New to TI. SPDIF advice please & Mixer conundrum

[TheHobbit]

Hi all

Ok just got my new Virus Ti, updated to OS3 and having fun..lots of fun, its a beast that needs taming...spanking!

Been a few years since I last twiddled in the world of Midi, routing, mixing, insomniac nights and catatonic mouse movements in cubase. I'm a gearslut with loose change.

Need some help and got to experiment but would like some views before i go blowing my eardrums etc

Using Cubase 4 with Firewire as an input.

Plugged into the inputs on the 1620 desk are :

1-2 JV1080 (1st Stereo outs)
3-4 JV1080 (2nd Stereo outs)
5-6 Pro 08 (1st Stereo outs)
7-8 Access TI (1st Stereo outs)
9-10 Access TI (2nd Stereo outs)
11-12Access TI (3rd Stereo outs)
13-14(free) (MC505 when/if gets fixed)
15-16(free) (For when mate comes round with other kit sub mix)

Recently got some additional outboard gear and want to route it to record into Cubase 4 via firewire if possible or other solutions.

I know theres various combos but what I would like to do is get some suggestions on how to best implement into a working setup with the Mackie as the core interface.

Ideally I want to be able to route both the synths, modules, Cubase audio and Cubase vst channels into the outboard efx...ie : the Se70/Midiverb/Fireworx/TripleC.


Aux Return 1 (Alesis reverb unit)
Aux Return 2 (Boss Se70 EFx unit)
Aux Return 3 (TC Electronics Fireworx)
Aux or insert Triple C (whatever you think is best but like the idea of using the spdif for aither the Triple C or the Fireworx (gather I cant use both as Virus TI only has 1 in/out spdif).

I have an echo Gina 24 which has 2 inputs/8 outs and spdif in/out to slot in.

However as the Firewire works under ASIO, so does the Virus as a soundcard and the Echo Gina24 I can only have one unit operating as a soundcard in windows.

I do have a 2nd pc powerful enough and could run vststack but im worried about latency and again routing could get complex...

Im stuck and need some guidance or a starting point.

The basic question is to use spdif send/return from cubase and be able to use the Mackie firewire as an input audio as I use for monitoring as well.

Its seems complex and i cant get my head round the best solution..

Thanks and any further help or questions from myside to arrive at a good setup is appreciated.

peace

Thanks

I know this involves more than just the virus but if you want to focus on just the virus please do so