EXPERT HELP NEEDED : DDA DMR12 / Question about ELCO inputs, etc

[Dieselboy]

hello everyone

i am new to this board and based on the posts on here i am hoping i can get some help to a few questions i have about a new DDA DMR12 desk i just purchased.

i am coming from the area of low-fi studio stuff...previous setup included an allen and heath mixwizard 16 channel board and some other basic stuff. with the purchase of this new DMR12 there are some new things that i have never dealt with before, specifically ELCO inputs, TT patchbay, etc.

i am running the core of my studio (sequencing, all audio, etc) off of a mac G4 computer running Logic Audio 6.33, out through a MOTU2408 MKII interface and through an Apogee D/A 16 converter expanded to 24 channels. i want to run 24 channels of audio out of the Apogee into the DMR12 and back out of the DMR12 through an Apogee Trak 2 and back into the computer for hard disk recording. I want to add a Manley Massive Passive EQ and an API 2500 Bus Compressor to the chain as well. Monitoring will be done through Mackie HR824s as well as Yamaha NS10s powered by a Bryston amp.

ok here is where i need help.

the only inputs on the mixer are either mic pres (XLR) or the ELCO inputs for the patchbay.

first question : what is the difference SONICALLY between inputting through the mic pres or inputting through the ELCO inputs and then patching them into the channels via TT cable and the patchbay?

i researched some cabling online and the the standard issue snake (ELCO > XLR) is for ADAT and has 8 male and 8 female XLR inputs. i haven't seen any ELCO > XLR snakes with only 8 inputs. can i use the ADAT snake even tho the ELCO inputs on the back of the patchbay are only for LINES 1-8, 9-16, etc?

next question : how do i insert the manley eq and the API compressor into the chain? the only ELCO inputs on the back of the patchbay are TAPE A, TAPE B, TAPE C, LINES 1-32, AUX/MON, MIX and TIELINES 1-96. not sure where i would put them in.

next question : for monitoring i was going to output from the L/R XLR outputs on the back of the board (labeled CONTROL ROOM, ALT, STUDIO). any suggestions on what monitors should go where? or does it matter?

next question : what would i use the TAPE A, TAPE B and TAPE C jacks for? are these only for recording to tape machines? tape playback?

last question : for my main output back through the TRAK2 and into the computer, should i use the MIX ELCO jack on the back of the patchbay? if not, what would be recommended?

as you can see i am a bit confused with all of this. just getting my feet wet with higher end audio...trying to get a basic understanding of what i am doing and where to go from here. i am currently trying to tie up a few projects in the studio and i am really hoping to get things running ASAP.

i hope someone can help me. i would be very grateful. thank you!

d. higgins