Karyn
Presonus now do rack versions of their digital mixers, 16 and 32 channel versions.

The 32, for example, will act as a 32x32 interface with a computer or run standalone with any wireless device such as iPad, tablet, Mac mini, etc, as a controller.

Hi Karyn, I looked at the RM/AI stuff before, but I didn't catch anything about wireless.  But I took a closer look and sure enough, you got me.  I am not much in favor of Presonus' hardware, but I believe it is a world above Behringer's for sure.  The hardware mixers are pretty cool, indeed.  I recall being impressed with these when first announced.  I read that Presounus just released a Dante card so that make these mixers even cooler.  But the price tag is up there.  Comparing the price of Behringer, that might say a lot more about the quality of Behringer hardware, as usual.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker

Several sound companies who run sound for my band use the X32 Digital Console (including one engineer who's been recently mixing for James Taylor).
 
It's a great piece... rock-solid, good sound, and very flexible
I liked it enough to buy the "Compact" version for my studio.
The built in USB audio interface is decent.  At ~10ms total round-trip latency (ASIO), it's solid.
I assume the new smaller "spin-off" versions are using the same technology.
If that's the case, you won't be disappointed...
 
iPad control works great.  Especially nice if you're in tight quarters in a club...
 

Thanks Jim for the first hand experience. I inquired at a store yesterday but they are not available yet. I'm willing to give the XR12 a shot for $300. If it actually works as a simple audio interface that will be useful. Mostly It will give me a playback option for live performance. 
 
I'm still toying with returning to using midi in a live situation to control effects parameters for each song. So that require using a DAW to playback my backing tracks. Audio/MIDI. 
 
I would have bought the XR12 outright if it was in stock, instead they are letting try out a TC Helicon voice Play. It will require hours of set up for different songs and then remembering which preset is correct while performing! It sounds good so far but I've been down that road before, sounds great at home/ sucks at the gig. 

johnnyV
...XR12 a shot for $300. If it actually works as a simple audio interface that will be useful. Mostly It will give me a playback option for live performance. 
...

 
XR 12 and 16 support USB stereo.
 
XR 18 is the only one that does USB multi track.

Yes I said that in #4. 
It's always debatable that audio will sound much better over an interface. I've mostly just used the 1/8" line out for the last 10 years. But if I use a DAW for playback I will need ( desire) stable asio drivers. So this will be a wait and see for this product. People in music stores I was in today just draw a blank stare when you ask about the availability. They are not on the price list yet. 

Yeah, thanks, Jim.  I appreciate your recommendation on the Presonus mixers.  I was reconsidering the Roland Studio Capture, but without ADAT I/O I would lose use of my existing hardware.  I will see what else Presonus is going to release and if any check all of my boxes.  Expandability is a big one as are multiple, quality preamps, I/O count and connectivity.
 
And thank you, Johnny.  I wouldn't consider Behringer even if they offered some unique functionality I really wanted.  I would not trust them at any price.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker

It's too bad the Behringer screwed up so big in the audio world, They must have a hard job now to convince all those people who got burned that they could make anything dependable. The x32 is a big hit,, but it's only been in use for a short while. MY Yamaha system is 25 years old,, so I kind trust them still..

OTOH... while Behringer fights the stain of early chinese manufacturing errors, they still keep their prices low, and their quality has gone up tremendously. Good for us!
 
Behringer had the unfortunate position of being first in china. Today, everybody builds there and quality is quite good, assuming your paying a rate for 'quality' manufacture. You'd be surprised - check the faders on their current crop of small mixers against Mackie, Yamaha's. Major difference in feel.
 

johnnyV
 
I would have bought the XR12 outright if it was in stock, instead they are letting try out a TC Helicon voice Play. It will require hours of set up for different songs and then remembering which preset is correct while performing! It sounds good so far but I've been down that road before, sounds great at home/ sucks at the gig. 

FWIW, I owned a TC Voice-Live II for about 6 months.

• The onboard mic preamp was terrible!  Preamps in a $500 32-channel Behringer analog board blew that preamp away.  The Behringer preamps sounded fat and alive by comparison  
• The reverbs were nowhere close to what I was expecting (given the TC name/reputation).
• The tap-tempo feature had a major bug (at least on my unit).  If you had consecutive presets that used different types of delay, the tempo would get scrambled.  Switch patches... and you'd see the blinking light flashing at like 300-BPM... and the sound was completely botched.  Had to (re)tap the tempo prior to starting every tune.

The harmony and pitch-shift EFX were cool... but my bandmates could sing harmony (well) on-the-fly.  I never used those features.
 
 

Behringer has bought/absorbed several quality companies (ie: Midas).
If you listen to the preamps on the X32, it's pretty obvious they're well designed.
Keep absorbing quality companies/technology and the folks behind those... and it's bound to make a difference.
Fender recently bought GenzBenz.  Shortly there after, they release the Rumble 500 series bass head that sounds great.
 
My wife and I are at a lot of live shows here in Columbus.
I'm either playing... or she's there with QFM-96.
If it's local acts, the mixer is often a X32 (Presonus and Mackie digital boards are also common).
If it's a national act, the console is usually a Midas or Venue.