Need More inputs

[fastsubie]

Hey all, nice site ya got here. This is my first post so, hello! I have a M-audio 24/96. I would like to add some more inputs. What would be the easiest and least $$$ way of doing it? I could get another 24/96 I guess and give me 4 inputs which should be enough for now, but I would realy like at least 4 more. Who knows what I may need 6 months for now, maybe 8? What options have I?


Thanks alot,

Fess

 

[PeteHalo]

I'd recommend a soundcard with one or multiple ADAT i/o:s and the Behringer ADA8000 8 channel mic preamp/AD/DA converter with ADAT i/o. The least expensive example that I can come up with right now is the Terratec EWS88D & ADA8000 combo that gives you 8 simultaneous analog inputs and outputs cost around $350 and if you need more than that you can put up to four of those cards in you PC for total of 32 i/o channels.

 

[fastsubie]

Thanks for the reply! Forgive my lack of knowledge but why would I need ADAT IOs? I'm not running anything to tape. Thanks again.

Fess

 

[crankz1]

ADAT I\O refers to the standard of digital transfer in where 8 channels of digital audio can be simultaneously transfered to and from ADAT equipped gear. It was originally developed for ADAT tape machines, but is now commonly used by many soundcard makers as a means of offering multiple digital I\O. The same can be found in many digital mixers and multi-channel preamps such as the ADA8000.
The most commonly used ADAT connectivity, now days, is Lightpipe in where a single fiber-optic cable is used to transmit all 8 channels one way.
Digital Pipelines should help in giving you a better understanding.
Then it's just a matter of researching what types of gear may fit your needs in terms of I\O capabilities and budget constraints.

 

[fastsubie]

Thanks for the help, I kind of get it now. What if I am using analog inputs via my mixing board though. It is a Behringer 2804A. I know it is not high end or anything but I got it for free and I think it is a quiet board. Basicaly all I use this setup for is just me and a friend or two laying down some ideas and making a small demo from time to time. I'll look into some 8 input cards even though I only realy need 4 more right now. If I had 6 I could lay down my drums with a guitar and some vocals then go back and "play around" with it in n-track if we get something nice out of "just screwing around jam type thing".

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Fess

 

[mattamatta]

Well, that behringer ada8000 or whatever the model name is, is an 8-channel preamp with built in converters and digital out.

So you could use that as analog ins, and then run the adat digital out into a card that accepts adat like one mentioned (btw, I'm very interested in taking a look at that, thanks a lot for the info).

So basically, the ADA is your mic input, and then it all goes from there digital to the card, which gets it into the computer...

You wouldn't really need your other mixer for anything, cuz you'd have 8 inputs, and each would get to the computer as a separate channel.

You could still get some use out of it for other things though, like mixing down multiple things to one input, if you need more than 8, or maybe setting up headphone/monitor mixes.

Kinda nifty stuff...

There's also more expensive pres with a/d converters, like the M-Audio Octane (the chassis looks cool! hehe), and then there's also more expensive cards with adat in, such as those by RME which have a pretty good reputation, but are also more expensive.