LAPTOP RECORDING with RME 24 ANALOGUE I/O

[Roland J]

LAPTOP RECORDING with RME 24 ANALOGUE I/O
MERRY XMAS EVERYONE!!!!

Now let´s git to the nitty gritty..........

I didn´t want to buy a computer for my studio AND a laptop for mobility, so I opted for the laptop solution alone. Up until now I´ve been using an older Sony Vaio PCG-NV105 (1x1,6GHz, 512MB RAM) with RME Multiface1 and PCMCIA Cardbus with Cubase SX3 on WinXP. doing 8 CH I/O with 48KHz/24bit rec.format. ( integrated in an analogue tape environment)

I thought now was the time to upgrade the laptop and converters ´cos I wanted something that could handle 24 Analogue Outs in the mixdown (over PCMCIA). I mix on an analogue console and use outboard effects because this just sounds better to me.

I have just purchased a Sony Vaio VGN AR21S with 2x2Ghz, 2Gb RAM, PCMCIA1&2, PCIexp, Firewire400, 2x100Gb HD, 5400rpm, WinXP.
I´m going to stick with CubaseSX (upgrading to SX4 or maybe NUENDO) and RME AD/DA´s as this is kinda home territory without a learning curve.

I ´m contemplating the following AD/DA sytem:

My first choice would be 3 RME ADI8-DS units.
Question: Can I clock them over a RME Digiface with PCMCIA or the new PCIe Cardbus to the laptop? Would this give me 24 analogue I/O ? Would I need any other devices ?

If that wouldn´t work, my second choice would be to daisy-chain 3 Multiface2 units over a PCMCIA Cardbus...........Would that work ?
At least this solution would be a sonic improvement ´cos the Multiface2 boasts 5-6dB more dynamics than the Multiface1 and has better converters.

BTW, I want to carry on using Cardbus and not firewire due to difference in latency.

I would really appreciate your input on this one.

Thanx
Roland