http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=88&cat=11&id=137

Look for the whirlwind products, they have a lot of solutions :

http://www.whirlwindusa.com/split.html

Ah. There is one criteria. It has to fit in 2U... 16 channels in 2U

Well, the ART splitter has one thing (besides 1U) going for it - the phantom power is taken through the direct channel out and isolated from the transformer channel out. This means you can choose whether the FOH desk or your preamps provide the PP, but any quality loss due the the transformer follows that decision. Depending on the input impedances of the FOH desk and your preamps, there will be some dB of signal loss as well.

If you can convince the FOH engineer that you can provide PP reliably from your preamps, I would take the direct out for your recording and supply the FOH with the transformer out.

PS Maybe you are the FOH engineer as well. If so, get convincing.

Boswell:

In dimensions the ART is perfect for my purpose. I have a 6U rack. 2U with MOTU 8Pre. 2U with ART split? and 2U with multicables.

The signal distribution should not be a problem ;)
Either i do it my self or the FOH engineer doesn't have to know :P

Have to except the dB loss. I cant imagine it would be more than acceptable and satisfying.

Thanks for the input.

Phantom power does not pass through transformers, so NO you don't have a choice of where it comes from. In a split with a PA the foh generally takes the direct output (assuming the live show is the initial priority), so that is where phantom power will come from.
The good news is the PP will not be sent to the inputs of your recording pres. The transformers will prevent this. This is a good thing, and why they are called isolation transformers.

This is exactly what I am doing using two of these units for a 16 channel live rig. I have been very happy with it. While there may in fact be some light signal loss I have not noticed it in my recordings. When I am recording in large venue situations where I am usually jumping off the monitor station it has been well recieved by the FOH providers in the fact that it eliminates ground loop problems. As Zoo said direct in/out where it has to return to FOH which may mean that you will need to have TRS to XLR adapter harnesses, to reconnect to them direct.
Nicely built, passive so no power issues. One thing to keep in mind though these units are very shallow and you need to be able to access both front and rear so in deep road cases this can be a little problematic, I have rear harnesses on these as well but all in all, thumbs up!!!