I was wondering if it was possible to have an option to mix channels to another zone? For those doing active crossovers or even multiple subwoofers, they might run out of outputs with their soundcard. With the ability to sync zones, I thought maybe one could just add another sound device and copy/mix channels to that device/zone. For example, someone (like nwboater
) has a 7.1 channel soundcard and likes the sound quality. He might need 12 channels, though, to do an active crossover setup for his speakers and still have outputs for his subs.
Rather than buy a 12 channel firewire audio device with worse sound quality, it would be nice if he could use his current 8 channel sound card and just add another sound device for the extra channels. This could be added as an extra zone.
The mix channels could then have the option to mix to zone x, channel y. This zone would be automatically turned on if it was used in mix channels. With this method, the sound card could provide 2 3-way crossovers (mains) and two sub outputs. The 2nd sound device could provide another 3-way crossover (center) and maybe two more 2-way crossovers for the surrounds. Or the soundcard could provide 3 two-way crossovers and two sub outputs, etc. Since you are starting with a 7.1 soundcard, there shouldn't be any problem with channel routing from the original source.
Another use would be for someone with 4 subwoofers that need their own distance and gain settings. He could just add a 4-channel firewire device and copy the subwoofer channel to this second zone and perform distance, gain, and EQ per subwoofer.
Or what about the two-channel audiophile that wants advanced bass management and some subs. He can use his expensive USB DAC for the mains and add another DAC for the subwoofer(s). He could even run stereo subs with the mix options available now.
Hmm, now I'm wondering how an external two channel DAC would sound in my system (since I can also the phantom center feature). This "mix to zone" feature would allow me to use it for the mains for two channel listening and still use my soundcard for the subwoofer and surround channels for multi-channel listening. Great, I just thought of a feature that could potentially cost me more money!