MTT hub? Anyone have any idea what it is? And what a reasonable price for one is? And if a 4-port hub is more stable than a 7-port hub? (I use a 7 port powered hub that I got off eBay - I need a 7 port hub because I plug external HD's, and a mouse, and a keybaord into my laptop, before I've even plugged in any AI's or midi controllers).

Also - can you use MORE than 1 MTT hub at a time? I'd like a 4 port hub for non-audio stuff, and a 4 or 7-port hub for music stuff.
I doubt there's much of a difference between a 4-port and a 7-port, if you plugged the same 4 items into a 4 port and a 7 port I don't believe there would be much difference. Obviously plugging 7 items in will probably make things a bit worse, but I guess it depends what you're plugging in. A mouse and a keyboard aren't gonna make much difference, but 3 hard drives, 2 midi controllers and a soundcard would.

I see no reason why you couldn't use more than 1 hub at a time.

I personally use a powered 10 way hub I got from Maplins. No idea of the make (it's not a well known one like Belkin or anything), and I only use at max 5 of the sockets anyway, but most of the time it's just 3 (DMX dongle, Xone:K2 and a wireless mouse). Has worked perfectly for me so far, but then I'm not sending massive amounts of data through it.
Deloras Daisley
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by pbcrazy9898
I have a powered USB hub that doesn't work very well. When I run audio through it I can hear it hiccup or something. Like the latency is too low, which it isn't. I would run the audio out straight from my USB port on my computer but then I wouldn't be able to connect anything else.
Have any of you run into this problem?
Will this happen to any USB hub or am I safe buying a different one?
Any suggestions?
I usually run my audio directly and use the MIDI through a USB hub. USB 3.0 ports might work better for you now. But will need make sure you PC runs USB 3.0
Brunilda Kora
13.11.2013		This keeps coming up, and I don't know what the answer is.

As a community, we MUST have a favourite MTT hub? Anyone have any idea what it is? And what a reasonable price for one is? And if a 4-port hub is more stable than a 7-port hub? (I use a 7 port powered hub that I got off eBay - I need a 7 port hub because I plug external HD's, and a mouse, and a keybaord into my laptop, before I've even plugged in any AI's or midi controllers).

Also - can you use MORE than 1 MTT hub at a time? I'd like a 4 port hub for non-audio stuff, and a 4 or 7-port hub for music stuff.
Alphonso Deitchman
13.11.2013		Do you know of any Multi-TT hubs coming from reputable companies (+retailers) that have decent build quality?
Diogo Dj Dragão
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by makar1
MTT is only significant if you are using USB 1.1 devices
Let me add to what tunecrew said. The other good thing about getting a Multi-TT hub is that it's less likely to be a shit product. If the manufacturer has dedicated to using a TT chip for every port instead of going with the cheapest possible solution, chances are good that they didn't skimp in other areas as well. For all the talk about them in the audio world, the reality is that most customers don't know a TT from a hole in the wall, and Multi-TT hubs are a fairly niche product. So when someone builds one, it's generally a nod to quality.
Margareta Mogilevsky
13.11.2013		Back to some simple fault finding ...

Plug in your hub, and your audio device ... Does it fault? If yes, find another hub or audio device, if no, plug in your next item ... Continue till the issues occur.

Also, your sig says "MBP" ... From memory they have at least 2 USB ports, what's in the other one? Try using 1 for your audio device and the other with hub and everything else?

Oh yeah, I've got 2 of these now, 1 for each residency with a specific set of USB cables the right length:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Premi.../dp/B000RZUV9S

Friday evening I have the following plugged in:
2 x X1mk2, 1 x F1, TA10 (or Fireface UC)

Saturday evening :
2 x X1mk2, 1 x F1, DJM850

I have absolutely no issues running Traktor at 48k, 192 samples latency on my MacBook Air, and I use the hub without the power supply.
Nick Sakowicz
12.11.2013
Originally Posted by makar1
MTT is only significant if you are using USB 1.1 devices
yes, and there are widely used MIDI and audio devices that are USB 1.1 - Novation Dicers and Rane SL1 for example
Alphonso Deitchman
12.11.2013		MTT is only significant if you are using USB 1.1 devices
Nick Sakowicz
12.11.2013		Once it is USB 2.0 and powered, there is only one consideration - is it MTT (Multiple Transaction Translator) or STT? You want MTT, but most hubs are not MTT. Google it and you will find more about why.
Letitia Sehlhorst
12.11.2013		keep in mind that using a USB hub means you are sharing the total bandwidth of what would normally be used by only one port with whatever you have hooked into it. Audio interfaces need a lot of bandwidth to function properly, so a different hub probably won't help you. If you can, plug your audio interface into a port directly on your computer, and use the other port to connect a hub for whatever else you need.
Alphonso Deitchman
12.11.2013		I use this mini hub for my CDJs and haven't had any audio issues
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-4-Por.../dp/B005GLDAVE

Otherwise, this powered hub seems to be the most popular for DJing use
http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Link-DUB-H.../dp/B0002AFZVM

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