Re: [microsound] OSX recording to analog mixer?

[chthonic streams <chthonic@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

sorry for the O/T nature of this question, but...

i'm about to upgrade my studio.  i formerly used ADAT XTs, but have 
grown tired of tape-based systems (yes i know this is old news).  i 
was thinking of getting the alesis hard disk recorder, then suddenly 
i realized something:  why can't i just use my laptop as a hard disk 
recorder?

i know there's multitrack software out there for OSX, although i 
don't know what it's called (other than protools, which i'm not sure 
if i really want).  but here's my main question/problem:  i have a 
32-channel analog board i just got overhauled and lots of beloved 
outboard gear.  is there some kind of interface i can get that will 
take the multitrack output from my laptop and convert it to analog, 
still as separate tracks? in other words, it would have to have a lot 
of analog ins/outs, like the back of an HD24.

i know people would say i'm crazy for not using the automated mixing 
in a computer, but i love my board and my outboard fx.  i don't want 
it to be 100% in the digital realm, plus i want to use gear that i'm 
familiar with.  besides, i like to reach out and touch knobs, not use 
a mouse or buy some expensive control surface.

i just did a little googling and came up with a few 8-channel A/D/A 
units (behringer and RME), but i don't know if this would work if i'm 
mixing something with 24-32 tracks at once.

for example, i think i could get 3 or 4 of these: 
http://www.behringer.com/ADA8000/index.cfm?lang=ENG
and then connect them to something like the RME interface that has 
inputs for multiple ADATs, which would then connect to the computer 
via firewire.

how's the quality of these converters?  is this worth it to save a 
few hundred bucks and have all my multitrack in easily 
transportable/backup-ready form (ie, on a computer)?  or would this 
be more hassle and expense than just buying an HD24?

feel free to reply offlist if you think this is too far off-topic.


d.

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