This is the plan, man...

Someone please speak up if you're a)doing something similar, and/or b)can foresee technical difficulties with this set up. I'm on a tight budget and really can't afford more stuff right now, but I'll take any suggestions into consideration. I'm just doing this for fun but I'm a musician and should be versed in the recording process. Here's the rig: -Consumer grade HP a1112n desktop computer. Athlon 64 3300+ 2.4 GHz processor, it's maxxed at 2GB's of RAM. It has 1394 firewire i/o and lot's of USB ports, like 5 or 6... -Fostex VF-160 (with HDD). This is not the EX version. This has s/pdif or ADAT i/o. -Creative E-MU 0404 PCI card interface. Lot's of i/o options on this. Analog, optical/coax, s/pdif and MIDI. (I just bought this item on eBay, hence, the information request.) I plan on recording on the VF-160, then sending the WAVE file to the computer for editing in REAPER via the 0404 sound card. I've had the VF for several years and it works like a charm, but I get sick of having to do all the functions on that little LCD screen. And this is all mostly because I need more than 2 in's for micing an acoustic drum kit. Of course, I'm a drummer and want great drum sound, but who doesn't?!?! So, if anyone out there is running a similar set up and can foresee problems here, or mention what HAS or HAS NOT worked using the VF-160 or 0404, I am all ears. BTW, I'm new here, although I've been using REAPER for a few years now on and off. Getting to know the program, it's just getting the damned signal into the computer...! It's good to see a lively community of users here and be a part of it!

Also, I realize I can't do "real time" in REAPER with this set up, but this will eliminate burning a bunch of CD's to get the data to the computer. Which reminds me, I need to go look for an optical cable...

How many channels can you run through the s/pdif? You might actually be able to record in real time, although if it's only a stereo pair drums obviously won't work. Your computer is probably fine - it's about as powerful as my old jalopy, which can comfortably do multitrack recording in Reaper. Of course it's impossible to predict what will go wrong but I imagine your setup should be fine for what you have in mind.

VF does not specify how many channels it can send. Manual says "16 tracks rec/play" and "program feature names musical pieces and manage up to a maximum of 99 titles". So either 16, 99 or ??? I assume the answer is dependent on what the VF can do, as the 0404 is simply transferring data. I'd LOOOOOOVE to do real time like the big boys...

If you can really run 16 channels out of the Fostex through the card at the same time, I don't see why you couldn't, unless the Fostex requires you to record to disc first. If it can do real time, Reaper should be able to keep up easily. Make sure you have your tracks in reaper set up to receive the different channels, and you're good to go. This is pure theorizing - I've used one of those old Fostexes in the past but not this exact model and only in the way you're doing - to disk and then into the computer. Can't you only do 8 inputs at once, or am I wrong?

You might also be able to improvise something using the auxillary outs and effect sends into the E-MU. I do something similar with my old Tascam 4 track - left and right main sends, one track on effects send, one on aux out, through my 4-channel interface and into reaper.

In the "real world", as opposed to the "virtual world", yes, you can do only 8 simultaneous tracks. But thats plenty for me, I can mic up a drum kit proper with 6 mics and have room for 2 scratch trax, one each on vox and guitar. So the answer to YOUR question is 8. I don't see how real time is a possibility unless there's something buried deep into the REAPER program that makes it happen. Like options, settings, etc...hint, hint...

I'm not positive, but it's worth a shot.

Can you describe your rig, in a nutshell?

Tascam 4 track, routed as described above (1 and 2 on stereo out, 3 on aux out, 4 on effects out), into alesis io4 interface, into Reaper. If you have four compatible outs on the Yamaha and ins on the E-MU it should work the same. You need to set up each track in reaper to receive the different tracks. Right click on each record button and select 1-4 (or 8, whatever) mono inputs so you can record simultaneously. You can save this as a template for future use.