Hi,
I'm working on an installation project that requires 20-24 independent audio channels. I was wondering if any of you did something similar, and could share his/her experiences. I don't know which audio interface to use: most of the interfaces have 8 outputs (probably connect 3 of those...). I'm also curious about PD's performance in these kind of installations.
Thanks,
ymotion

Hi
I work with a friend on a thing called "le mur du son" (the wall of sound)

We have 48 speakers powered with 24 old and crappy hi-fi amplifiers. We used to run the show with a 8 outputs RME soundcard and a DIY arduino-based 48 voices synth, but we plan to move to computer generated sounds only, which will be more versatile.
So i bought a second hand M-audio Profire Lightbridge : It's a nice firewire soundcard that has only 2 "real" outputs and 4 ADAT ports. That's mucho outputs (you can do 34 ins/36 outs), if you can afford some DA converters, like the behringer ADA8000. I don't have any converters yet, but i tested it with a Yamaha 01V in slave and all ran nicely with Ableton. With Ubuntu, Jack sees all the inputs and outputs without any problem. I will soon buy two ADA8000 and play with 16 outputs, but i think Pd will be alright.
You can also look to MADI hardware, which can go up to something like 50 outputs, but the price tag is not exactly the same

Hi Dwan,
Very nice wall! I like the way you constructed a wall out of loudspeakers (and also the red tape thing...). Sound like a good configuration, using the Profire and ADA8000. If I need about 20 channels, I'll need 3 ADA8000, and also an amplifier, right?
thanks a lot,
ymotion

If you want 20 outputs, then you'll need 3 ADA8000 and 10 stereo amplifiers.

Hi Dwan, thanks. Does PD communicate smoothly with the Profire Lightbridge? Is it only a matter of writing objects such as [dac~ 12]?
BTW, could you recommend a place to buy used audio gear?
Have a good one,
ymotion

Pd's (at least in my case, with Linux) not strictly communicating with the soundcard, as i'm using Jack. Pd talks with Jack, who talks with the soundcard. So, yes, as long as Jack sees the soundcard and its ins and outs, all you have to do is to choose where do you want your sound to go and where do you want it to come from with [adc~ 28] or [dac~ 17], for example.
I bought my lightbridge on the french version of audiofanzine.com. Wherever you buy something, it's only a matter of finding a trusty seller

Hi Dwan,
Thanks for the advice. I'm working on MacBook Pro. PD communicates easily with my ProFire 610 interface (no need for Jack). But maybe the LightBridge is of an older generation...Anyway, I'm going to buy a LightBridge soon, and check it out myself.
ymotion

Oh, i'm sure it works well without jack as well. You may want to check if there is compatibility issues between your computer and this sound card, ask google. I just wanted to point out that im always using jack when i work with pd, so i couldn't tell you if the soundcard works well under other conditions, apart from the only time i've used it successfully under windows with the 01V as a slave output.