Not sure if I fully understand your question but the RME Hammerfall might be your best choice for a digital I/O card. It's got 26 channels IN (3xADAT plus stereo S/PDIF) and the same OUT. Performance and latency is excellent.

In fact, I am using that card myself and have combined it with the RME ADI-8PRO as main converter system and the AEB-8I and AEB-8O add-on cards to send/return signals to external FX units and receive external signals. Works without problems.

I am using Logic Audio but it should works the same way with other software.

Hope this helps,

MisterBlue.

Buy a soundcard with at least 10 digital inputs, hook two of them to the 2 channel A/D and the other 8 to the 8 channel device. You should then be aboe to record all simultaneously.

Or you could use the 2 channel A/D as your primium channel and use the soundcard's built in converters for the other 8 channels. RME HDSP9632 is perfect for this because it has top notch conversion and expandable inputs.

To create an external send loop, you'll need a pair of unused inputs and outputs, of course. Route the output to the input of the external gear, process the signal, and route the output of the external gear back to the soundcard. Record the result in your DAW by setting the software to simultaneously play the output track and record the input track. And you may want to mute everything else so you can concentrate on that one (or ten) track(s). Now, if the external gear is analog, the you'll have a D/A-effect-A/D-computer signal chain, so make sure you use the best conversion you have available to you.

And with digital, don't underestimate the importance of clock synchronization. The better your clock signal, the better your sound. I'd suggest you buy a clock generator, if you plan on using more than two or three digital devices.

mitz

Mitz wrote:
"And with digital, don't underestimate the importance of clock synchronization. The better your clock signal, the better your sound. I'd suggest you buy a clock generator, if you plan on using more than two or three digital devices."

Will a good wordclock improve less than top notch converters too Mitz?

regards,
Macmod

Originally posted by MisterBlue:
In fact, I am using that card myself and have combined it with the RME ADI-8PRO as main converter system and the AEB-8I and AEB-8O add-on cards to send/return signals to external FX units and receive external signals. Works without problems.
MisterBlue.

What is the point of the AEB? When not just use another ADI-8IO?

d./

RME HDSP9652 + Apogee Rosetta 800 (8xAD / 8xDA) + Apogee MINI ME for example.... :) That would be a great solution....

thanks for the input guys.. I'm considering doing two of the lynx 2 C cards which will give me 12 in and 4 out which is pretty much exactly what im after. Should cost me ruffly 1900 total but Im told the converters are very nice and it a simple setup. let me know what you think about this idea. the 192 capability is a nice feature as well if I should for some reason ever need it. thanks :D

Originally posted by macmod:
Will a good wordclock improve less than top notch converters too Mitz?

regards,
Macmod

A good clock will improve the sound of pretty much any converter, provided that the clock generator is of a higher quality than the one built into the converter.

If you have a decent set of converters, and several digital sources, then a wordclock will improve your sound. If you have bottom rung converters, then you should get new converters first, because a wordclock won't turn OK converters into Apogees.

So it depends on your sitchy-ashun.

mitz

cheers Mitz,
Macmod