USB 3 hubs? Even USB C?

[Dave2002]

I wonder if there are any good hubs for USB 3 (or even - for future proofing - USB C) which will work with laptops - with USB 3 or USB C.

Normally this isn't a big problem for me, but my MBP is quite powerful and actually faster at some things than my iMacs - until I lash out and buy a new one. Normally the two USB 3 ports on the MBP are enough, but for some more demanding tasks it would be good to have more - e.g. one external hard drive, one external hard drive for Time Machine, one SSD drive, one camera card reader.

Often hard drives won't work through hubs, so I'm wondering if this is just a step too far. Currently I'm switching the machine off several times an hour in order to swap drives (seems safer that way, and quite quick), but it would be good to have the drives connected "permanently". Also, when I used to use USB 2 hubs, some weren't powered, and wouldn't work well with hard drives, and maybe things haven't got any better with USB 3.

Suggestions?

[Bryn]

I wonder if there are any good hubs for USB 3 (or even - for future proofing - USB C) which will work with laptops - with USB 3 or USB C.

Normally this isn't a big problem for me, but my MBP is quite powerful and actually faster at some things than my iMacs - until I lash out and buy a new one. Normally the two USB 3 ports on the MBP are enough, but for some more demanding tasks it would be good to have more - e.g. one external hard drive, one external hard drive for Time Machine, one SSD drive, one camera card reader.

Often hard drives won't work through hubs, so I'm wondering if this is just a step too far. Currently I'm switching the machine off several times an hour in order to swap drives (seems safer that way, and quite quick), but it would be good to have the drives connected "permanently". Also, when I used to use USB 2 hubs, some weren't powered, and wouldn't work well with hard drives, and maybe things haven't got any better with USB 3.

Suggestions?

Is switching off necessary on a Mac? On WIndoze machnes one simply selects to safely remove a USB storage device without any need to shut down. Is there really no such option on your devices?

Re. USB 3 and C hubs:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=usb3+hub+laptop&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=JVRjWebxPLHA8geph4WAAQ

[MrGongGong]

When you say "switching the machine off several times an hour in order to swap drives " do you mean the whole machine ?
Why not just EJECT the external drive in the finder ?

[french frank]

Is switching off necessary on a Mac? On WIndoze machnes one simply selects to safely remove a USB storage device without any need to shut down. Is there really no such option on your devices?

Is this something I haven't understood again?

What you're describing for Windows 'Safely Remove' is the pretty much the same for a Mac via 'Eject Only' - you don't have to shut down the machine.

[french frank]

Why not just EJECT the external drive in the finder ?

Even simpler is hold down CTRL and click on the HD icon on your desktop.

[Dave2002]

I agree with all the comments re dismounting drives - and it should work, but sometimes it doesn't, and given the nature of the drives (backup, archive etc.) and data (warnings about taking out without doing it properly...) if in doubt I prefer to shut down and restart. Perhaps the problems only occur with some devices, such as card reader, or even SDHC cards pushed into the slot in the machine. Since my machine has SSD, stop and restart takes about a minute - which isn't much longer than having to play around with the devices, and hit CTRL whatever.

Now - what about the hubs?

[MrGongGong]

Now - what about the hubs?

I find that I need to directly connect external drives (and soundcards) rather than via a hub
even when I've used powered hubs they are a bit iffy and don't always work and if I'm doing a gig with all the sound coming through the laptop into a PA it's far too risky to use a hub.

My main MBP only has 2 USB ports so this can be a bit of a pain at times as well.
On the + side, I've only rarely lost anything by accidentally disconnecting things

[Richard Barrett]

I have a relatively new MBP with two USB-C ports. I carry along with it an adaptor from Hyperdrive which connects to one of these ports and contains a USB-C port of its own, two USB3 ports and an HDMI port. For performances, where there are more USB devices than this can handle, I connect one of these USB3 ports to the audio interface and the other to a powered USB hub which I already have, which in turn is connected to four MIDI controllers. The only thing wrong with the Hyperdrive adaptor is that it won't power an Apple CD/DVD drive for some reason. Regarding switching on and off, I always shut down before connecting/disconnecting the MIDI stuff because not doing so can lead to problems (not as bad as in the days of the evil OMS, but now and again Max can forget what it's supposed to be connected to), but with external drives all that's needed is to eject in Finder.

