@mildsunrise @datenwolf @guenther

You could (in theory) implement something like this in software and a bunch of cheap usb dongles... but you are going to be schlepping the audio data in from each device, into a software mixer, and then back out.

But, then if your computer lags or crashes, then that'll cause noticeable glitches in the sound.

And, in practice, I've found trying to delve into linux audio more frustrating and mystifying more often than not. (I've been meaning to try again at some point, especially with Pipewire and/or Jack)

Professional interfaces allow for a lot of common mixing tasks to be performed directly in the device itself, which is guaranteed to be low latency and resilient to software timing glitches.