really easy for someone who knows:

i run a pc with an m-audio delta 66 soundcard. it's a delta 66 omni to be exact (they don't make them anymore...really stylish).

it has a breakout box with mic preamps, phantom, and decent A/D converters.

i'm about to spend about a grand on a dedicated AD/DA converter.

so my question is: if i run my signal chain from my mic, through the new A/D box, and into my delta's breakout box (which does happen to be the interface into the soundcard), am i wasting my money?

in other words, will going from the new A/D box and into the already existing A/D converter in the delta diminish my signal? if so, how do i avoid this problem.

i would think that the S/PDIF ins to my breakout box would bypass the delta's intrinsic converters.

if you're not sure, just say so. i cherish honesty, and i will cherish you (like one of my grandmas bras). hehe

thanx guys