Recording/playback simultaneously and latency

[Phyl]

Hello everyone, this is my first post as a newbie.

I'm in the process of setting up my home studio and have all the usual questions, most of which I've been able to get answered by searching the various forums on this site.

My goal is to build a system that will allow me build up songs track by track. I'll probably use Fruityloops to compose drum lines, import that into a program like Cakewalk, then add bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals one at a time. From that point I would probabaly spend some time playing with the mix, inserting effects and performing other tweaks. I've been looking at hardware like Aardvark direct pro 24/96, Aardvark Q10, MOTU 828, Digidesign mbox, Digidesign digi 001, etc...

Here's my questions:

1) All of these systems look good as far as supplying a few balanced inputs, mixer software and other goodies. The problem is that I don't understand the siginificance of the other features like S/PDIF Digital IO, headphone monitor outs versus line level monitor outs, zero latency monitoring, etc. For instance, if your unit only has a monitor output for headphones, does this mean you can't use a set of powered monitors? I guesss I really just want to know if any of these units are really not suited for what I want to do.

2) My experience with audio recording dates to the 1970 when we would record an instrument to tape, then record another instrument while listening to the first instrument, repeating this process until we were done. I suspect this is still how it is done in the digital domain except that problems like latency have to be considered. My question is, where is the playback audio usually routed to so I can hear it while I'm recording? Is is routed digitally back to my breakout box and applied to a D/A converter, then sent to the monitor jacks? Does it have to go to a some other sound card in my computer? How does this work on systems like the MOTU 828 that don't seem to have a D/A for playback purposes?

3) Any thoughts on the Pro Tools package that comes bundled with Digidesign hardware? The Digidesign Digi 001 has an auto punch footswitch for punching in bits and pieces of music, I'm not sure how you would accomplish this otherwise.

Sorry for being so long winded, but I've got a lot to learn.

Thanks,

Phil

[SPINSTERWUN]

Here is some reading info for you, my new friend.

http://www.studiocovers.com/articles.htm

[SPINSTERWUN]

Here is a glossary for you also.....


http://www.rane.com/digi-dic.html

[SPINSTERWUN]

p.s.........................

Welcome to this BBS.

[TexRoadkill]

Dont worry about latency. It's not really that much of an issue.

Your computer will function just like a regular multi track recorder with more bells and whistles.

The line outs go to the monitors and most mixers and interfaces will have line and headphone outs. You can get a mixer and hook that up to the sound card or you can just use the sound card and computer. I would recomend using a mixer for the added flexibility.

Spdif Digital outs are used if you have other gear with SPDIF so you can use a digital interface to connect them for cleaner sound.