Going No-native, dsp question Options

[karambos]

I presently run all my audio and effects natively on my G3 processor. It's only a small one (233MHz) and gets overloaded quickly with about 6 or 8 audio tracks with effects. I need some advice on what non-native solutions are available out there. As far as I'm aware there are DSP's (Digital Signal Processors) that take care of the effects (like the Powercore) and others that do both audio and effects (like DigiDesign's MixPlus). Is that right? Potential candidates so far are: TC Powercore, Digi Design 001, Yamaha DSP 2416, something by Terratec, MOTU Audio 2408, DigiDesign MixPlus, Creamware Pulsar, Creamware Scope.

Ideally I'm willing to spend more money on something that fully removes the load from my processor so that no matter what computer I buy (Macintosh) it will not overload. Basically I need at least 30 Audio tracks.

thankyou

karambos

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www.thefair.de

[karambos]

Many thanks for these informative replies - it's just what I need to know so please keep 'em coming! Meanwhile more questions, if I may:

I've thought about what you've been saying and it's occurred to me that any such card is there essentially to deal with effects processing - is that right?
The audio file itself is kept on my hard drive and is sent to the card for processing. If I got a DSP card, the only thing I'd have to worry about is the bus
speed. Right? I can understand that if I apply processor intensive effects like reverbs to several tracks then I get an overload (at about 6-8 tracks)
but why do I get an overload at about 10 - 12 tracks of audio with no effects at all? What's overloading - my CPU or my soundcard?

Teiwaz - you say you use the MOTU 2408MkII system as an interface with your UAD-1. Please excuse my ignorance but what sort of interface would that be? I
assume it's an audio interface (presumably with 8 ins and 8 outs with 24 bit capability). If that's that case - can you connect to your mixing desk with that?
That would replace my Audiowerk 2, right? In other words - you don't need a soundcard with your set-up - the MOTU IS your "soundcard" - am I right?

Johnny - Essentially, I would just like to get quadruple the amount of tracks that I now get without constantly overloading the CPU and having to bounce down
all the time. I really would like to go OSX one day (not for a while though) and I would like to ideally get a card that would "take me there". If you get me.

thx

karambos