[linux-audio-user] Multiple sound cards

Hi all, 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. Any ideas? I have even explored the 8 channel sound cards but I just know the church can't afford $500. Thanks Harold Norris