I have a synth (Korg Kronos) whose digital output is ADAT Optical Interface, aka Lightpipe. I would like to run this directly into Sonar via a PCIe card, but have been unable to find one which does not break the bank. A sales rep showed me this:
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HDSPe9632/
 
But really, I was thinking more along the lines of something with far less functionality and less than $100.
 
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
 
Also, is this even feasible? I use a Roland Octa-Capture for my audio interface. Can I use it and a PCIe input in Sonar at the same time? It seems to me that I could if the OC remains as the timing master, and the lightpipe card appears as just another input.
 
The Kronos can supposedly output digital via USB, but I have found getting the driver to work reliably to be problematic.
 
Thank you.

I use ADAT to connect my Alesis QSR synth (and before that a QS8 keyboard). I had an EMU 1820m that I really liked, but the x64 driver was unstable, and then it went belly up. Since its successor 1616m didn't have ADAT, I ended up replacing it with a MOTU2408 with PCIe 424 card. I picked them up used on eBay for about $350. Doesn't sound quite as sweet as the E-MU did, doesn't have built-in MIDI ports or mic pres, but the drivers are pretty solid. As I recall, the only other reasonably priced option for an interface with ADAT was the Presonus VSL1818, but it's USB and did not have the low latency I was looking for.
 
 

Rme Raydat is what I use but it was not cheap. You may find a usb interface that will do the trick for you.

Thanks to both of you. I had no idea the options regarding ADAT PCIe cards were so limited, or so expensive. I thought it would be a $40 card or something similar, from a multitude of manufacturers.
 
I have a new computer on order, so maybe the Kronos' USB driver will decide to be more reliable on the new computer, thus eliminating the need for a PCIe card.

As you probably know there are performance advantages to using an internal card instead of USB or Firewire, but cards are on the way out...using external devices is more convenient.

I prefer performance in this case, especially reliability. Also, I don't consider it inconvenient to install a card once and then enjoy the hassle-free functionality.
 
Can you offer an opinion on this from my first post above?:
 
"Also, is this even feasible? I use a Roland Octa-Capture for my audio interface. Can I use it and a PCIe input in Sonar at the same time? It seems to me that I could if the OC remains as the timing master, and the lightpipe card appears as just another input."
 
Thank you.
 
After further search, it appears that this card has what I'm looking for:
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124135
 
Those sure look like optical in/outs on the main card.
 
 

If you use ASIO mode in SONAR, keep in mind you can only use one ASIO driver at a time. If the interfaces are made by different vendors it is unlikely they can use the same ASIO driver.

WVought
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After further search, it appears that this card has what I'm looking for:
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124135
 
Those sure look like optical in/outs on the main card.
 
 

those Connectors are stereo TOS link not 8 channel ADAT which are unfortunately not the same. Does the Korg support both?

All I need is stereo out from the Kronos, and stereo into Sonar.
 
But as Scook pointed out, this probably won't work anyway.
 
 

It appears my terminology was incorrect. What I was looking for is indeed TOSlink, not ADAT, and there are several options available.
 
However, the driver issue remains.