EDITED: pls re-read.
Do you use such high ASIO buffers at 44.1 kHz sample rate ?
If yes: then you do not need to worry much about RTT latency. Then you want simply high ASIO buffersizes for i.e. important recordings, where safety and reliability counts. High ASIO buffersizes ensure least CPU load and most stability, shall your system start a background job or other tasks concurrent to recording.
The Excel does not contain higher ASIO buffer sizes because I want to focus on those values which are especially interesting for people who need low RTT latencies of under 10ms. This is i.e. needed if you work with virtual instruments (VSTi's) like virtual guitar amps, drums, keyboards, etc. You can expect that the RTT times for higher ASIO buffer sizes are also very good, when the RTT values are excellent with smaller ASIO buffer sizes.
You do not need to be worried about system resource consumption. Every modern (not historic) PC has enough CPU power to drive a recording interface, no matter whether its Firewire, USB2/3. I only wanted to highlight this very unique feature of this card.
For me personally the HDSPe MADI FX is interesting, because I try to fine tune and optimize everything whats possible.
I am always working with a few VSTi's in my recording projects during mixing and mastering.
I was using two UFX+ and an ADI-2 Pro before, connected to my PC (one UFX+ for recording, the other one for mobile use in my guitar rack). I had no issues with that big amount of channels connecting all to this PC.
And if you see, that even projects with a large amount of tracks and VSTs (2 Cubase VSTs per track) are able to run with the UFX+ at about the same CPU load as with a RayDAT PCIe based card, then you can see that the USB drivers are in very good shape.
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … cks-de-en/
So you should IMHO 1st concentrate to pick a recording interface that serves your demand best.
Some people prefer USB some people prefer PCIe based cards, depending on their demands.
I personally don't know the MADIface USB, but it surely will also be a very nice product. I think the beauty of this recording interface is, that you simply have a TotalMix FX capable interface with only very few demands in terms of power consumption. It doesn't need to drive any headphones or does not need to provide phantom power to Mics. Looks like a straight possibility to enter MADI world with a small card that you can connect to Laptops or PCs .. powered by USB2 bus.
I can not judge about Orion/Apollo drivers, but keep in mind with RME you get
- TotalMix FX together with the drivers, TM FX is extremely well
- The new TotalMix Remote
- Digicheck tools
- with Digicheck you also get Global Record (for Windows at least) which is a light weight recording application for very reliable recording (something like Durec but on the PC)
- with MADI the ability to remote control preamps and converters without requiring additional MIDI cabling
- with the Octamic XTC nearly full integration of the device into the TM FX instance of your RME recording interface (see AUX device)
- for all other RME devices RME MIDI remote
- if you do not use MADI, then you can remote control devices via MIDI
In total: a very round and complete package and with HW/SW being maintained excellent for a very long time.
BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13