Starting Out with some Questions

[DevilDrummer]

Alright...I've got a good PC (P4 3.06GHz), got decent memory (512MB), etc.
I just bought an M-Audio 1010LT and have a copy of Sonar 4. Now my question is, is the best way to get input to the card through a mixer, and if so, how? I'm currently contemplating either a Behringer 2442FX or a Yamaha 16/6. I've read some bad things about the quality of the Behringer board and am skeptical. Anyway, would I pull the sound from each channel via the insert (either plugged to the 1st notch (ring?) or with a stero bridged cable) or should I utilize the boards subgroups and main outs? I realize the inserts are prefader and would have to control the levels (minus head amp) from the card's panel and the subgroups would give me four channels in with an additional channel from the board's main outs (also could use effects send and monitor channels I guess) and would be post so I can control the levels from the board directly. I'm interested in recording as many tracks simultaneously as I can and controlling as much as I can with Sonar (IE, a kick track, snare track , overheads track and an all toms track on four channels and all other scratch on one channel. I think this is doable with the 4 subgroups and the main outs). Does this make the most sense or is there something I'm not thinking about? Would the inserts make the most sense? The 1010LT really only gives me 6 unbalanced inputs. I can use the 2 XLRs as ins, but I'll need some additional cabelling. Speaking of which...
Any thoughts? What about cabeling? Would a mono 1/4" to RCA snake suffice or would I need a stereo or a stereo bridged 1/4" (if such a thing exists)?
I am just getting started with home recodring but I'm an Electrical Engineer, have read quite a bit about this and have spent a lot of time in various studios so please feel free to hack away and get as technical as you'd like.
Make any recommendations for gear (mixers, snakes, etc.). I haven't bought anything but the 1010LT. I'm stuck with that but I'm more than pleased so far with it.

-Sam
www.devilstomp.net

[DevilDrummer]

Based on some other discussions I read, maybe a Soundcraft board would be better? I really don't want to spend more than say $400 for the board. Given this board though, I'm really 'stuck' to using inserts for individual channel input to Sonar right? Is this the best way to go?

-Sam
www.devilstomp.net

[manning1]

a lot of people are using yamaha mg mixer for a budget board, and tapping
off the mic channel inserts to a multiple input sound card.

[noisedude]

You seem to have done a lot of thinking - well done, and welcome to the board BTW!!

If you're stuck with unbalanced inputs then using tapped inserts will be fine. You can of course use group bussing - the advantage being that if you have a channel set up perfectly with EQ and gain etc, rather than replugging to record a second track you can send it to a different group instead.

I just got a Soundcraft M12 and am extremely happy with it, but I have gone on a journey through Behringer MX, UB and Yamaha MG on the way. Each has been a step up in sound quality, and the Yamaha and Soundcraft were also big jumps in build quality.

I would massively recommend the MGs for the money. Don't worry about looms unless you're happy to get tied down to one type of cabling. You'll end up changing your mind anyway when you decide on a better way. It's part of the fun!

[minofifa]

how many tracks did you want to record at once? I was just wondering if you have considered getting a pre amp insted of using a mixer to get preamps. if you wanted 8 preamps (+ the 2 already on the delta 1010LT for a total of 10) you could check out the m-audio octane http://www.midimanhttp://www.midiman...tane-main.html. it has 8 killer preamps with direct outs so you wouldn't need to use inserts. if you are a student or if you know a student who can buy it for you, go to www.studica.com for academic pricing. studica also has behringer and mackie mixing boads if you wanted to go that route.

[Bulls Hit]

The beauty of that 16/6-deleta1010lt combo is you have many options for recording 8 tracks simultaneously. You can use either the 6 output buses or the inserts as you indicated. You also have the option of going direct to the 2 preamps of the card.
And if 8 tracks aren't enough, you can pop another LT in for 16 tracks