Is it possible to get a multichannel output from a laptop to a sound card or mixer but not have it in surround sound mode? I need to be able to mix or move sounds between different channels. 7 would be nice, 8 or more would be better.
I need to do this with a laptop due to it needing to be portable & easy to work with in a expo like setting.
I was thinking of having seven or eight channels of different types of sounds that I could send to different speakers. I was thinking of using the digital amps being sold over a Parts Express, but getting the sound out of the laptop was the issue. It only has headphone out so that would only be two channels. I have seen USB sound cards but they all seem to be surround based. I want to turn off the surround mode & control each channel separately.
What I really need is a multichannel preamp, but the source is the issue. Unless I used a multichannel recorder to fed the preamp's. I was hoping a laptop would be able to do this with the right software so I can look at the waveforms also. Is any of this possible, does any of it make any sense. I know what I what to do, but am not sure how to get there without spending $$$$... any thoughts appreciated.
I need to do this with a laptop due to it needing to be portable & easy to work with in a expo like setting.
I was thinking of having seven or eight channels of different types of sounds that I could send to different speakers. I was thinking of using the digital amps being sold over a Parts Express, but getting the sound out of the laptop was the issue. It only has headphone out so that would only be two channels. I have seen USB sound cards but they all seem to be surround based. I want to turn off the surround mode & control each channel separately.
What I really need is a multichannel preamp, but the source is the issue. Unless I used a multichannel recorder to fed the preamp's. I was hoping a laptop would be able to do this with the right software so I can look at the waveforms also. Is any of this possible, does any of it make any sense. I know what I what to do, but am not sure how to get there without spending $$$$... any thoughts appreciated.
If all your channels can run at the same sample rate, a regular surround card is what you need. It has several independant channels, running at the same fs.
Another question is how you can make several programs output to various channels of the same card. I have no idea in windows, in linux it is simple.
Another question is how you can make several programs output to various channels of the same card. I have no idea in windows, in linux it is simple.
You mean a USB external card or a PCI based model? Most cards I have seen have surround mode for the other channels. I have not seen a way to shut that off. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong types of cards. Any suggestions on a model?
I checked one of the other forums in crossovers but it looked like they were discussing PCI based cards more.
Tell me more about the Linux based mode. I j=have not used Linux but am will to give it a try.
I checked one of the other forums in crossovers but it looked like they were discussing PCI based cards more.
Tell me more about the Linux based mode. I j=have not used Linux but am will to give it a try.
The card itself does not know anything about "surround mode". It is simply a multichannel card. This "virtual notion" of surround is created by your playback software.
There is no difference between multichannel USB and PCI cards in this matter.
It is about configuring the linux sound layer. You can define a virtual device for each channel of your card, or for pairs, such as in .asoundrc - ALSA wiki . Of course all of these virtual devices must run at the same sample rate.
multichannel with right software
I am interested to hear about the such sound card, I am trying to find schematics online to build one myself, given that I cant afford one and also would like to learn to build everything in the sound chain... but that is another story...
About the software, simply use Max/MSP or PureData, the latter is open source, and is very very easy to send any sound to any channel anytime you want, with millions of possibilities in your hands.
Pd-extended — PD Community Site
Cycling 74
I am interested to hear about the such sound card, I am trying to find schematics online to build one myself, given that I cant afford one and also would like to learn to build everything in the sound chain... but that is another story...
About the software, simply use Max/MSP or PureData, the latter is open source, and is very very easy to send any sound to any channel anytime you want, with millions of possibilities in your hands.
Pd-extended — PD Community Site
Cycling 74
dont fool yourself into thinking it will be cheaper to build one yourself
a basic recording interface with multiple channels can be had a LOT cheaper than building a one off USB audio card that needs custom DSP or FPGA, software, perhaps dacs with analogue stages etc. this is definitely one of those times that DIY will be more expensive, given you dont even seem to need top performance so could get by with buying used.
a basic recording interface with multiple channels can be had a LOT cheaper than building a one off USB audio card that needs custom DSP or FPGA, software, perhaps dacs with analogue stages etc. this is definitely one of those times that DIY will be more expensive, given you dont even seem to need top performance so could get by with buying used.
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Its funny, because you talk about dac's and i was thinking about adc's, i guess people cannot read my mind haha... however, not only the price, but the desire to learn to craft such a thing... later i found a couple of schmatics, using chips that handle codecs already(PCM2902) , as expensive as 10 pounds per piece, and the rest of the circuitry is relatively accessible, i still think you can make it cheaper, even if you have to program it yourself, which cost nothing (time maybe)...
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