Clint... We just bought an 8kA with six channels. We have the four INTERNAL channels and two EXTERNAL channels. The externals were recommended for flexibility reasons. At first I thought that was ridiculous, but now I really appreciate it and I'm glad they recommended it that way. Internal DMEs cannot be dialed up or punched up as a source. They always use a key bus to route and the processed signal is returned on the key bus - much like "effects send" on the Grass Valley. In combiner mode for all four channels, the first channel video gets the key bus that returns the DME back. That key bus also provides the key signal for the combiner. The second, third and fourth channel is fed by the DME utility busses. They're accessed by holding down the utility button on the crosspoint control module, but they're also mirrored on the aux panel above if you choose. The external DMEs do have to reenter and can be a source on the switcher, but they can ALSO be used like an internal at the same time - the best of both worlds, so to speak. The disadvantage of the externals is they can't see USER DME WIPES (I think that is correct) but thats nothing to us since most of our transitions are clip based. But for the most part I like the externals better for the flexibility they offer. We can build two-channel effects the old-fashioned way and save the internal DME resources for DME wipes. We cheat on double boxes using a user wipe at half-transition. We were so used to routing double boxes with a and b background buses on the Grass Valley using effects send that we decided to "cheat" and do it the same way pretty much. If we ever need to have a double box with transitions in each box like in a breaking news seat of the pants typ thing, then we do it with the two external DMEs, and route M/E clean (or M/E key preview in video mode with keyers turned off) in the left and M/E sub in the right. Since the external channels are fed the old fashioned way, the switcher will let you reenter the same M/E into the channels - that can't be done with the internals. We tie up three keyers, one for background, another for DME with combiner on, and the third for the frames overlay. Wallah! A double box with DME WIPE transitions in each box ON ONE M/E, assuming you get Multi-Program 2 that is. Also, to do a six box, you combine the four internals on one keyer and the two externals on another keyer. You can't combine all six together, nor can you copy parameters between them. Also you have to key the external combiner the old fashioned way by selecting the source as a key since you're already exausting all the processing resouces of an M/E on the four internals. Just think of it as two DMEs, one four channel internal and one two channel external. I guess anyone can replicate this by keeping their old DVE, but chances are you want to go digital/high def soon and that old one goes away anyway. I'm sure when you go to purchase one they will recommend the same setup - four internal and two external - as do I. If you go with all six internal then you will pull your hair out one day trying to do something. I guess the internal stuff isn't all what its cracked up to be. If I start building a one or two channel effect that is NOT going to be a user DME wipe, then I go for the externals first. We also have 80 inputs - 64 with an additional 12 input card added. We're putting all our live sources on there so we don't have to mess with synchronizers anymore. We took delivery of a 24 output, but soon realized we wanted 48 outputs and bought the extra card for that. We're using 44 outputs!