Can/Do I keep my soundcard as I get new A/D D/A converters?

[jebjerome]

I'm planning on gettng quality converters when I can afford them, but I'm wondering if I can/should keep my Motu 2408 MKII. I need a stereo A/D and stereo D/A and am considering the Lavry Blue, Mytek stuff, Hedd, Benchmark DAC+other A/D or Lynx. I'm on a G4 and the 2408 resides in the only PCI slot(on Mac 450 G4) I can use for a sound card.

Do I get the sweet converters and then go into and out of the 2408 via lightpipe or ADAT in/out while clocking to the superior converters or something like that?

Does this compromise quality? Do I still need the 2408 as a way to the computer or do I need to get rid of it? I think the only one of these that is PCI-based is the Lynx in which case I no longer use the Motu at all?

Also, I know all of these(converters) have been discussed here, but any opinions/recommendations on them given my situation are appreciated as well. Any issues with this scenario that I may be overlooking are also appreciated.

Thanks.

[djui5]

Yeah...you'll need to keep it and hook the A/D to it through the digital inputs then hook the D/A to it through it's digital outputs.

Even though you have A/D/A you'll still need it to get signal into the computer.

[natpub]

Out of new converters into your card, yep. Unless you get a new firewire or USB converter, which saves you a PCI slot. However, the ones you listed will need ya a digital input of some sort.

Depending on how many channels you plan, it may affect which kind of digital plug format you use. Otherwise, they are all more or less the same, though some require some care when choosing cable type, length, and impedance.

Going from your good converters into the digital inputs of your soundcard will not deplete the quality or value of having gotten your new converters, if that is what you mean. Once digital, it is more or less fine.

You can clock your card off your new converter, if it has a nice internal clock and a means to export that signal, or you can use some kind of external clocking device for both units. I'm pretty sure all the units you mention have WC out, and have excellent internal clocks already.

[jebjerome]

Thanks for the responses- one more thing- the Motu 2408 MkII only does up to24-bit/48k, I imagine that imposes these format/rates on the converters even though they may be able to go up 48-bit/192k or whatever. Is that correct? Or could these rates actually go through the motu? For some reason, I think the answer is no.