While this may be an oxymoron, I'll give 'er a shot.

-My primary goal is to plugin mics, go throught the pre's, and then go direct out to my rack mount Delta 1010, and get decent sound for recording.

-My secondary goal is to do the odd gig, once per month or two, and be able to do sound for our 'band' such as it is.

-Ease of servicability(read: local) and solid construction would be a bonus.

-I don't need effects, but some of these have them.

OF course, the usual suspects pop up.

Mackie 1604 VLZ3---(16 XLR's)---$900

Allen and Heath Mix Wizard 16:2---(16 XLR's)---$1000

Soundcraft M series-M12 20 channel---(12 XLR's)---$900

Yamah MG24/14---(16XLR's)---$900(somebody is selling one locally for $550, used, but sound is more important to me than saving a few hundred bones)

So which one of these would you buy, and why?

Oh, and if there are others out there under a grand that really shine, I'm all ears

Cheers
Keith