What you have to decide is whether you want a mixer, a multi-channel interface, or something that will work as both.

Possible reasons for needing a mixer:

(1) You do live sound work and need to mix a dozen or so tracks in real-time down to stereo (or even mono) for FOH loudspeakers

(2) You have multitrack recordings and you want to mix these down to a stereo master on a real mixer, not using a software DAW for mixing.

(3) You like knobs. (Seriously)

If your have no live sound mixing requirements and merely want to make multi-track recordings that you mix to stereo in the computer, then you need a multi-channel interface, not a mixer.

The category of good-quality analog mixers that will work as multi-channel interfaces has only a few members. These include the Mackie Onyx range and the A+H Zed-R16 that you alluded to. In digital mixers, the Yamaha 01V96 or Tascam DM24 can work this way with suitable interface boards for your computer. In the next bracket up, a good analog mixer such as a Midas Venice interfaced using a separate multi-channel line I/O interface can produce outstanding results.

From the little you say of your requirements, I think the Zed-R16 has to be your choice. I've used one of these a couple of times now, and although it has some quirks, I'm really impressed by the smoothness of sound from it and what you get for the money. It's basically an analog mixer with FireWire I/O on all channels, so it can act as a 16-channel interface for recording, then you can use it to mix down in analog to stereo and record the 2-track mix.

I have a 1010 and ran a Yamaha mixer into it for several years.

I'm selling the Yamaha. Who needs it with the inputs the 1010 has, it's just another crack in the chain.

I'd put my money else were.

Like you can purchase my mixer if you want it?

The easiest workflow for using the 1010 is to get a patch bay and work it from that.

You can route anything and everything, monitors, instruments and go outside to external boxes if need be.

good luck

Space wrote: I have a 1010 and ran a Yamaha mixer into it for several years.

I'm selling the Yamaha. Who needs it with the inputs the 1010 has, it's just another crack in the chain.

I'd put my money else were.

Like you can purchase my mixer if you want it?

The easiest workflow for using the 1010 is to get a patch bay and work it from that.

You can route anything and everything, monitors, instruments and go outside to external boxes if need be.

good luck

Huh. I have a couple Hosa patchbays in storage. I'm gonna admit to not knowing how to operate a patchbay-hence their storage. Could you gimme a rundown of the setup?

Check out this sticky in the Home Project Newbies section:

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