Am i doomed with my usb 2

[joeldenizot]

Hi guys,

I've got a macbook 5.1 that i bought in 2009. It's got 2 usb 2.0 ports. I am in audio and have been working in large studios but now am trying to bring my work home and I need some speedy data. Will i lose quality from a firewire conversion to usb? Is it possible to install a firewire card into my macbook? would that be worth it?

thanks alot,

-joel

 

[simsaladimbamba]

There is no Firewire to USB converter or adapter and no, you can't install any Firewire on your MB.
If you need/want Firewire, you have to get another Mac or computer.

 

[arjen92]

If with quality wise you mean the sound will sound worse, no. It will only make things slower. Which might make the sound sound worse while working on it. But once exported it should be fine.

 

[joeldenizot]

There is no Firewire to USB converter or adapter and no, you can't install any Firewire on your MB.
If you need/want Firewire, you have to get another Mac or computer.

Your wrong señor, there are several different kinds of firewire to usb converters....

So i guess moving on, Whats the quantity difference in quality comparatively between usb 2, firewire? Essentially is it worth buying a new computer for that difference in quality?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Your wrong señor, there are several different kinds of firewire to usb converters....

Then please link to them.

Btw, if they exist, they are limited to the lowest interface, thus a Firewire 800 to USB 2.0 converter will be limited to USB 2.0 speeds.

So i guess moving on, Whats the quantity difference in quality comparatively between usb 2, firewire? Essentially is it worth buying a new computer for that difference in quality?

USB 2.0 offers a maximum of 35-37 MB/s read/write speeds, but not in a constant stream, only in bursts. It also goes via the CPU.
Firewire has its own controller, thus it is CPU-independent.
Firewire offers a constant stream.
Firewire offers read/write speeds from 35 MB/s (FW400) to 65-75 MB/S (FW800).