Today's question comes from DL in NYC. It's pretty product specific for inSync, but given the number of these we've sold it probably applies to many people.

"OK, my Mac G4 OS9 Digital Performer MOTU 2408, ADAT, 2-synth (mostly courtesy of Sweetwater Sound) rig is up and running. I want to mix multiple sources and master them within Digital Performer; i.e. I might have DP audio tracks, DP sequenced synth tracks, and even the odd synchronized ADAT track and I want them all on 2 DP tracks that I can maximize and burn to CD within a DP file. What kind of routing should I use? Do I have to take the audio tracks out of DP and back through my board and then put all (via the mixing board) on 2 new DP audio tracks? Or can all the audio stay in the digital realm, and will the 2408 accept signals (D? A?) from the synths and ADAT without actually having to record synth and ADAT audio tracks? Essentially the question is how do sequenced and ADAT tracks find their way on to a DP mix IN DP?"

With a system like the 2408, which has so many different inputs and outputs, I'm surprised we haven't seen this question before. There are two good ways to accomplish what you want to do (and probably others I didn't think of). You can monitor all of these inputs (virtual tracks) while you are playing back in DP (I'm sure you know this by now). You can apply automation, have effects, and put a whole mix together. You can bring that out of your computer as a composite two channel mix and record it anywhere you want: back into your computer (2408) to a DAT, CD recorder, or whatever. These outputs can be done in the digital domain so no loss there. Obviously anything you record outside of the 2408 can easily be brought back in later for mastering and/or CD burning.

You can also bring all of those inputs into the 2408 and record them to tracks. Submixing is usually a good idea here if you are using a lot of tracks in DP. The submixing can occur as you bring the instruments in or afterwards. Yes, you can employ an external mixer (analog or digital), but you don't really have to. Once all of your audio data is recorded into the 2408 you can mute your MIDI tracks, take the ADAT off line, and just do a mix to disk internally in DP to create your master stereo file.

Both methods are functional, but have different advantages and disadvantages. With any sort of "live" mixing on a host based system one has to pay attention to latency and how it might effect the timing of the live versus recorded tracks (though on the system you have this may not be a big issue). The second method has the potential disadvantage of forcing you to submix some tracks before the final mixdown. As much as this may sound like something you wouldn't want to do I think you will find that making creative decisions like this along the way can be very beneficial and greatly simplify the arduous final mixing process. Remember that nothing you do has to be destructive so you can always get back to square one if necessary.