It's been a faithful soundcard (Frontier Dakota) but when the manufacture's latest press release is dated 2006, I would say that we are staring extinction in the face and I'm getting hiccups in multiple DAW programs (some worse than others).
 
I need to find another card that uses ADAT i/o, minimum 16 channels AD/DA. The kicker is that it has to LOVE, like or tolerate SONAR in a commercial setting where you can't afford "What the flip just happened" moments.  Keeping drivers up to date with current operating systems is a must.  Win 7 x64 is my current O/S.  
 
I only have a PCI slot available for it.  Hopefully, I would be able to pull the Dakota out and install drivers and the new card, plug the lightpipe cables back in and resume work without too much downtime. 

I'm thinking RME because they've been around and seem to be moving along with the times.  If you are using RME, tell me how it's working with SONAR.
 
 
EDIT:  I need a midi i/o as well.

 
I keep looking at the MOTU 24i/o and thinking... it looks so old, but it is everything I desire.
 
Honestly, I'd really like a 24in, 8 out system. That would be ideal for me.
 
I'm using 2 896HDs and it drives me crazy that the ADAT bridge is only 20bits and that the ADAT signal comes in 7 samples behind the main unit's analog timing. It also drives me crazy that the pair doesn't work well at 96kHz while a single one works great.
 
The other solutions are so expensive... I don't think about them.
 
Good luck.
 
best regards,
mike

Hi Dave,
 
RME would be the way to go...
If you go MOTU, you'll want the PCIe 424 card.

RME Babyface works great in Sonar X2a

The RME stuff seems ideal for Dave's ADAT interest.
 
Everytime I look at RME I end up realizing a 24 in analog solution is priced at a much higher level than I am considering.
 
I wish I could enjoy the quality of RME. Maybe someday.
 
:-)

Hey ModBod,
You may want to think about an Orion32. It's USB instead of PCI, but it is 32 i/o (16 of which can be ADAT via 4 ports). It'd get you your ADAT i/o and still leave you with 16 channels on the Orion itself. I was skeptical about the USB but it plays nice here...I'm thinking about ditching my Lynx gear in favor of it.
 
Dean

 
Linky?
 
Thanks Dean.

 
Found it.
 
http://www.antelopeaudio.com/en/products/orion32-multi-channel-ad-da-converter
 
That thing on MADI could be a gas.

Guy's, my interest in ADAT lies in my ownership of two Frontier Tango 24 units.  Each one has 8 channels of AD/DA conversion with ADAT sync and wordclock.  Theoretically, I could replace those and head a totally different direction as well.  I'm just not all that keen on Firewire or USB because of all the issues posted in the past.  I fear cramming all that data down the wire but I suppose the same could be said for ADAT lightpipe.
 
I just remembered that I will lose my Frontier Sierra 8 channel midi box as well since it's likely that it won't be compatible with any other manufacturer's card.

Hi ModBod,
Yeah, I feel you on the ADAT thing....I have some ADAT stuff round these parts that I'm trying to hold on to as well (that's part of the reason I got the Orion). I was nervous about the USB thing too...I got the unit expecting to send it back but damned if it doesn't really do 32 channels at up to 192khz in Sonar.
 
Anyway, I haven't used the RME stuff but I hear nothing but good things. In fact, (Mike: speaking of MADI) if I keep my Lynx gear I may just get an RME HDSPe MADI fx and a MADI interface for my Aurora 16 and run 48 channels of Lynx and Antelope conversion.
 
Good luck with the search ModBod,
Dean