JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Recording Studio and Gear Forum connecting desk to external converters

I presently have a 2 in/ 2 out sound card from emagic and I am looking around for an upgrade. I need an 8 in 8 out card lwith an external AD/DA converter ike the MOTU mk2/3 or the Aardvarkq10 etc etc. - the reason being, I'd like to record drums with a track per mic. (as you can imagine, trying to record drums on just two tracks is hard work)

However, I'm trying to imagine just what I would need. I have a 16 track, analogue, mixing desk with 4 subgroups. How would I connect to a breakout box? Would you normally go via the subs or take a direct out from each individual tracks? How do people who have bigger desks than mine (i.e. 8 subs or more) do this?

I'd be grateful for any advice concerning just how to connect the desk with the external converters (or would you just go straight into the converters?) and particularly any recommendations for semi-pro quality sound cards (I'll probably buy it second hand so recommendations for cards that are no longer available or older models are also welcome)

PS - I need at least one digital in/out if anyone is thinking of suggesting a specific card

Hi,

This is how my PC set up works. I have a Mackie 24x8-buss console. My sound card is a ADAT-EDIT card. I have 2 ADATs. One serves as my 8 ins to the card, and the other serves as my 8 outs. I am a drummer as well, so I need at least 8 ins. The Mackie serves as the preamps. I go direct out of the channels through the insert, rather than the actual direct out. Then I return only 2 tracks back through the 2nd ADAT. All via light pipe. I plan on getting two of the new Behringer 8 channel preamps. And a new card with 24 track cabability. There are times when I'd rather mix on the console, rather than with a mouse. The don't make the ADAT card anymore I think. You should be able to find them on ebay I would think. I know there are some really nice cards out there. I went this route because I knew my ADATs would eventually be worth nothing. So, I just turned them into my breakout boxes. It works really well. The metering matches up and I can still work with ADAT tape if neccesary. If you can find a USB, or Firewire product. I would go with the MOTU. I would use their preamps. What brand and model of console do you have?

Kris Karr

I have a Behringer MX2642A mixing desk.