Mixer Setup Suggestions?, not sure what to do now.. Options

[Drifta]

Hello all,

I've come to an interesting point in the growth of my studio and I'm a bit stuck on where to go now. Just a brief rundown of what I've got:

3 mixers:
16 channel which i'm using as my main board (mackie 1604).
24 channel rack thay i'm running all the synths/sampler to (this has a submix bus).
8 channel that i'm going to use for analogue instruments (has stereo out and monitor out).

recording:
ADAT (not in use at the moment)
Mac G3 (yosemite) with M-Audio Delta 44.

Right now I have the mains from the 24ch and 8ch running to 4channels (2 stereo) on the 16ch. I have delta mains (2ch) also to the 16ch.

The problem is that I want to be able to do live jam recording without mixing it stereo first. The same problem occurs with synth recording, I either record 1 synth at a time or mix multiple synths to stereo and record that. I think it would be better to have each source on it's own track.

Is there a way to do this without buying like a 16 input recording interface? If I were to get a more recordable ins, how would I set up the mixers so that I could utilize them? Something like direct outs to a patchbay? I guess I'm just getting confused about what to do now to grow. I'd like to have a drumset somewhere (another at least 4 channels of input needed)..

I'm starting to get a bit tangled here thinking of what/how to write this stuff in an understandable way. Perhaps it would be easiest to stop here and try answering questions you might have. I'll run down what I have as far as sound sources:

approx 32 ch of synth outs
up to 16 ch of analogue outs
the 3 mixers
and 4 ch audio ins from sound card.

...ok. now i'm gettin' batty .

i'll answer any questions you have, and would LOVE suggestions on gear, setup or other that you might have!!!

thanks,
John

[Drifta]

Ok. Thankyou both for your responses!

I think I probably need to do both, consolidate my mixers AND get a multi channel card. I think that would really simplify the studio... make much more intuitive to work in. Is this the general solution for studio growth? For instance, if I get a few more synth or something like that, will have have to look for a 48channel mixer? and so on...

I downloaded the mackie 32x8 users manual and have been reading that. I must say, EGADS! ! Is crazy all the stuff you can hook into/out of that board. I got confused trying to imagine possible setups. That thing has up to 32 recordable outs or something.. 24 tape ins/outs plus the 8 busses... I started thinking about patchbays and stuff as well, then my head exploded. I might go to one of the local studios and ask if I can see how they have it set up... there are then question about effects, compressors and all that stuff.. good grief will drive me mad for sure!!!

i'll also look into a new puter in the case that mine barfs when trying to handle 8 simultaneous tracks of incoming audio... hope I don't have to though, another $2k (unless i go with a Windows box).

cheers,
Drifta