I am looking for a good audio quality soundcard that might support 4 + zones with MC9 in a single PCI slot - I think I would really like a 4 digital AND analogue out card - meaning 4 channels where each channel could be in both formats simultaneously- is there such a thing available ? If not what combinations of cards are there - I need both digital and analog but more digital is important. Coax is preferred to optical.
- for a 4 channel digital only card would for example the Delta DIO 2496 work ??
http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/dio2496.php
Lastly - is there a limit to the practical number of zones on fast 2GHz dedicated HTPC ? Looking at actual loading using two zones it seems fairly light still. 8 channels a possibility anyone ??
Chris
There are a number of ways to achieve your desired result. In my setup, I have an SPDIF (coax) output feeding back into my SPDIF input, which then feeds each bus of my 8 analog output card (Gina24 by Echo). The 8 discreet outputs are fed to each "zone", although I am not actually using the zone features of MC as my output will always remain the same in each zone. (I have simultaneous playback of MC going to 4 amps feeding stereo speaker setups in each desired room.) The software mixer on the card allows me complete volume control over each of the 4 zones from one app. I love it.
CPU power is not a concern, even if you were feeding multi-zones, the audio output is a minimal resource eater in your system (in my setup with the card handling bus duties, the CPU doesn't even have a clue it's there.) Now, multi-zones of MC might eat a few more resources, but only RAM would really be an issue.
The Delta cards are very nice, and probably the best deal for a high-end card (it has truly superior D-A converters over something like an SB). I've used these cards many times, never for MC, but I do recall reading very positive reviews about them from other MC users not too long ago, you may want to try a search in these groups for more info.
Good luck!
WP