I've pretty much given up on a single box interface with 16 mic pre's.  For whatever reason, they don't seem to exist, unless maybe you have thousands of dollars to blow.  You have to expand using ADAT (or line-out jumpers if using Tascam US-16x08).  Yeah I could do that....or, I could just get a damn mixer with 16 or more mic pre's and USB out and be done with it, in one device.  
 
I'm looking at Yamaha MGP24X (~$1200) and Mackie 2404 VLZ4 (~$1200)and ProFX22v2 (~$650).   I am open to other models and brands, but I just want to be sure I get decent mic pre's and AD/DA converters.  Those are the most important pieces, to me.  The mixer FX and features are nice, but will mostly go unused for this mixer's life.  It's really all about recording audio - mic pre's and conversion.  
 
And what about drivers for the USB recording link?  Is any particular brand better or worse about driver support?  Is there a better mixer or solution out there for the money?  

those mackie boards don't allow multitrack recording.  they only record the sum of the inputs to a stereo track.
 
the yamaha one i don't know about.
 
Presonus makes several mixers that are actual multitrack recording interfaces.  you should definitely consider them.

adat IS probably still the best choice.
 
mixers are limited typically, 
otherwise everyone in the world would use them,
and apparently they don't

BlixYZ
those mackie boards don't allow multitrack recording.  they only record the sum of the inputs to a stereo track.
 
the yamaha one i don't know about.
 
Presonus makes several mixers that are actual multitrack recording interfaces.  you should definitely consider them.

Man, I didn't realize that at all.  Totally blows this idea...
 
My Mackie Onyx 1620 is like 13 years old, I think.  It has a firewire option card and delivers all 16 tracks to the DAW, including 2 more main out tracks.  You can buy them for about 200 bucks on Ebay.  But a brand new one, with way more inputs and features, just main out basically?  Yeah, I did not expect that at all.  
 

batsbrew
adat IS probably still the best choice.
 
mixers are limited typically, 
otherwise everyone in the world would use them,
and apparently they don't

It's a built-in limitation that irritates the hell out of me when planning longer term.  Also, latency is fine when all 16 inputs are going through the same plumbing.  But when one device is hanging off of another one, there HAS to be a variation between the two, and I have no idea how a DAW deals with that. I will have drum inputs (ten) that will occupy both devices...I really don't want to fight trying to figure out why my overheads in device 2 are slightly behind the rest of the kit in device 1.  Or why anything hanging off of device 2 has extra latency and the DAW isn't adjusting for it...
 
All 16 inputs together, in the same box, and I don't have to worry about it.  Oh wait...except they don't make them for normal salaries.  
 
I just want to make music...not interested in "working" in the studio anymore, tweaking windows, playing with buffers, setting delays, yanking to sample rates...FFS
 
 
 

or rather, they use the super expensive ones,
an ADAT would be much cheaper.
 
look at the RME stuff....
 
i'd consider the fireface ufx II
http://www.rme-usa.com/fireface-ufx-ii.html
 
or fireface UC
http://www.rme-usa.com/fireface-uc.html
 
Paired with a nice digital mixer that can do at least 48khz
 
 
 

Checkout how this guy is using a Soundcraft mixer for recording, mixing, and analog summing.

https://youtu.be/zScpdyvJ8JA

The PreSonus III live series mixers just had an update to integrate with the DAW, best of course with Studio One.  All the bells and whistles and a front end as well.  The FX on the board are the same as the program and settings can be migrated easily, as one example of what you can do.
I would imagine the pres are as good as a decent, but average digital mixer.  Probably certainly not as high end as some dedicated pres, but I would think very usable.

I was shopping for the same thing a year ago and chose the Soundcraft Boards because of both features  and reports from Sonar users that the drivers worked!! That's important. 
I was looking at the 12 channel but they make all sizes
And many are only 2 channel USB. So pay attention
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Sig22MT 
 
 

Cactus Music
I was shopping for the same thing a year ago and chose the Soundcraft Boards because of both features  and reports from Sonar users that the drivers worked!! That's important. 
I was looking at the 12 channel but they make all sizes
And many are only 2 channel USB. So pay attention
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Sig22MT 

 
Man, that is a nice board.  Exactly what I'm looking for.  And every input has a line-in if you want to use an outboard mic-pre.  Then you still have mixer functions for use outside of the DAW world.  And you aren't the only one who likes those mic pre's.  This board is on the shopping list.
 
Someone snarled about the "soundcard" in the board...?  You notice anything sub par about it?  
 
Anyways, thanks for the suggestion.  I really do appreciate it.  
 
 

On the Sweetwater reviews many reported good lower latency performance with the drivers. There was even a review by a Sonar user so that was part of me giving it my top pick. I'm torn between that or a full blown digital mixer like the Behringer X 16 air. But I think I want those controls and not some iPad app.. I'm old fashion. 
For the price point it's miles above the competition. A close one was Presonus but there was a few reasons I ruled it out that I don't recall. WHat I do is just look at the board in the pictures and sort out what it does that way. 
The thing is it seems like it's a perfect studio solution other than it is not a control surface. But you could actually use it as a summing mixer as well because there are multi channel in and out. 
 
And I have a feeling the built in effexts are better than average.