Best USB Hub for Music Production?

ExAsperis99

Hey, I'm in the market for a new hub. I had a Plugable 7-port hub that I chose virtually randomly and it worked flawlessly until this week, when for some reason it just gave up the ghost. It was three years old, but I literally never turned it off for most of that time, and only rarely swapped out the devices. (This week, I did rearrange my office, and maybe I unplugged it? Anyway, that was that. The little internal LED light faded, and it expired.)

The plugable folks were very helpful, but it wouldn't revive. I'm inclined to get their updated version, but is there a Perfect USB Hub I should know about?

I'm about to get an Mac Mini to share audio duties with the iPad, if that's relevant information.

symianbeatz

@ExAsperis99 said:
Hey, I'm in the market for a new hub. I had a Plugable 7-port hub that I chose virtually randomly and it worked flawlessly until this week, when for some reason it just gave up the ghost. It was three years old, but I literally never turned it off for most of that time, and only rarely swapped out the devices. (This week, I did rearrange my office, and maybe I unplugged it? Anyway, that was that. The little internal LED light faded, and it expired.)

The plugable folks were very helpful, but it wouldn't revive. I'm inclined to get their updated version, but is there a Perfect USB Hub I should know about?

I'm about to get an Mac Mini to share audio duties with the iPad, if that's relevant information.

I think you answered your own question personally, in my experience my pluggable 60w 7 port hub has definitely been the most reliable I've ever owned, it's still cracking along after about 5 years of ownership in pretty similar conditions being rarely turned off, I'd happily hand over the cash for a newer version if mine crapped out..

ExAsperis99

You're absolutely right. Done.

slicetwo

@ExAsperis99 said:
You're absolutely right. Done.

Does this hub provide power to the iPad when the iPad is acting as the host? Does it do PD like some of the portable hubs?

uncledave

@slicetwo said:

@ExAsperis99 said:
You're absolutely right. Done.

Does this hub provide power to the iPad when the iPad is acting as the host? Does it do PD like some of the portable hubs?

Looks like it does not. The host port is a conventional USB-B port, which does not include the USB-C PD signals. The host cable includes a USB-A to USB-C adapter, so it can connect to a USB-C host, but with only conventional USB features.

slicetwo

@uncledave said:

@slicetwo said:

@ExAsperis99 said:
You're absolutely right. Done.

Does this hub provide power to the iPad when the iPad is acting as the host? Does it do PD like some of the portable hubs?

Looks like it does not. The host port is a conventional USB-B port, which does not include the USB-C PD signals. The host cable includes a USB-A to USB-C adapter, so it can connect to a USB-C host, but with only conventional USB features.

Ah. I didn't realize the USB-A to C adapter meant it couldn't do PD. I guess I can use the Apple media adaptor jam to add PD.

daviddowmusic

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BroCoast

@ExAsperis99 said:
Hey, I'm in the market for a new hub. I had a Plugable 7-port hub that I chose virtually randomly and it worked flawlessly until this week, when for some reason it just gave up the ghost. It was three years old, but I literally never turned it off for most of that time, and only rarely swapped out the devices. (This week, I did rearrange my office, and maybe I unplugged it? Anyway, that was that. The little internal LED light faded, and it expired.)

The plugable folks were very helpful, but it wouldn't revive. I'm inclined to get their updated version, but is there a Perfect USB Hub I should know about?

I'm about to get an Mac Mini to share audio duties with the iPad, if that's relevant information.

If you’re getting a Mac mini then don’t worry about a hub. Just connect directly.

It’s a struggle to find a good hub that will power the pad.