Thinking this might be a nice interface/live system...
 
Information here:
http://www.presonus.com/products/StudioLive-RM-Series
 

How about the (Cheaper) Behringer version?
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XR18
 
Note that this one is USB vs. Firewire and there are known WIFI issues (fixed by using external router).

Hi Pat.  I am a Presonus user and recently the Presonus road-show visited Australia so I can tell you a few things.  The RM stuff is excellent but it is still geared towards live, not studio.  (note you can use it in the studio but you really need racks of DI's in order to get balanced and unbalanced TS and TRS connections into the RM boxes.)  If so for live the RM units can be controlled by the UC software that runs on any computer although one with a touch screen is advisable.
 
The RM stuff can also be controlled by the new Presonus CS18AI mixer which has just come out as well instead of a computer.  More like a hardware mixer talking to the RM stuff.  Good thing about the CS18AI is it is also a complete control surface for Studio One software which is also rather cool. (what is cool is you can flick a switch and leave the Live mix alone and it all stays the same and then you can go over to Studio One for complete control and then go back to the live mix. Way good) But even so it is still more for Live apps where you might be running Studio One live along side a live RM mix.  (Although if you are just recording the live gig 'Capture' can do that as well.)
 
Now I am interested in studio applications rather than live and I would love a studio version of the RM box so I can plug in TRS/TS balanced/unbalanced line levels (synths) and Mics and RCA inputs etc..  I asked them if they were going to do something like this and they said maybe later but not now.
 
Good news is what is coming though next year is a new version of the StudioLive mixers but they are going to have DAW control built in and be able to talk directly to StudioOne  (and I am pretty sure other DAW's as well like the Faderport can, they are going to allow various control surface protocols I am sure)  The Studio Live mixers have all the connectivity you need for a decent studio setup. Not sure about this but they might also feature motorised faders too like the CS18AI.  So they are going to do something in between the CS18AI and the now existing StudioLive mixers which sounds sensible to me too.  There will only be 16 and 32 channel versions though.  All the Mic Pres will now be remote controlled via Studio One software. (and maybe a stand alone app if you are on a different DAW)

isn't technological advance in this field amazing?   The Berhinger looks eminently more affordable for the needs of live shows at less than half the price and with direct recording to a DAW already.... good for studio tracking also???

nice comparison of the Studio live 16.02, Behringer and Mackie dl 1608
https://www.gearslutz.com...udiolive-16-0-2-a.html
 

Thanks for the info Jeff.  

Vastman
isn't technological advance in this field amazing?   The Berhinger looks eminently more affordable for the needs of live shows at less than half the price and with direct recording to a DAW already.... good for studio tracking also???

 
The X32 is a great unit but it does not solve the issue of the stage box being on the stage.  The X32 is $2300 at Sweetwater.  The S32 channel remote stage box is $1500.  I am not not sure if the X32 and S32 can run in tandem.
 
The Presonus RM32 is $1800.  And it can be controlled by a free app that runs on any spare laptop you might have around with a touch screen.  The CS18Ai is $2000 so $3800 for both units together.  Or only $1800 for the RM32 stage box with an existing computer.
 
The CS18Ai will also handle 64 channels too by the way.  So the extra RM32 could be added in later.  Both options are different but the Presonus setup could also be had for reasonable money as well.
 
For anyone running Studio One however the level of integration is deep compared to basic with the X32 and Studio One.  It can record multiple channels but that might be as far as it goes.  The CS18Ai also doubles as a serious control surface for Studio One and it also takes over remote control of all Mic Pre functions of the RM16/32 as well.  So they are all stored along with your song files etc..
 
In the studio the Behringer X32 still does not solve the studio needs for bal/unbal TS/TRS higher imp inputs etc.  Got the same issue with XLR low impedance balanced lines only.
 
For studios the upcoming new StudioLive mixer might be the go. I am assuming it will be well priced too. (the current 16.4.2Ai is $1600 so I am hoping the new mixers will be similar price)
 
I forgot to mention too that Presonus is talking about a rack mounted extender to the new StudioLive mixer. Another full 16 channels will be available with XLR/Line inputs etc as per the new mixers. So you could get the smaller footprint 16ch new StudioLive plus the extender for 32 inputs all up in your studio. All Mic Pres will be remote controlled. Then you don't need the CS18Ai. (unless you want the Studio One control surface concept. I don't think the new Studio Live mixers will go as far as the CS18Ai for Studio One control, not sure about this yet)
 
Studio One will be able access the DSP inside the new Studio Live mixers as well. (it can now with the CS18Ai and also the current StudioLive mixers)
 
I agree the live thing is served well but the studio concept needs to catch up though.  There will be some interesting options coming.

Thanks for all the input.  Based on what Jeff says I may wait out the newer units that may lean toward DAW and maybe do Live stuff too.  My old FirePod & Mackie mixer will live on for a while longer.  The one drawback is the FirePod drivers are not supported on Windows 10.
 
I would love to upgrade to Windows 10 but cannot because of this.  ...sigh...
 

I bought an RM16ai and find the limitation of no TRS a problem for use in a studio. That however is just the beginning of features that will eventually be available with further firmware updates.

I had hoped that I could make use of the inbulit AVB networking capability. Little did I know that the real info about AVB on a PC is hidden (quite deliberately I think) from potential users. The fact is that AVB is not a viable option on a PC as there isn't really an affordable network AVB card for a PC. There are only a few and as difficult to find in the market as hens teeth. Audio over AVB is not yet activated either as far as I'm aware.

There are far to many options not yet available in either the UC software or the firmware to make the unit fully functional for studio use.

Fortunately I got your unit on sale so I shouldn't have any problems selling it.

I must temper my criticism with a balanced view that for live use it should be quite good.

I have an RM32 which I use for live and I love it.  I can see that the lack of TRS/TS line inputs could be an issue in a studio setup, my live rack includes several DI units to provide that, along with a few "floating" DI boxes.
 
When used in a studio it basically becomes a 32 input, 16 output sound card.  You can use the onboard FX like compression and EQ in the recording chain the same as you would with analogue units,  but in my opinion it's better to tap the signal direct from the preamp and ignore any onboard processing.  Not because it's bad, it isn't, but because its not analogue and thus you'd not be gaining anything by using it.
 
Ignore AVB.