What USB Soundcard/Mixer for Sonar X2 *Performance*??

I am not sure what you mean, usually what I have seen (as far as I know) is that yes the output can be more than 2 channels, but usually that is only to monitor the recording (for playback) but also that with other equipment you can have multiple inputs also but usually audio, while a midi connection in and out also is there.

http://www.rolandus.com/p.ducts/details/703/specs/

http://www.sweetwater.com..5--USB_Audio_Interfaces

http://www.sweetwater.com...lsiNDI5NDk2NzI3OSJdfX0

Mackie ProFX12
http://www.sweetwater.com...iZ216bgCFaZaMgodCAMAZw

Outputs - Main     2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4"
Outputs - Direct     No Direct Outputs
Outputs - Other     2 x RCA (Tape)

http://www.sweetwater.com/c264--Analog_Mixers

http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/studio/mixers/

http://www.sweetwater.com...kmount_MIDI_Interfaces


That is not the only on-line place, there are others but the pictures are nice and you can usually look at the back of the unit also.
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_index.php
 
Take the RME UFX just as an example. You can have 30 inputs and 30 outputs I think (I do not own one). What you get is software for the computer where you can adjust the output level (not the input level that is automatic) to monitor what was recorded, but where you put 30 output connections usually is done by optical fiber cable (TOS I think it is called) plus/or the usually left and right analog output channels so you would need more equipment for however many channels you would need.
 
That will cost more, a lot more perhaps.
Just having one unit, I really do not know, I guess you would have to view each list of different items (mixers, audio/interfaces, whatever) and see what you think you need.
 
Because like I said, I am not sure what you mean. All channels of the recording would go through the USB2.0 connection though because like RME stated, USB2.0 can handle about up to 100 channels before it can not handle anymore channels. I guess that is when you get into MADI then type equipment and can handle say like up to 192 channels in and 192 channels out, plus the SPDIF connection (2 channels) and whatever other output usually meaning like 396 or so channels altogether.
But usually that is audio, not midi, as midi is usually only one connection in and out (MIDI In and MIDI out) unless you go to a all MIDI device which I think I linked up above also. One can look around though, at anything there and read all about it also.
Oh, sometimes there may be a typing error on some of those pages, but usually not.
 
Just look at the categories under SHOP menu item up on top I think and you can view or look at all kinds of equipment.
http://www.sweetwater.com/
 
??????
 
 In other words, I doubt that you are going to find just one unit that does it all, perhaps there is, but right now, I am thinking you would need an interface, to a mixer, to output probably just left and right channels into monitors (speakers to hear it with). (which is usually mixed in Sonar back out to the audio/interface and you listen in stereo to the entire output (not needing adjustment after that).
 
 
But the recording is where in the DAW (digital audio workstation - home computer - Sonar program) you change the level volume of the different tracks to output it all together (when balanced and mixed) even out to a wave file or *.mp3 file to listen to with (if nothing else) your computer speakers - but left and right channels only.
 
You can get surround and make 5.1, 7.1 whatever surround channels recordings also and output those also with some of the equipment.
 
  If getting a USB2.0 device (firewire is probably a headache nowadays with Windows Computers - no port for firewire usually), then make sure the drivers are really good and will support all OS systems perhaps in the future - well like Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, 8.1 and they work good).
 
RME works really good for drivers, but usually that is for audio like other USB devices, sure Midi goes through that also.
 
I know this is a really lenghty post, but I am confused with what you want. An audio/interface (say like my RME Babyface) can record midi (has midi connections in and out) and also audio via USB2.0 to the computer and back out, and all of it goes in and out of the copmuter via USB2. but the audio/interface has midi connections and audio outputs and audio inputs on the unit. Need no mixer, that is done either in Sonar, or with the monitor program  - TotalMixFX program in the computer - for only monitoring the output. The input in all cases is automatic, so the levels you send the recording into the audio/interface, must be adjusted so it is neither too loud nor too soft into the computer and Sonar. And with the automatic inputs, it has way more headroom than any analog equipment back 15 years ago, when Midi connections use to be on soundcards, and more leeway for the recording, but there are also digital mixers also and probably still analog equipment also. Depends on how much you want to spend on equipment.
 
You can buy audio/interfaces that also have gain controls on them for input (volume say) but I don't think any of those work with midi, only audio in and out of the interface.
 
