New gear for X1 Producer

Hi there, as Im newbe to Sonar and this forum  please forgive me simple questions.
I'm going to buy new PC and interface dedicated for X1 Producer.  I was thinking of :
mainborad: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
processor: i7 960
24 GB RAM  (windows 7 64-bit of course)
2 x 2TB Hard drives to make it as RIDE
some grapihcs.
I would really appreciate your opinions on what interface should I buy?   I need Audio  input channels (at least two),  SPDI/F-(v.important), MIDI, phantom voltage, balanced monitor outputs.  What would you recommend?
thx to yall.

coinsidering I have been using the same multiface for about 8 years and it still works great I would have yo say
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Multiface2/
 
or another one that looks cool
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Babyface/
 
 

based on your build specs i would lean towards a pcie card based system.  I would not recommend firewire(fading technology) or really USB for that matter even though I have heard great things about the babyface.  I also have a focusrite saffire I picked up this year for mobile recording.  good card but my 8yr old RME is still more stable. 
 

Since you haven't put a price on purchase I would suggest:

Lynx.  Old pci connections, newer pci(e) or usb now.  be prepared to start at $1000  - their new Hilo stereo interface is $2500.

Too rich - RME Babyface, $750.

The TC Konnekt stuff is right up there or close in sound, tho RME has better drivers.  But the Twin is FW, 4X4 w/ digital for $500.  At the bottom of the price pile but still superb sound is the Konnect 6 for $200.  I don't know if it has digital i/o, but is a stereo unit w/ one good preamp.

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I guess it depends on how many inputs you want, and what your budget is... I'd suggest going with one of the offerings from Roland Quad or octa-capture, or the V Studio 100 If you can go RME go for it too... Great drivers (Roland too) But RME is better I hear But the integration with the VStudio is nice... I have one and enjoy using it as a control surface

 
I think there may be something like 2.2ms RTL difference between the RME Babyface and the Octa-Capture BUT I know you can buy the Octa for 549 (if you ask for a discount I don't know about the RME) if not the RME will cost you 749 bucks. Plus the VS drivers are very good and the Roland stuff is made to work with Sonar... the RME has two inputs, the Octa has 8 or 10 if you count the line inputs. The Octa has 8 independent preamps, the RME has two but some say the RME pres are cleaner and the converters are better... but frankly I think this gear has gotten to the point where we may be splitting hairs until we get into a completely different price point... and even then technology has gotten so good that it is becoming hard to produce a sub standard product. I think the biggest thing, considering the tech available is the time put into the drivers... and I think both the Octa and the Babyface have excelent drivers. I think that the quad-capture and the VS-100 have the same drivers and converters as the Octa but if you look at the specs you will see slight differences. I am pretty sure that the Duo-Capture has lesser drivers and converters and maybe the VS-20 is lesser too. I am 99% sure tat the VS-100, VS-700, andOcta-Capture have comparabe drivers and converters,,, maybe te quad too. You can add 8 more preamps (with independent phantom power) by adding another Octa-Capture and the software/computer will see it as one device if you want to use ASIO drivers. You can add eight more preamps to the Babyface by adding an ADAT interface to the BF.. I am not sure but I think the computer/software will see it as one device too.
I think they both have midi I/O so a keyboard controller could either be used alone via USB with ASIO drivers but then you couldn't use the ASIO drivers (at that time) with the Octa-Capture.. but you could IIRC connect the controller through the Octa and use the OCTA ASIO drivers I assume the same with the RME.
 
So, if you need mre inputs, either ELR or TRS and independent phantom power I think the Octa would be best. If you want slightly less RTL and a little bit cleaner preamps and converters (but for 150 to 200 bucks more... but only two inputs (The RME has a hiZ input but it disables one of the XLR/TRS inputs when you use it so you still have a max of two inputs unless you add an ADAT unti).. the RME may be better.
 
I am happy with the OCTA-Capture... and if your computer will handle it your RTL will be lower with higher sample rate. From what Ihave been told RTL will be cut in half by doubling the sample rate so if youcan run 24/96 your RTL of (again IIRC) 7.2ms will drop to 3.6ms.. or there about.
 
I also like the auto sensing on the Octa-Capture... it is great for the inexperienced like me, one less thing to get wrong... at just the wrong time... and mess up everything.
I think the Octa has S/PDIF but not ADAT. I think the RME has both.
 
And again... the Octa is Roland ...Cakewalk is Roland... but, that said... I am looking at the Alpha track as a controller over the VS-100 because of the price difference... but have not decided. 
 
So... if I got some of this wrong... someone stepin and correct me, I am no expert but I have been doing my honework.
 
Anderton on the Octa=Capture http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2746804-Roland-Octa-Capture-Interface-Now-with-Conclusions
 
You might consider a smaller SS drive for X1 since it copies cllips and loops from the drives where they are stored... and use the two big drives for storing projects and files... just a thought.
Julien

Thank you all for responses! 
So, after this lesson from you all, I think I'd go RME Multiface II,  or Roland octa-capture. 
But I got  some lame questions...
There is no 48V in RME so I need some preamp to record condenser mic's right ?
And  - is the Coaxial input  at Octa-capture same thing as SPDIF ?
thx once again, You  all are very helpful!

yes with the multiface you will need a a good preamp for it.

this baby http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_octamic_2.php teamed up with a multiface 2 would be a sweet setup.  I for one would be real jealous.

I can run my Octa-capture (usb) at 24/96 at 1.0ms and 96 samples. At 24/44.1 it did the same but 48 samples. ???? Great bit of kit.

GA-X58A-UD3R

 I tried the GA-X58A-UD3R but had difficulty getting it to accept DDR3 1600 ram up to 12  so I SWITCHED To  GA-X58 ud5R. This worked better for not much more money. I also suggest an RME UC for an interface  if you only need 2 pres. rock solid clock, great drivers, pres and converters. great support. INMHO RME entry level blows the doors off the saffire stuff and much 0f the new mid to high end focurite. Ihope this helps It,s just my opinion as I've used all of these products.

I had an octa-capture but frankly it was overkill for me (no drums, just recording bass/guitar with drums all on VST).    So I decided to try Native Instrument's Komplete Audio 6

USB based, I think it has everything you need and is a magnitude less expensive.    Beyond specs, some intangible pros/cons:

pros:
Solid unit, nice and well built metal, good knobs/etc
Driver installation was a breeze
USB power, great for portability

cons:
some advanced users have complained that some internal routing options are limited
while reviews have been almost all positive, NI doesn't specialize in audio interfaces like RME

I got mine for US$265 for what it's worth