[linux-audio-user] light multitrack recording

greetings! i'm wondering what you all would recommend as the least resource-consuming (in terms of cpu/memory usage) method for multitrack recording. i need to record 18 channels (each to its own file) of 44.1kHz float audio in a live setting, while simultaneously running some looping and FX, so i'd like to keep the recording chain as lean as possible. curiously, my tests have shown significantly lower average system load using ardour than using ecasound. i was surprised by this, having assumed that ecasound would be the solution. so now i'm wondering if other options might be even better than ardour. maybe a recorder built in pd? i do need metering, preferably with resettable peak indicators. thanks, in advance, for any advice or suggestions! -p