vanceen
The Behringer is so cheap that you wonder what you're getting into, but it's actually not bad at all. I try to use it on less critical tracks, but I've honestly never heard any problems with it.
 
When my ADA8000 died, I looked for something a little pricier, but it wasn't easy to find another ADAT device with preamps that didn't cost more than my UFX. There appears to be an empty niche in the market. 

"When my ADA8000 died" tells about the product quality or lack of it. I had ADA8000, too, and it lasted 2 years 250 days before one power capacitor exploded. ADA8000 does not sound bad at all but I would choose something more durable like Presonus Digimax D8.

Odd, but very happy man out - MOTU 1248.   You were looking at two 8 PRE's instead.   The  32 Sabre converters do sound far better, so do the mic preamps, in the new AVB line as apposed to the older product family - you may want to consider the new line instead.  I noticed the difference right away.  I believe the 32 Sabre product family is found in products that cost many hundreds of dollars more.  Take time to research that too.      
 
I like MOTU's implementation of zero latency using its own router and internal mixer.  Its not as simple as the older product family, but it has far more flexibility.  There's also a big plus in the mixing tools in the ability to change my monitor mix using an iPAD.  If its just me recording, its pretty straightforward, I use the Sonar tools - but when I have talent in, within about 5 minutes, they are managing their own mix.   AVB has helped with connectivity into different rooms in the house.  1 1248 in the 'project studio' connected in the house cat5 wiring (thats the only use for cat5 since I went wireless on the other computer connectivity) with a 1248 in any other room is a nice plus for me, since I have a few rooms that sound a lot better for some recording applications.  I can say that it took an hour to wrap my head around the routing implementation in the system, just with one 1248. 
 
All in all, a solid new product platform, and I am happy with mine - but take time to do your research.  Its an important decision, given its impact on your sound.  
  
Very best regards,
 
L
 
   

I use the Roland (Cakewalk) VS 700.  I'm also using an RME MultiFaceII that I'm using for conversion from some of my outboard mic pre's.  It's connected to the VS via ADAT.  At 96K it gives me four more channels of very nice A/D conversion.  I also have a Mytek A/D converter that's connected to the AES of the VS.  So at 96K I get 8 channels on the VS, 4 channels from the MultifaceII, and 2 channels from the Mytek.  That's 14 available mic pre's.  At 48K I can get 8 from the MultiFaceII.  So a total of 18 channels if required.

RME Baby Face, very nice.

Octa Capture - solid on windows 10 with X3 P

Using the Audient iD22. Beautiful sounding preamps, ultra clean converters, low latency, and the option to add an ASP800 or ASP880 via ADAT. I also love that it doubles as an awesome monitor controller.

If you want to spend 1000 or under, get a used (or new) focusrite Saffire 56 but it still uses Firewire which BTW is compatible with Thinderbolt).   They can be had between 600 - 800 bucks and they're GREAT and have all the IO and features you'll likely ever need with excellent sound quality!  If you want to spend more like 2K, go with RME UFX, again you can save big bucks used.  RME is just SOLID and sound amazing and also have all the IO you would ever need.   There some impressive looking interfaces now by Antelope (Zen) but that may be Mac only.  

Don;t confuse interface and adat expansions.   The machine really only see one interface and all other inputs appear via the single interface.   Focusrite allows you to combine interfaces but that is managed within focusrite tool and not ASIO.   I ran Saffire 56 with 2 additional octopres for 24 ins plus some additonal digital IO but the computer recognizes this as one interface .  I moved up to the RME UFX and have the same expansion and works awesone

Focusrite Sapphire Pro 40.  Ive been checking out the UA Apollo's lately. Might need to get me one!

Roland QuadCapture - Win7/8/8.1/10 never any issues.