I'm helping my friend set up a new set up with X3. He is looking to have 16 XLR inputs.
Any suggestion as to what avenue i should go? I was thinking of 2 Focusrite Pro 40s chained together. The only concern for me is, I had so many issues with setting up my FW that I don't want to deal with that again.
 
Thanks
 

Hello,
 
The focusrite Pro 40 with the focusrite octopre option via ADAT may be a less complex setup than 2 Pro 40's.  Another suggestion is the Zed R16. I have both and both are very good.  I think that the Zed offers more flexibility in my opinion and its preamp/eq - strip/routing capability takes it to a slightly higher level... IHTH

How about a Behringer X32 Producer? I quite like the larger version they have at the music school I work at.

Thanks for the feedback. He has $2K to spend on a interface and PC. Its gonna be tight.
I am trying to talk him into just 8 ins. 
 
 

You don't happen to have an old ADAT machine laying around, do you?
I purchase a $100 Furman 8 mic pre  rack unit. Connect that with 8- 1/4" cables to the ADAT. Set the ADAT to all input monitor and use the ADAT input on the Focusrite Pro40.
I don't have a need for more than 8 mic pres usually, but when I do, it's a cheap means to an end. 
The ADAT isn't worth selling, May as well use it for something. 
 You'll be limited to working 44.1 or 48k due to the ADAT limitation. 
 

The ZED-R16 gets my vote although for some a full blown mixer might be a bit overkill. Expandable to 24 in/out with ADAT.
 
I've had mine a few years now and if it broke I'd buy another tomorrow. Well actually I'd buy it's newer, bigger brother the GS-R24... but you get my point. 
 
Not sure about the pricing in the US but it retails at around £1500 here in the UK.
 
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If you're not in need of bitrate higher than 48k, either one Presonus Audiobox 1818 with an ADAT for the second set of 8 or a second 1818... Setup is USB2 and easy...

Or look at the new Presonus Studiolive rackmount version available in 16/24/32 configurations... And these support up to 96k and still USB2... These are full Studiolive AI interfaces but use virtual controls.... If you don't need/want the mixer/console bulk

Keni

I bought 2 Roland Studio-Captures at Guitar Center for less than 2 grand. You can sync them together for a total of 24 XLR ins with preamps and compressors on each channel, 8 more TRS ins which brings the total ins to 32 tracks. Each unit has ten outs so the total of outs for two units is 20 outs.
I have used them for well over a year, replacing a MOTU 24io interface. I would absolutely be lost without the Studio-Captures now. Definitely, worth checking out.

Any  interface with an additional optical ADAT to slave an octopre or firepod etc (Any brand) is the way to go.   You don't need 2 full blown interfaces (2 pro 40s).  I have an RME UFX and 2 focusrites including an octopre and it works great!  A Pro 40 (8 xlrs?)  and Octopre MkII (don't need the compression version) would be a great way to go

Duplicates deleted.....
 
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