Can someone with audio experience advise on how adding audio inputs (for multi-track recording, or other) breaks down? My computer comes with a stereo input, so I'm assuming it handles at least 1 stereo or 2 mono channels. But does that mean that's ALL it can handle? Let me pose 2 interrelated questions:
If I add 6 inputs through splitters / adapters but no external sound cards -- obviously that would be crude and clutter prone, but would it work? Assuming I were to use external sound cards, but use them as an array of really cheap (presumably low quality) $3 external usb sound cards in a hub, could I still hope to achieve decent multi track recording?
Suppose I have 1 microphone channel per sound card, and maybe 6 sound cards/mics altogether. Would there be a noticeable performance trade-off when compared to just using 1 higher-end sound card that has 6 built-in mic jacks? What is the metric for sound card loads (like what Ghz is to a CPU)?
I think that sums up my question pretty well, if specifics are needed about what kind of audio input sources I'm working with, I can provide them. For now, suffice as to say, it's nothing too intensive, just 6 mono-channels.