trying to record 6 channels on laptop in T / T2

[ci1874]

I'm trying to simultaneously record 6 channels of audio on a laptop. I'm trying to avoid buying a 6 channel input device, so I'm using these three 2 channel devices at the same time:

M Audio Firewire Audiophile
Tascam USB 122
Echo Indigo IO

Laptop - Dell 700M (pentium M, 768ram, has a 5200rpm drive I think)

In a revelation that will surprise no one, my experiments with this configuration thus far have been dramatically unsuccessful (recording skips, devices out of synch out of synch with any more than one device).

Anyway, while I try to isolate the problem, I thought I'd ask if anyone had done anything like this (couldn't find anything in a search).

Tracktion can only see one ASIO driver at a time, right? I am only able to see all 3 devices while using Directsound.

Thanks for any comments
Ely

[pHz]

i reckon using that many independent devices is asking for trouble ... but the obvious question is whether or not you have the latency of each soundcard set the same (if not that would probably account for the sync problems) ???

... sell the m-audio and the tascam and buy a little mixer ...

slainte rob

[C00kie]

One device can utilize the USB bus much more efficiently than a couple of them. Fighting for priorty, etc... I'm not surprised you have problems!

I did recordings with two stereo PCI cards. They both had simular latencies, but in CoolEditPro I could setup a compensational delay for each device so they would always be in sync.

If you REALLY need more than 4 channels, I'd recommend to save some cash and get a ADAT cardbus card and a proper converter thingy.

[.jon]

If you want to take a risk, try installing a generic ASIO driver (Asio4All, AsioX or that Asio2KS?) and use that for all the cards.

But like said, chances are slim to get those work... What pHz suggests is ok, but you'll end up with a 2-track recording. Selling them all would get you a good way towards a multi-in interface?

[Steve Prince]

Hey ci1874,

I don't know if this is of any help but I reckon these Echo Audiofire devices are the bomb

No fancy mic pres or protools we dont need not even phantom power just heaps of balanced ins They come in an 8 or 12 channel and can be daisychained with word clock sync.

I'm getting two of these to turn our churches PC into a 24 track

Oh, and they also come with a copy of Tracktion

Steve

[IIRs]

M Audio Firewire Audiophile
Tascam USB 122
Echo Indigo IO

Do all these cards have digital I/O? If so, try designating one of them as the master, and slaving the other two to its clock. (connect the master cards digital out to the digital in of the next, and this cards didital out to the digital in of the 3rd. Now set the second two cards to external sync)

This should cure any sync problems, but would still not allow you to use ASIO drivers, so a proper multi-channel interface is still your best bet.

[ci1874]

Thanks for the comments. I have plenty of mixers; I just really need 6 channels for this project, so perhaps I will try to do some buying & selling.

Has anyone used the 6 channel Edirol FA66 with a laptop? It's cheaper than the Echo AudioFire 8, and I'd need its portability if I were going to sell the other devices.

[ci1874]

Anyone think an external 7200rpm firewire or USB2 hard drive would help? I have been looking to pick one up anyway.

[dernil]

The Mackie 400f would be a good solution if you are looking at buying something new. And it comes with a free copy of Trackiton!

[dernil]

Also, only 1 ASIO device can be active in the system at any one time, so in general it is a bad idea to try to link 3 or 4 smaller devices together using different ASIO driver. You can use several devices using WDM drivers, but there are performance issues associated with that.