# Do I need firewire? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597 "2008-12-10T15:46:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![byzantine](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/byzantine/32/12488_2.png) [@byzantine](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/byzantine)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597/1 "2008-12-10T15:46:51Z")
**Do I need firewire?** first of all let me introduce myself as this is my first post. I’m from Austria and started digital djing thanks to Ean Golden 😉 i was so impressed by his youtube videos that I bought myself a VCI-100 and Traktor 3. Love that combination! at the moment i use a m-audio fasttrack pro usb-card as I have no firewire interface on my notebook (HP). Now I’m planning on buying a new macbook as I think it is more reliable if I’m taking the next step to play at some small clubs in Vienna. what i wanted to ask is your hones opinion about if the combination macbook (not pro) and fasttrack pro is realiable enough? or could someone maybe suggest a usb 2.0 card which is comparable to firewire cards? I’m also doing a lot of homerecording with my Band (Rock/Pop), so the recording quality is also an issue. thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Julio](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/julio/32/14882_2.png) [@Julio](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Julio)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597/2 "2008-12-10T16:05:27Z")
Your MacBook is suitable for that work. You should have no problems whatsoever. And.. Welcome to DJTT!! ---
**Author:** ![byzantine](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/byzantine/32/12488_2.png) [@byzantine](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/byzantine)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597/3 "2008-12-10T16:12:40Z")
OK, thanks! But what about the soundcard? To be honest, I’m not 100% satisfied with the fasttrack pro, as it is only usb 1.0 which I sense when I use a lot of vst’s and effects. although when djing I’ve never had a problem with it… ---
**Author:** ![Julio](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/julio/32/14882_2.png) [@Julio](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Julio)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597/4 "2008-12-10T17:36:55Z")
Well.. USB 1.0 soundcard will not yield the same as a 2.0c card. NI Audio 8DJ (USB 2.0), the Firebox is a great card (Firewire).. besides a couple more. Also.. your budget will allow us to help you choose better.. ---
**Author:** ![BentoSan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/bentosan/32/15028_2.png) [@BentoSan](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/BentoSan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597/5 "2008-12-11T01:45:32Z")
Using lots of effects and stuff isnt going to slow anything down just because you are using a usb 1 soundcard. All that sort of processing is done inside the computer itself. If your latency is decent enough and you get a nice sound out of your card - you know what they say “if its dont broken dont fix it”. Upgrading your card will allow you to achieve lower latency and perhaps a better sound quality depending on the quality of the audio components used inside the card. ---
**Author:** ![byzantine](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/byzantine/32/12488_2.png) [@byzantine](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/byzantine)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597/6 "2008-12-15T17:02:49Z")
> [@Julio](#): > > Well.. USB 1.0 soundcard will not yield the same as a 2.0c card. > NI Audio 8DJ (USB 2.0), the Firebox is a great card (Firewire).. besides a couple more. > > Also.. your budget will allow us to help you choose better.. well I was thinking of around 300Eur (220$). Is there a possibility to find a USB2.0 card at that range that is nearly equal to a firewire-card? as i said, i need it djing AND recording. I would really love to buy the new macbook, that’s why I am asking in the first place… ---
**Author:** ![jgcamil](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/jgcamil/32/16167_2.png) [@jgcamil](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/jgcamil)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597/7 "2008-12-18T04:39:05Z")
> [@BentoSan](#): > > Using lots of effects and stuff isnt going to slow anything down just because you are using a usb 1 soundcard. All that sort of processing is done inside the computer itself. If your latency is decent enough and you get a nice sound out of your card - you know what they say “if its dont broken dont fix it”. > > Upgrading your card will allow you to achieve lower latency and perhaps a better sound quality depending on the quality of the audio components used inside the card. BentoSan, What do you consider a decent latency is? Above what value you’d say issues start to arise? I’m on an Audio 8 DJ… ---
**Author:** ![BentoSan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/bentosan/32/15028_2.png) [@BentoSan](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/BentoSan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/do-i-need-firewire/1597/8 "2008-12-18T05:10:19Z")
> [@jgcamil](#): > > BentoSan, > What do you consider a decent latency is? Above what value you’d say issues start to arise? > I’m on an Audio 8 DJ… It all depends on your system, basicly you want to aim for an overal 10ms latency - thats from the point you press the button to the time it takes the audio to come out the speakers. You will find your midi device might have 2-3ms latency so your audio latency should be under 7-8ms to make up for a total of 10ms.