 
 
 

 
I guess what you need is a digital unit (perhaps analog) that you can route the signal to whatever output you want to go to, but in one unit.
Coming out from the computer out on each track could be separate getting to the unit, but after that I am not sure.
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/c126--Digital_Mixers
 
You will have to look around and see if anyone makes such a unit I guess.
I think the inputs would be separate to the mixer and then out with 2, or whatever output the mixer has (for speakers or amp + speakers).
 
http://www.motu.com/products/pciaudio/24IO/body.html
I don't think this fits.
 
Maybe someone else can help you then who knows more about those kind of units.
 
I think I know this much, if their software for the computer (drivers) allows all the outputs to be separate then you would go back (after selecting the outputs in Sonar)  into the mixer or audio/interface separate on each track but then after that, well - a mixer seems to be what you want. But then I am not sure, and do not take what I say as gospel anyway.
 
Maybe talking to a sales representative at Sweetwater or some other place on-line that sells music equipment or a local store in your area, or sending a e-mail to the company who equipment you are interested in could give you a definitive answer.
 
Even with my audio/interface (RME Babyface) on the bottom row of the image, is the outputs I can have it to, all selected in Sonar first of course. Analog 1 & 2, ADAT 1 & 2 (which is also SPDIF 1 & 2), ADAT 3 & 4, on through, or going by the second row of TotalMixFX the software playing back the audio (Sonar or Windows Media Player) the top of the graphic faders is what is coming in and the bottom can be changed to whatever output in the bottom row I want the channel to go to. (or something like that).
http://s1.directupload.net/images/130807/rw9o4w5o.jpg
 
The Control Room is the headphones out, and the analog 1 & 2 would go to the stereo amp or monitor system speakers.
Lost the other picture that showed not everything being in stereo mode but separated.
Trying to do this fast, and that does not work all the time, make mistakes.
 
Just thought of something also. A computer may only want two outputs, although it can be any two, just two outputs. So the question is can a computer actually output it on different channels and all of them at once, that I am not sure of, since I only use two outputs to begin with, analog 1 & 2. Never tried anything else, so that is really the question??
I think if you bypass Windows which the drivers may do and the kernel.dll whatever in Windows. then any number of outputs could be used in Sonar. ?? not sure though. But playback timing master for my Sonar is Analog 3&4, while recording timing master is analog 1&2. I suppose I could try that sometime, but since I do not record on any of the other inputs except analog 1&2 then I never have thought about it much before.
 
 
 
 

Yes, I just found out that I can have multiple outputs also, if I mark them in Sonar in the Output box first, and then route how I want to go with each track's output and after routing out of Sonar. In this case I had two tracks going out to ADAT 1 & 2 and routed in TotalMixFX to Ph. 3 and 4 my normal outputs for all the other tracks, and then I could adjust those two tracks in volume on the output where I wanted (how loud or soft) to hear them compared to all the other tracks lumped together on the other two ouputs I was using for all before. I suppose then I could separate up to 10 tracks in the TotalMixFX program that is part of RME drivers on the computer.
 
So if not doing it on the computer and the program there, then I suppose a mixer that does the same thing would be better for you. (if it does that and right now, that is a program from in my case RME that came with the drivers to do that)(and how many outputs you need and want on a audio/interface or mixer). It may be that the mixer can only do that with the inputs recording instead of  mixing on the output. You should check on that then.
 
I can have multiple inputs to if I have the connections. 10 out with the Babyface or something like that.
 
Of course, you know that having virtual instruments out of Sonar creates a wave file from the midi, and your computer (even fast ones) may only handle so many virtual tracks at once). (the CPU usage shoots up to 100% and trouble then trying to play it all depending on how many tracks are virtual. That I have no idea on how many all together, maybe someone else here will know, and probably will know.
 
 

Thanks guys!  I'll keep looking around.  Once I get some compositions in the can, I guess I'll have a better idea of whether I want to go with multiple audio outs or the control pad.  I was thinking the audio outs since I'll also be using some hardware synths and wanted to control them from the same desk as the VIs, but I'll keep an open mind.  I see some Behringer decks that that (I think) have midi pads along with audio inputs for mixing- maybe that's the trick.
 
Thanks again!