what else can i use?

[skip ransom]

i just cant think out of the box on this one.
i figured id put this post here as well...seeing as not as many people see the soundcards/computer forum.


ive got my standard dell computer no upgrades.
any software i could need.

what kind of equiptment could i use to get say 5 drum tracks into my computer onto 5 different tracks. for example snare tom tom bass cymbals.


i figured an m-box, which has 2 inputs...and i assume the usb sends those two into protools back into two tracks thats just fine.
but that doesnt seem to get me more than a left and right mixdown if i hook it up accordingly. and plus its still two inputs...and even if i mixdown alot of mics before sending it through mbox its still only two tracks in the end.

what kind of stuff could i go about looking into for multiple tracks...?

[Dags]

Delta 1010
Echo Layla 3G
MOTU 828
Digi 002
Firepod (I think that's the name of it)
....anything with 5 or more physical analogue inputs should do it (devices tend to be in configurations of 2, 4 or 8, so you'll probably have to go with an 8)

Some are PCI based, others need a firewire port connection in your computer.

Providing your software can handle multiple simultaneous inputs, each track will stay separated in the computer.

Maybe do a google search on '8 channel audio interface' and start making a list of the gear which sounds like it will work for you.
Happy hunting!

Dags

[Dani Pace]

With a Dell, first you are going to have to add a soundcard. The stock soundcards the Dell uses are a joke, even a Soundblaster would be a vast improvement. I'm not trying to badmouth Dell, all in all they aren't bad comps but their soundcards really suck, as do the stock cards in most comps. A firewire will be your best bet for the least money.

[noisewreck]

Basically what you're looking for is an audio card/interface that has 8 inputs.

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Good advice so far. You need to state a budget really. Assuming you want the cheapest of the cheap but reasonable quality your best bet would probably be the M Audio Delta 1010LT (a PCI card) combined with a yamaha MG series mixer (for mic preamps). The 1010LT has mic pres built in to ins 1 & 2 and the Yamaha MG 12/4 has 6 mic pres to patch into the other 6 ins on the 1010LT giving you 8 analog ins. The card also has MIDI and digital in/out should you ever need it.

That would set you back around $400 ($200 for the card and $200 for the mixer) plus some cables to hook it all up of course.

The Presonus firepod (a firewire interface) would set you back around $600.