[MrGongGong]

Richard

Do you find the powered hub is 100% reliable for controllers ?
I sometimes use a Monome which can be a bit "ticklish" and "forget" mappings etc unless I use it in a very simple MIDI rather than OSC via MAX way

(sorry , all a bit OT and nerdy !)

[Richard Barrett]

Do you find the powered hub is 100% reliable for controllers ?

It has been so far, but I don't use OSC - connected to the hub are a keyboard, a QuNeo, a NanoKontrol and a CV-to-MIDI interface for pedals.

[Dave2002]

Richard

(sorry , all a bit OT and nerdy !)

Nerdy is fine by me

This doesn't help me immediately, but could in the future if I or someone else I interact with buys a new laptop or system with USB C ports. For what I have at present I really do need a hub with a USB 3 connection to an MBP. I don't think Thunderbolt will do the job, or if there are quirky devices which use Thunderbolt I'd probably need yet another adapter to interface between a hub and other USB devices.

Thanks to Richard for confirming that there are other people at least who do need to connect several devices to a laptop, even if the application is different from my own, which is video related. Perhaps the Hyperdrive device, or a similar one, might help me. Is there a model number to follow up?

[MrGongGong]

Nerdy is fine by me

This doesn't help me immediately, but could in the future if I or someone else I interact with buys a new laptop or system with USB C ports. For what I have at present I really do need a hub with a USB 3 connection to an MBP. I don't think Thunderbolt will do the job, or if there are quirky devices which use Thunderbolt I'd probably need yet another adapter to interface between a hub and other USB devices.

Thanks to Richard for confirming that there are other people at least who do need to connect several devices to a laptop, even if the application is different from my own, which is video related. Perhaps the Hyperdrive device, or a similar one, might help me. Is there a model number to follow up?

Lot's of audio interfaces are now using Thunderbolt rather than USB
but more in "higher end" makes like RME etc

http://proaudioblog.co.uk/2015/09/usb-3-vs-thunderbolt-interfaces/

[Richard Barrett]

Perhaps the Hyperdrive device, or a similar one, might help me. Is there a model number to follow up?

This is the one I have: https://www.hypershop.com/products/h...k-hdmi-support
If you go from that page to "Products" you'll see quite a range of stuff. I bought the adapter in an Apple outlet in Holland for more than the price advertised on the website because I was in a hurry, but it should be possible to get these things ordered online in the UK I would think.

[Dave2002]

Lot's of audio interfaces are now using Thunderbolt rather than USB
but more in "higher end" makes like RME etc




http://proaudioblog.co.uk/2015/09/us...lt-interfaces/

A few years ago there was a short surge in drives using Thunderbolt, but I think that may have died down with USB 3 and USB C. I'm not sure how Thunderbolt works with drives - when I looked at the documentation it seemed to me that a lot of Thunderbolt was aimed at connecting displays. Also, I'm not sure now that Thunderbolt drives are now significantly better than USB C (or 3).

[Dave2002]

This is the one I have: https://www.hypershop.com/products/h...k-hdmi-support
If you go from that page to "Products" you'll see quite a range of stuff. I bought the adapter in an Apple outlet in Holland for more than the price advertised on the website because I was in a hurry, but it should be possible to get these things ordered online in the UK I would think.

Looks great if you have a USB C port on your laptop or other device. I expect if I buy new machines in the next year or so that'll be something useful to buy. However perusing that site, it doesn't look as though the firm does any USB 3 hubs i.e. hubs to extend USB 3 ports - surely they must exist!

Thanks for the clues though.