Sends (Bus?) stream to external Hard Disk Recorder. Input Echo, live performance!

Hello and thanks for looking....maybe you have some ideas
 
What am I trying to accomplish.....
 
I am planning to track (live performance) 32-channels into Sonar (32-bit).  My intention is to have a Hard Disk Recorder backup (Mackie HDR) Sonar.  My sound card is a Presonus Lightpipe which uses lightpipe I/O.  The preamps feeding the Presonus are Focusrite OCTO Pre MKII. 
 
I am using Sonar to lay down tracks as well as (PRE fader) route 24 of the tracks into the Mackie HDR;  via Presonus lightpipe outputs.  The Presonus audio driver/control panel is typical of most interfaces, except instead of XLR I/O it uses lightpipe. 
 
My understanding (maybe it's my workflow) is that the only way that I am able to route the PRE fader signal out to the HDR via the soundcard is to set up a SEND on each track and route the SEND to the respective output on the Presonus interface. 
 
Yes, I am able to get this scenario to work, however, it requires INPUT ECHO to be enabled for each channel to transfer the signal to the HDR.  This concerns me, because I am afraid this may load down my PC (ADK Pro 9000, WinXP, 4G DDR3) too much.  I know with 32-Sonar tracks enabled (INPUT ECHO ENABLED) the PC can become unstable.  I've been changing ASIO buffer sizes with varying results (max buffer size is the best). 
 
I don't care about latency because I am just tracking and concerned only with getting the best input signals and not have the computer become unstable.
 
That's my scenario. 
 
Are using SENDS and INPUT ECHO enabled the only way to get signals (within Sonar) to the HDR?  As I mentioned, I am most concerned with having to use INPUT ECHO (which places a big load on the system).
 
Thanks for your insights.....ideas are welcome
 
 
 
 
 

Thanks Beagle...I'll give the bus shot. 

I'll test by inserting one bus to see if a signal can be sent thru the Presonus to the HDR without having to enable INPUT ECHO.  If this works, then I guess I will need 24-bus.  It seems kinda extreme. 

Does INPUT ECHO work differently on bus outputs then just having a send to the Presonus directly?

Thanks again :-)

Thanks johnnyV,
 
Actually, you are correct.  The more I thought about the setup, I realized that if I was taking the lightpipe outputs from the Presonus (which were fed by Sonar) and Sonar/PC crashed,  I would lose the Presonus lightpipe feeds into the Mackie HDR.  There goes my backup ;-(
 
Currently, I've decided to take the lightpipe outputs of the Focusrite and feed them directly into the Mackie HDR and Presonus.  Fortunately, the Focusrite has an 2- lightpipe outputs; one is fed to the Presonus for Sonar and the other output is fed into the Mackie HDR lightpipe inputs.
 
As a result the signals being fed to Presonus/Sonar and Mackie HDR are independent of one another, except (which is a good thing) the Focusrite preamp trims control the inputs for both Sonar and HDR.  During  live performance I only need to tweak the Focusrite's trims to control the input signals for both Sonar and HDR.
 
Now, the only problem I haven't been able to resolve is controlling the HDR from Sonar, i.e., play, rewind, etc.  (Recording has to be initialized manually on the HDR.)
I have the Presonus Word-Clock setup as the MASTER and all equipment are sync'd to it. (verified by LED sync lights).
 
Sonar, I have the Clock Source set as "Audio." 
 
The problem is either with setting up the Master Clock or Midi Time Control (MTC).  Haven't been able to get a handle on this yet.  Ill poke around this forum to see if someone else may have had a similar problem and solved it.
 
If anyone has some thoughts on syncing I'd be grateful.  Thanks!
 

Chappel...

I've poured over the Sync section in Sonar 8.5 and have been unable to reconcile the sync issue.  Yes, I have the Sync toolbar enabled.

My intent is to control the external Mackie HDR from Sonar.  I want the HDR to be the slave and Sonar the Master. 

Thanks :-)

Thanks Chappel.....
 
Yes, it is tough to mix forums, hamburgers & beers).  In most cases I prefer the latter, however, working on sync problems will drive even the sane crazy ;-(
 
I've tried MMC, out of desperation, however, I can't see where the Mackie HDR can accept MMC.  It'll take SMPTE (uni-directional) or MTC (bi-directional).  I've checked all my cables; clock as well as midi and all are working properly. 
 
I'm thinking of posting another message detailing the setup dialogs of Presonus, Mackie and Sonar and the settings I've made.  Maybe someone will see the flaw in my thinking.  (I've used Mackie sync'd to Mackie and Behringer equipment successfully.  For some reason Sonar has me stumped.
 
Thanks for looking & coming back.  BTW, have a beer on me