question about portastudio 414mkii various inputs

[LesPasta]

my spUnits are connected through a patch bay, so that I can resample between my 202, 404,505 whatever

now I'm thinking about adding my portastudio into the chain. so that i can patch in/out when polyphony is an issue and to record simultaneously from two units.

I am looking at the four track as an interchangeable part of the signal path here, I know a lot of you do it.

so im clueless about the inputs on the back of this device, the 5-6, the 7-8 and xlr

can any of these be useful, rather than going through the line-ins on the front ?

[adapter pilot]

I don't have the mkii but I'm guessing the 5,6 and 7,8 are stereo inputs. They were generally used for keyboards and just left plugged in as though it were a mixer. The xlr's are usually used for mics but some pre amp outs use them. I think for your set up you could go into the front for mono tracks and the back for your stereo tracks through your patch bay. But I'm too lazy to setup a patch bay it makes my brain hurt !

[adapter pilot]

Dp