+ <ol>
+ <li>
+ If you want to use Ardour to start JACK (which handles all
+ audio I/O) you will need to create a "fake" audio device on your
+ computer the represents all the multiple devices you wish to
+ use. How to do this is platform dependent and described below.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ Use a different tool to start JACK and manage all the devices.
+ </li>
+ </ol>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Ardour is fundamentally designed to be a component in a
+pro-audio/music creation environment and standard operating practice
+for such setups involves using only a single digital sample "clock"
+(something counting off the time between audio samples). This means
+that trying to use multiple independent soundcards is problematic,
+because each soundcard has its own sample clock, running independently
+from the others. Over time, these different clocks drift out of sync
+with each other, and cause glitches in the audio. You can't stop this
+drift, although in some cases the effects may be insignificant enough
+that some people might not care about them.</p>
+
+<p>
+ Thus in an ideal world you should not use multiple independent
+ soundcards but instead use a single device with a single clock and all
+ the inputs, outputs and other features that you need.
+</p>