24 bit mixes with 16 bit internal audio?

[Ed Snape]

We are running SSL with RME's Digiface and Cardbus in an HP zd7000 laptop. The Digiface, Octamic, HHB cd burner, and Pro-8 are mounted in a portable rack case and all works great for location recording.

On occasion we wish to travel with only the laptop computer and stereo headphones to do stereo mixdowns and editing away from the rack equipment. At that point the RME Cardbus becomes useless, and the HP's internal audio being only 16 bit, prevents me from working with the MT set to 24 bit.

Is there a work around in SSL that would allow 24 bit mixing, but with the laptop's internal Conexant audio as d/a and earphone output device?

If the above is not possible, is there a decent but inexpensive 2 channel 24 bit d/a i/o card for a laptop that would be compatable with SSL? OS is XP.

[AudioAstronomer]

Turn the multitrack bitrate to 16-bit. You will be fine :)

[TimK]

Try the "24 bit WDM Compatable Multimedia option
In the [ options menu / Audio Driver Model]
Most sound chips will work under Win2K & XP.
It will not likely sound any better than running
at 16bits. It al depends on the sound chip & driver.
Tim Kirk

[Bob L]

You can simply set the MT to 16 bits while you are working on the mix... then set it back to 24 for the buildmix operation to build a 24 bit mix file.

The final results will be perfect 24 bit files whether you monitor at 24 bits or not.

Bob L