$ .02

most any multiport interface will do this .... the problem is (if any) setting up the routing in your prog...

Is it important to get an interface that has in-depth matrix software included or will something simple with just a driver work?
I would be nice to still use my onyx 1220 for recording and another interface for patching aux and returns to and from my DAW.
Is it possible to select more then one sound card/interface at the same time in the settings?

it may be different in this case (not sure about the mackie) but most of what i've heard reguarding multiple cards is that the drivers dont play well together but i've also heard of instances where it worked when the soundcards are of the same make...

Thanks Dementedchord. Sounds like I will have to switch between the two during each process, (recording and mixing) but thats ok.

r welcome... no problem at all... BTW in your search for sound cards make sure you find one that is full duplex... i think most are now but check to make sure... this asssures us that both the ins and outs are accessable at the same time... good luck...

If you have the firewire option with the onyxm, you should be able to route the outputs in Tracktion or whatever software you're using. It's just a matter of making assignments for input and output. In tracktion that should pretty well be drag and drop.

Hello Bassgypsy...........

I don't believe you can do that with the mackie firewire. I think that it only lets you have one main stereo output. Thats why i didn't bother with getting the firewire option when i got my onyx board.

What you are tring to do is possible. But your going through alot of conversion that's not needed. Try to utilize your outboard effects on the way into your DAW.

Peace...........Scoobie

Full duplex!!! I can't believe, I didn't notice that feature during my initial research, thanks for pointing that out to me.

Hey Scobbie, your right in that Mackie Onxy firewire only has a stereo mix return. Sweetwater included the firewire card free with the Onxy 1220 during the month of December of 2005, so it was to good to pass up $:)

As far as, converting the signal again, I have no problem with that.
With the signal being digital and using the same sample rate, I will not be degrading the signal at all, and as long as I have a clean analog signal, I see no reason why I can't have close to the same quality as the larger studio's. (as long as the d/a-a/d converter was of the same quality or better as the Onyx converter.) In fact, I have read that the top studio's are now recording @ 24bit/96khz, except for acoustic sole instruments and vocals, which are being recorded @ 24bit/192khz, and that's only because 24bit/192khz produces a longer decay time.

And as for tracktion allowing for custom routing, it does not appear so. It has a very simple layout. However, with a full-duplex interface, these features may show up. Question is, where? There are only two places I can think where it could be, main I/O settings and aux/return windows.

What Daw are you guys using and under what menus do you configure the I/O features? Have any of you done this?

I use Cubase. In the VST connetions menu (F4) I can select (send)outputs en inputs (returns) for outboard FX. That way I can use the internal FX of my 01v96 during mixdown. I do not, but I could.