What does simultaneous in/out mean?

[Pro Tools Noob Sm. Caulk]

I've been looking at a new interface, and this term always confuses me. I saw this interface that said 18X24 simul in/out. I could only find 10 xlr inputs a 2 line level inputs. As for the output I couldn't find 24 outputs, analog or digital. I think I only saw 8 TRS outputs and some spdif and adat digital stuff.

HOW DO I REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW MANY INPUTS AND OUTPUTS AN INTERFACE HAS????? PLease help

[Craig F]

depend on the interface
8 TRS and 2 ADAT equals 24 outs (assuming 44.1/48k)
10 XLR and 1 ADAT woud be 18 in

[Pro Tools Noob Sm. Caulk]

Originally Posted by Craig F

depend on the interface
8 TRS and 2 ADAT equals 24 outs (assuming 44.1/48k)
10 XLR and 1 ADAT woud be 18 in

How does 8 xlr + 2 ADAT equal 24? Wouldn't that only be 10 simultaneous ins of recording? I'm sorry I'm just so confused on this.

[Craig F]

standard ADAT is 8 channels at 44.1/48
if supported:
4 @ 88.2/96
2 @ 176.4/192

[Pro Tools Noob Sm. Caulk]

Originally Posted by Craig F

standard ADAT is 8 channels at 44.1/48
if supported:
4 @ 88.2/96
2 @ 176.4/192

So if an interface can record up to 192K, and it has XLR, SPDIF, and ADAT inputs, I just have to figure out which sample rate I'll be working with, then after that add up the number of the all inputs that can be used at once? Cuz I wanna do 96K and I don't know how that would equal for inputs in the digital ones.

[Craig F]

depends on the interface
not all interfaces support HD sample rates on there digital inputs, most notably the 002/003s are SD only on there ADAT ports

SD: 44.1/48k
HD: 88.2-192k

[Pro Tools Noob Sm. Caulk]

All this math and stuff is making my ass hurt I don't get how you pros add all this stuff up.

[Craig F]

salesmen/admen are like lawyers and politicians,
easy way to tell if there lying is if there lips are moving

you have to look past the marketing hype to the real specifications
and you need to have a clear vision of what you want to do

[Pro Tools Noob Sm. Caulk]

Originally Posted by Craig F

salesmen/admen are like lawyers and politicians,
easy way to tell if there lying is if there lips are moving

you have to look past the marketing hype to the real specifications
and you need to have a clear vision of what you want to do

Lol I agree. All I want is an interface with 4 XLR inputs, and maybe options to add more with cables in the future. I wish they would just lay down the facts of the interface instead of sugar coating every little feature but not laying down the core specs.

[Craig F]

this is a good reference for usability http://www.pro-tools-expert.com/pro-...dware-checker/

Sweetwater use to do a nice straight forward comparison chart but maybe that was only in the catalog but also that is hard to keep on top of

so you want 4 mic inputs
maybe some extra inputs for later
do you want a headphone jack
do you want speaker volume control?
do you want USB or Firewire interface? or Thunderbolt?