002R Hardware Setup Advice

[nickdahl]

I've gotten a lot of great help here, so while my system is in pieces right now, I hoped to get your advice on how you'd set up this gear to make the most of its capabilities.

My system's core consists of two computers and a 002R. One computer, the DAW, is a Quadzilla Dual-Opteron, and the other--the FX-Teleport "server"--is an AMD 4400+ dual-core. Both machines are loaded with RAM and have fast hard drives. I use a KVM switch so I need only one keyboard and mouse.

Here are the extra pieces to my system:

Command|8
RME HDSP 9632 audio card (installed in the Quadzilla)
Lucid AD9624 AD converter
Lucid DA9624 DA converter
Presonus Central Station
Great River ME1NV mic pre
Studiologic SL-880PRO MIDI controller keyboard
KRK V8 and RP10S monitors

Here are some of the things I've wondered about:

1. Should I run the Great River mic pre straight into the Lucid AD converter?

2. What's better? Optical or coaxial SPDIF inputs/outputs?

3. What'd come last in the signal chain, before my monitor speakers, the Lucid DA or the Central Station?

4. Should the MIDI output from my controller keyboard go straight into the 002R or into the Command|8?

5. What can I do with the RME card?

Thanks!

Nick