Rookie Hoontech (C-Port) User With Questions

[Slacker90]

Hey all,
Sorry this is longwinded, but I was hoping someone may be able to answer a few questions...
I just got the system and am currently fiddling around w/ it using Cakewalk 9 and a tape deck hooked up to two of the eight inputs on the ADC&DAC 2000 box (Don't ask why, but I don't have anything else to plug into it at the moment).

1) If I'm recording through any of the eight inputs on the ADC&DAC 2000 box, can I monitor the signal from anywhere other than the headphone jack? Right now I can't hear anything through my computer speakers even though Cakewalk is recording the signal. But when I playback what I recorded, it comes through the speakers fine.

2) The C-Port came bundled w/ a version of Logic Audio which I tried to use, but couldn't figure out how to get it to work. In the tutorial one of the first things it talks about is hooking up a midi device, of which I have none. From what I've read on the bbs it seems pretty powerful, but is it worth the headaches for someone who will be recording audio only? Should I stick w/ Cakewalk (got it from a friend) even though I don't really like it? Or should I look into Vegas which I think I've read is good for audio only? Or is there something else out there (N-Track, Cubase, CEP?)?

3) My setup is a PIII550, Soyo SY-6BA+IV MOBO, 128ram(ordered 256mb stick today, only $87 w/ shipping, hopefully I'll get it by the weekend), and a 45gig 7200rpm IBM Deskstar HD (only setup at ATA 66). Will this be enough to record eight inputs at once? What about adding effects, etc. afterwards?

Thanks again for any help. If anyone's interested, I'll post a report on how well it works (or doesn't) after the weekend.
Brian

 

[ola]

1) It's up to the SW. There should be an option for "Live monitoring" or similar. Also, you need to hook up your computer speakers to an output that can handle the bit depth/sample rate of what you're recording. If you record at 24/96, you need to have an output that can handle that as well. Any of the out on the ADC/DAC2000 works but the outs on the DSP24 itself are only 16 (or is it 18?) bit. Finally, make sure you have configured the SW to use the outs you have your computer spakers connected to.

2) Skip the sections about MIDI then. I've used the c-port together with N-Track and it works fine. I haven't tried the bundeled SW though.

3) You should be able to record 8 tracks at once w/o problems. The problems start when you play a bunch of tracks at the same time as you record 8 tracks. An ATA66 7200rpm drive goes a long way if configured correctly. As for effects - it's so dependent on what effects you're using. Some are real power hogs while other use less of your CPU. You'll have to find the limits on your system.

Good luck

/Ola

 

[Slacker90]

Ola,
Sorry for the late reply, just wanted to say thanks for the info. I'm planning on getting N-tracks soon, I tried the free version and it seems to have a fairly quick learning curve.
Brian