Below is a list comparing the overall latency numbers between the Audient iD4 and the 1st and 2nd generation Focusrite Scarlett interfaces on a Windows 7 computer.
Over the past couple of months Focusrite and Audient have both released new USB audio interfaces.
Audient released the iD4 and Focusrite released 2nd generation Scarlett interfaces, which includes six different models with varying levels of inputs and outputs.
Last month I posted a review of the 2nd gen Scarlett 2i2, along with a comparison review between the 1st gen 2i4.
The 2nd gen 2i2 has incredibly low latency, and the unit itself it quite nice, but the Windows drivers have a few bugs that still need to be worked out, so that’s why I got the Audient iD4 to try.
I’ll post a comparison review and video showing them both next week, but for this article let’s just focus on the latency differences between them.
Here’s a list of the overall latency numbers according to Ableton Live 9 using a Windows 7 64-bit computer.
Audient iD4 – Overall Latency
Audient does things differently than Focusrite when it comes to latency and buffer size settings. They have 6 separate settings for latency modes, and each has a different minimum buffer size setting:
Windows Latency Modes
Minimum
Low
Standard
Relaxed
Safe
Extra Safe
These are the lowest latency numbers using the Minimum setting:
4.9 ms at 44kHz/64 samples
4.67 ms at 48kHz/64 samples
4.9 ms at 88kHz/128 samples
4.67 ms at 96kHz/128 samples
However, the Audient iD4 won’t work when using the Minimum latency setting on my computer; it crackles constantly even at 0% CPU load, so those numbers are irrelevant to me.
The Low latency setting works well on my PC so these are the latency numbers for it at the lowest buffer size settings:
9.8 ms at 44kHz/128 samples
9.33 ms at 48kHz/128 samples
9.8 ms at 88kHz/256 samples
9.33 ms at 96kHz/256 samples
Note: The settings above work fine under a heavy load with Pro Tools 12 but for some reason I get some crackling with Ableton Live 9 when using these setting so I’m trying to figure that out. It runs smoothly in Ableton at 48kHz/256 but the latency is 14.7 ms, and that’s higher than what I can get with the 1st gen 2i4…
Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 (1st Gen) – Overall Latency
The great thing about the 1st gen 2i4 is the drivers work so well that I can run it at these highest settings below all the time even up to 90% CPU without the slightest issue.
13.5 ms at 44kHz/64 samples
12.4 ms at 48kHz/64 samples
10.4 ms at 88kHz/128 samples
9.5 ms at 96kHz/128 samples
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2nd Gen) – Overall Latency
The 2nd gen Scarlett interfaces support higher sample rates than the 1st gen models and the Audient iD4.
The highest settings on the 2nd gen 2i2:
5.31 ms at 44kHz/32 samples
5.17 ms at 48kHz/32 samples
3.85 ms at 88kHz/32 samples
3.63 ms at 96kHz/32 samples
3.08 ms at 176kHz/32 samples
3.06 ms at 192kHz/32 samples
Unlike the Audient iD4, the 2nd gen 2i2 runs fine without crackling at the highest settings so those numbers are doable with my computer. However, the CPU hit at those settings is considerable, so I usually track guitars and my Alesis e-drums at 64 samples with 7.8 ms of latency and that works very well.
Thanks you. I search too à new interface and your web site help me a lot.
My iD4 arrives on Friday so I’ll let you know then how my latency numbers stack up.
Though it’s neat that the new Focusrites can achieve lower latency.
No updates?
À latency of 8ms is a maximum for me to register guitar and have a good feeling and you ?
Yeah, I really like the 7.8 ms setting on the 2nd gen 2i2. It feels really nice and tight. But I can get by with 9.3 ms on the iD4 as well. Anything under 10 ms seems to be good for me.
I just got done doing some DI guitar sound comparisons between the 2i2 and iD4 and they both sound identical to my ears, so for now the advantage goes to Focusrite for lower latency and the fact the Scarletts can run at the highest settings and the iD4 cannot.
I have received The Roland quad capture and the interface has a total latency of 6.5 ms in sonar x3 with addictives drums and amplitube , no drops on m’y poor laptop i3. Tomorrow i put the drivers on my good deskop i5 6400 dedicated to music. Maybe the fastest setting is possible. 5.5 ms 😀
Sounds promising!
I have compare the preamp of the ur 242 against my pod ux2. The preamp of the ur242 are better ( more clean ) tomorrow i compare the preamp of the quad capture, they not seems si good thanks the Steinberg ur 22, résults tomorrow
I also got the iD4 and found the same latency issue with Ableton 9.
It definitely must be an issues with the drivers then. Hopefully they’ll fix the bug and issue an update because it’s a nice interface otherwise.
Hi, then , the Roland quad-capture is very good, latency of 5.1 ms on my i5 deskop, with amplitube and addictive drums 2 in sonar x3 . No cracking . No drops. The preamps are maybe not so clean than th 22, it’s difficul to compare.
I know what you mean, comparing them isn’t easy. Trying to get the levels and variables the exact same is a pain in the ass.