linuxaudio.org

> I am planing on putting together a rack unit to use as an effects

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> processor.

> For a sound card I was thinking of

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> creative audigy2 or is this over kill?

It really depends on the kind of instrument/microphone output and

mixer input you intend to use. You might want balanced XLR inputs and

outputs in a rack unit, mic preamps, or 1/4" jack plugs for an

instrument like a guitar. In that case you could use something like

an M-Audio Delta 1010LT. A DJ could use unbalanced RCA (aka phono

plugs) so an M-Audio Audiophile PCI would do the job. 
I figure if it's a rack unit for live use then you don't want to have

any USB or other dongles hanging off.
> As this machine is going to spend most of it's time doing DSP, I

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> figured more and high speed RAM is good and hence a faster FSB

> which I think means a faster processor as well, specially at 400Mhz

> for the FSB but is it worth it?

Depends on how many plugins you need to run at once. I can run Jack

Rack on my PII 300MHz laptop with 160MB RAM with a couple of simple

plugins. Your best bet is probably to prototype your selection of

software on a desktop machine before building your rack unit - then

you'll have an idea of the resources you'll need.
Cheers
Daniel