[linux-audio-dev] Re: GPL Audio Hardware

[Dave Robillard]

On Tue, 2006-04-04 at 13:22 +1000, Loki Davison wrote:
> > I know basically nothing about audio technology.  But given what
> > little I do know, here are some things that I think would be
> > relatively easy to do with OGD1 and, what shall we call it, OAC1:
> > - 60+ audio channels (pick your combination of in and out)
> > - (A specialized card could handle lots more channels)
> > - 24-bit precision per channel
> > - Sample rates in the hundreds of kilohertz
> > - Thousands of audio samples and MIDI instruments
> > - Sample-based and algorithmically-generated sound-effects
> > - Fourier analysis, band filters, mixing, and other sorts of math
> > stuff that if I could name it, you'd be impressed
> > - Noise-free signals (because we have experience with graphics)
> > - Accelerated "3D sound"
> > - Accelerated compression/decompression
> > - Lots of other things
> 
> 
> This collection sounds very consumer great. Thousands of audio samples
> and MIDI instruments? wtf? Sample-based and algorithmically-generated
> sound-effects? Accelerated "3D sound"? Accelerated
> compression/decompression? I have a big freaking cpu for that stuff.
> Sounds very soundblaster esq. Apart from the 60+ channels which sounds
> like a really, really big rack mounting. If that is on xlr plugs or
> 1/4" it's huge. Also no discussion about non-soundbasteresq stuff like
> balanced in/out, decent pre's, hi-z inputs, dat optical in/out, master
> clock and clock source, etc. I think looking at the echo layla or
> maudio 1010 is somewhat more useful to most of us than 60 channels.

Agreed.  "We" don't need a bunch of useless consumer cruft on a card.
However channels are good, don't downplay channels :).  This thing
should have as many channels as possible.  Obviously there is a physical
limit to how many you can cram in physically, but that's what lightpipe
is for.  There's many 8x8 rackmount preamps out there you could hook up
(including a nice and cheap one from Behringer)

Frankly I think 60+ channels is completely unrealistic (otherwise one
would probably exist), but what do I know.  If it's possible, hell yes
put them in there. 

FWIW, my ideal audio interface _requires_:

* As many channels as possible
* At least 1 ADAT Lightpipe in/out
* Clock sync
* Balanced everything
* Real 19" rackmount breakout box
* Good low latency operation (in Linux w/ Jack)

Without those I wouldn't even consider buying it.  Some extra stuff
would be nice though (preamps, MIDI, headphone amp, etc)

-DR-