# of Ins/Outs Exposed Directly To Windows

I'm looking for a multichannel audio interface that exposes all of its ins and outs to Windows (i.e. something that can be used simultaneously with Skype, Expression Encoder, Windows Media Encoder, MediaMonkey, Foobar 2000, Windows Media Player etc. - Non ASIO/Non-DAW applications.) A minimum of 4 analog ins/outs to replace my fried Presonus Firebox, which served this purpose well, running 24/7 for several years.
 
Not looking to spend more than $500... so while I know the higher end interfaces like my RME FF800 and MOTU PCIe/2408mk3 do this, I know that many interfaces on the lower end, like my Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 and Tascam US-1641 only expose their first pair of ins and outs - making them useless for this sort of non-DAW thing.
 
I'm eyeing the M-Audio Profire 2626  - only $350 at B & H. It's a bit of overkill, but if it exposes all of its ins and outs to Windows, it would fit the bill and then some... as it could serve as a backup to my bigger stuff, and serve as a mic pre if needed as well. And at only $50 more than, for example, a Presonus Audiobox 44VSL, seemingly well worth it.
 
But only if exposes all of its ins /outs. Seems like most manufactures do not publish this information.

If you do have a Profire 2626 and are running Windows Vista/7/8, could you please tell me how many ins and outs are exposed to Windows? Also, if you have something else that meets my criteria (exposes all ins/outs to Windows, costs < $500, has at least 4 analog ins and 4 analog outs), please let me know.

The easiest way (probably) to see how many ins/outs are exposed is to go to Control Panel > Sound, and look at the Playback tab and the Recording tab, and see if there multiple pairs of ins/outs listed for the device in question, or if there is just one pair on each tab.

Thanks for your help with this!

For future reference, since I think some might find it useful, the following interfaces do expose themselves completely to Windows, allowing you to use whatever you want, wherever you want in non-ASIO programs (based on personal experience):

• RME FF800
• MOTU PCIe/2408MK3
• Presonus Firebox
• Alesis IO|26
• M-Audio Delta 1010 (Last time I checked - been a while)
• Echo Darla24 (Same as above -been a while)

The following interfaces are quite modest and only expose their first pair of ins/outs to Windows:

• Tascam US-1641
• Focusrite Scarlett 18i6
• Eventide H8000FW
• M-Audio Profire 2626 (Added to list after post below)

Of course, feel free to add to the list. I've found that this type of info is just not readily available from the manufacturers.

Did you install the driver software?  

If sound cards come with their own software then windows should "see" all I/O.

Sonar and probably all daws get the I/O from the windows drivers.

The profile should have all I/O available in windows just like all other sound cards I've installed.

I don't think this is a case of Windows not seeing the multiple in/out's,, it's a case of the software not seeing it. 

Example, I can only record from channel 1/2 on any interface I've ever used into software like Wavelab. 
The only interface that I could change which input was to be recorded is with my Soundblaster Audigy II which has it's own mixer. But you could still only use 1 source at a time.