What is the average life of a audio interface ?

[AdiT]

What is the average life of a audio interface?
I'm referring to the period from the moment when a interface became available till the moment when is the last compatible drivers to the operating system(windows) of that moment.
In the situation that the audio interface is fully functional but is not supported by the latest operating system.

[ConcertinaChap]

Surely it varies by maker. RME, for instance, don't walk away from an interface just because Apple has stopped supporting Firewire. Apogee, for instance, do.

Which audio interface did you have in mind?

CC

[J_J_Breeze]

If you're a Windows user, you can typically get away with not changing your operating system for long periods.

My MBox2 is eleven years old and still firing on all cylinders on Windows 7. My computer was purchased in 2009, so I guess I'll probably think about getting a new computer in three years or so and new audio interface at the same time.

So that will be about a decade of service for my computer and 14 years for my sound card.

That said, I've still got a XP laptop from 2005 putting in strong work as an editor for my old school hardware synths

[AdiT]

Which audio interface did you have in mind?
CC

I'm not referring to a specific model or brand, just thinking to an upgrade.

[molecular]

What is the average life of a audio interface?
I'm referring to the period from the moment when a interface became available till the moment when is the last compatible drivers to the operating system(windows) of that moment.
In the situation that the audio interface is fully functional but is not supported by the latest operating system.

I use a Metric Halo ULN-2 which was released 13 years ago and is still great.

It's FW port works fine over thunderbolt which sees it into the future a good long way, and when (if!) the next generation of MH devices does come out it will be mod-able at home to run over USB3 and ethernet.

[James Perrett]

As I understand it my RME interface which was first sold in 1998, will still work under 32 bit Windows 10. If you are talking about ultimate longevity then one of these days I'll try firing up my old Windows 98 machine and see if my 1992 Turtle Beach Multisound and 1995 Zefiro ZA-2 still work.

[Synthman_]

Grammar correction... What is the average life of AN audio interface?

[Sam Spoons]

Give the poor guy a break, from his profile I'd say English is not his first language.

[Dave B]

So I've been digging around and I think that my history is :

1. RME Hammerfall cards from early 2000 (I had 2). These lasted quite a few years and I gave one away to a fellow forumee and sold the other. The only reason that I got rid of them was because I got ....

2. Focusrite Saffire Pro in mid-late 2006. I got this just as it was released which was (I think) about July / August-ish. This survived a change of platform from PC to Mac (in about 2008 iirc) and stayed running for a good long time as I stabilised my system on Snow Leopard and didn't change for a few years. Even when I did change, this was in the 'we aren't updating the drivers but as it's class compliant it still appears to work fine' category.

3. Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 in August 2014. I fully expect this to last for a goodly long time and, again, I've a stable system running Mavericks and I know I can update at least once with everything just fine and dandy. Even when I bought it, this model of interface was 5 years old (so it's 7 now and climbing)

Come the day that I change again, it will probably be forced by OS changes, but I don't see that being an issue for at least another two or three years and even then, as long as my software is stable, I'll happily plod along until I _have_ to change.

So, in my case, 6 years, 8 years and probably somewhere around the same for the current... HTH

[Mixedup]

Put it this way. My RME Fireface 800 was released 12 years ago. The most recent of the regular driver updates was only a month ago. Despite the many OS updates on Win/Mac in that time, there's always been a working driver. Contrast that with the recent Apogee controversy. In short, you cannot discuss 'longevity' without considering the brand/model...

[Guido3]

I still use a MOTU Ultralite Mk1. Firewire to a Mac running Yosemite. It even worked when I tested El Capitan.

It works a treat.

[AdiT]

My RME Fireface 800 was released 12 years ago. The most recent of the regular driver updates was only a month ago. Despite the many OS updates on Win/Mac in that time, there's always been a working driver.

that's impressive

[johnny h]

My RME Fireface 800 was released 12 years ago. The most recent of the regular driver updates was only a month ago. Despite the many OS updates on Win/Mac in that time, there's always been a working driver.

that's impressive

RME are about the best at supporting their hardware. This more than justifies the comparatively high prices they charge for their products.

[ConcertinaChap]

I think that's fair comment. I replaced my Ensemble with a UAD Apollo. Time will tell if that was wise but I have hopes.

CC

[Martin Walker]

I'm still using an Echo Mia soundcard that I originally reviewed for SOS way back in 2001, so that's 15 years of use!!!!

I've hugely upgraded its output with a Dan Lavry DA10 D/A, and its input with an Audient Mico preamp and A/D, but the Mia itself is still my main audio interface

Martin

[Mixedup]

RME are about the best at supporting their hardware.

Difficult to say, as I've not used interfaces by all major manufacturers. But certainly better than most. Something that's the case partly because RME code their own drivers, instead of relying on third party drivers, which most (or certainly most budget/mid-range) interface manufacturers do. I'm sure they're not alone in this, but it's the exception rather than the rule.