>>Do you have a budget?
>under 2k for the card
That gives us pretty many choices
>>Do you want a mixer for your XLR inputs?
>have it on witht he software already
I assume that you mean that you want to plug your gear, including mics, directly into the soundcard and thus need one with preamps. Right?
>>Is it's main use midi or audio?
>audio recording
Good, 'cause I don't now the first thing about midi.
>>How many inputs do you need?
>12-16
What are you recording that requres that many inputs? Just curious. Do you need preamps on all of those 16 ins? If so, it's probably going to be more expensive than buying a mixer and have only line ins on the soundcards. I write soundcards as I don't know of any single soundcard with 16 ins.
<snip>
>>Is it for PC or MAC, and what speed is it?
>pc i have 3 400,850, and 900
900Mhz? That will probably do
I would suggest that you check out Hoontechs Audio DSP24 sound card and the exernal boxes that you can plug into it.
Let me know how many unbalanced 1/4", balanced 1/4", XLR line and XLR with preamp and phantom power ins and outs you need.
If you need:
16 phantom powered balanced XLR ins with preams (or line in)
16 balanced XLR line out.
All 24/96.
Full duplex
Then you would need two DSP24+ADCIII+DACIII setups, which would cost about $1600 total (they just lowered the price). If you need less of some I/O types, you could get away cheaper. I have not tried the above setup so I feel a bit reluctant to recommending a $1600 system that I haven't tried. However, I have their cheaper DSP24+ADC/DAC2000 setup (same soundcard, cheaper breakout box) and it's working just fine.
However, 16 simultanious I/O in 24/96 will do nasty stuff to your hard disks so the limitation may lie there rather than in the sound card. Do you need 16 channel full duplex? If so, what the heck are you recording?
Let us know what you are going to record with this monster setup so we can be more precise in our recommendations (guesses?).
It just struck me that if you're going to do all in the computer, you only need two line outs to your monitor system, right? If so, you could get the above setup but without the DACIII boxes but just a simpler two channel unbalanced stereo line DAC box. Hoontech have those to.
Again, let us know what how you plan on using the system and it will be easier to help you.
/Ola
BWT Omnipotent, do you play Archmage by any chance?
[This message was never edited. The below text is a lie]
[This message has been edited by ola (edited 04-26-2000).]