[linux-audio-user] Multiple sound cards

[Russell Hanaghan]

Arnold Krille wrote:

>Hi,
>
>On Wednesday 08 December 2004 22:04, Pam & Harold Norris wrote:
>  
>
>>I'm not really new to either linux (4 -5 years) or linux audio (2-3
>>years) BUT I am new to getting more than one sound card to function at
>>the same time.  I'm trying to get a linux based sound system (recording
>>only) up and running for our church.  They currently have an 8 channel
>>mixer/amp and I would like to record8 analog channels in real-time.  It
>>seems everything I have tried doen't work.
>>Here's the situation:  I have alsa v 1.07 drivers, etc installed on a
>>2.4.25 kernel with the low-latency patch  I have downloaded Jack v 0.99
>>and installed it.  In conjunction with Ardour I can get either, BUT NOT
>>BOTH sound cards to record/play.
>>    
>>
>
>Short summary from the various mails on this list and from alsa-project.org: 
>It is possible via an .asoundrc but you wont get it to work with jack without 
>xruns. xruns are when one soundcard needs its new data (for playback) before 
>the other card. It happens because your soundcards won't run with _exactly_ 
>the same frequency altough all clame to to 44.1kHz/48kHz.
>
>There was a thread here (or on linux-audio-developer@?) where one disconnected 
>the quartzes from the second and third soundcard and connected them with the 
>one from the first soundcard. Another approach is syncing the cards via an 
>external digital sound signal (not timecode)...
>  
>
Problem here is any card that has this capability is at least $150 US 
last time I checked and I bought by Delta 1010LT on Ebay used for $180.00.

This is not relly feasible in terms of cheap solutions for good quality 
recordings.  Spend the money available on a cheap mixer and pre mix it 
down to stereo. God doesn't mind premixed recordings last time I asked 
him. :)

R~

>  
>
>>Any ideas?  I have even explored the 8 channel sound cards but I just
>>know the church can't afford $500.
>>    
>>
>
>I know your poblem, I just ordered for 400EUR for our church and had to ask 
>the elder for permission...
>
>God bless you,
>
>Arnold
>  
>