On Wed, Apr 05, 2006 at 07:56:23PM -0400, Dave Robillard wrote: > Agreed. "We" don't need a bunch of useless consumer cruft on a card. > However channels are good, don't downplay channels :). This thing > should have as many channels as possible. Obviously there is a physical > limit to how many you can cram in physically, but that's what lightpipe > is for. There's many 8x8 rackmount preamps out there you could hook up > (including a nice and cheap one from Behringer)
Has anyone ever tried to build a lightpipe device? I'm not sure you can get the recievers or transmitters for them for building open or hobbiest devices, but would love to hear otherwise. > Frankly I think 60+ channels is completely unrealistic (otherwise one > would probably exist), but what do I know. If it's possible, hell yes > put them in there. I have a 2U box next to me that supports 80 channels in AND out, while still having 20 some connectors for other things. Furthermore, this box has a networking system that puts 64 complete AES channels on coax ring network. This box is all digital audio in and out, not analog. I think this box is a clean indication that it should be feasible to have at least 80 channels in and out from a system that uses a single PCI card and a 2U breakout box. If you want XLR analog, that would probably require more space. I see a lot of pro audio equipment that uses custom wired connectors, but I don't like them. Heck, if one had the specs forthe token ring network used (which is a custom one), one might be able to create a PCI card to do just that reusing the rest of the box. But the company that makes it has no interest in doing such a thing, so someone else probably needs to start from scratch. > FWIW, my ideal audio interface _requires_: > > * As many channels as possible > * At least 1 ADAT Lightpipe in/out > * Clock sync Sure, but why not also ask for it to be able to operate as the master and offer a word clock output to other gear. Or perhaps offer the avility to sync to blackburst coming in and still drive a synced word clock going out. > * Balanced everything I think balanced for digital is overrated. I may be strange, but I prefer coax for digital audio. And I mean real coax with BNCs, not coax with RCA connectors. BNCs are used for word clocks, so why not stick with them for the rest of the digital audio gear? > * Real 19" rackmount breakout box Any such system should be laughed at if it doesn't at least offer that as an option. -- Joshua D. Boyd [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.jdboyd.net/ http://www.joshuaboyd.org/
