Topic: Will this work? (Digiface USB, FF400, anypre)
Hello, dear people!
I've been happily using my Fireface 400 for a good while (and still using it with an on-board pcie->firewire card), however recently I think I may have to record remotely with a laptop. I have an expresscard (a TI 2213B one), but... eh, it doesn't work like the real thing.
So, what I've been thinking is this. Get a Digiface USB (so I could use it on my desktop AND any laptop I come across), use my fireface 400 in standalone mode, and have a 8 channel preamplifier for microphone inputs. This is the plan, based purely on conjecture. Now the questions.
1) Will I be able to get 16/12 channels out of this system @48/96k respectively?[(2 mic, 2 instr, 4 line FF400) + 8 mic pre]@48, [(2 mic, 2 instr FF400) + 8 micpre (2 cables)]@96k
2) What about synchronisation? Will it be necessary to do much research to set it up, or is it as easy as leaving the RMEs on Autosync and just connecting the lightpipes? (totally ignorant on the subject, sorry)
3) What could I expect performance-wise? Do I need much horsepower from my cpu to just pull those 8 or 16 channels into Cubase? More concerned about the laptop here, would an old i5 like 2520M cut it? No plugins, just all the ins safely tracked.
4) Am I seeing this completely wrong? Any other ways about it? (Digital mixers and UI24r type stage mixers I'd prefer to not touch upon at this point)
edit: 5) Regarding analog outputs. Will I be able to route the whole deal to the fireface and have the 8/4 analog outputs available for monitoring etc., or is it possible to use the headphone out of the Digiface as line output?
Thank you for your time,
George