You started off the thread saying you did not want to give your money to Presonus because of their crumby support. 
 
Earlier in the thread you said you need 1 mic, 1 guitar and 10 synth inputs. The RME box does that on its own. You also said you mostly use Kontakt and soft synths these days. That means you need something that can do low latency. Again, the RME boxes are known for that. 

But then above you said yeah but the UFX isn't expandable if I want more inputs. Which I corrected. And to that you say yeah sure ok its expandable but I think the presonus mixer is a better deal. To my reading, you're looking for an audio interface with some mixer functions tacked on (RME), not a mixer with some audio interface functions tacked on which is what the Presonus mixer is. But I'm only going on what you've written so perhaps your focus has shifted since then?
 
At any rate, it sounds like you've made up your mind. Best of luck.

Hence my last post.

Johan, I like your cat!
 
I did say I need 10 synths (at least), which is 20 inputs in stereo as each synth takes 2 inputs. And that is without being future proof. I can always buy more synths. Right now I have all 24 channels taken on Presonus, and my electronic drum set cables laying on the floor somewhere behind the desk, as well as few more synths. RME box will let me connect 1 mic, 1 guitar and 5 synths. Or- 4 synths and Presonus from Output to Input on RME... May be I should call RME and ask about dependability.

 You can connect multiple RME's, however you like (USB, FW, TB, Pcie (and even mix and match, I believe)).

Not sure what you mean. You mean- connect to the computer via different inputs? Like one to Thunderbolt, another to USB? And what PCIE? 
Thank you. 

Well, trying to follow this thread and it seems to me a good way to go (with all the external synth inputs) is a separate, analog mixer (even line mixer) fed into a garden variety interface with several inputs.  You are making life hard by trying to find a 24 input interface with effects and little latency and that runs out of the box and is cheap.  I guess so, but you are really stacking up the qualifiers. And one thing I've learned, every piece of hardware added to a system is a potential source of problems. 
 
My old TC 48 interface might match your qualifications, although you would need an ADAT AD to get up to the 22 inputs.  It has 12 AD inputs including 4 mic pres, 1 x ADAT and Spdif each.   The latency was down below 4 ms via FW.  And it has great, usable effects.  And it should be stackable with other TC stuff, tho I've never tried that.
 
Re:  RME hardware.  Their early stuff used to be modular - you bought a pci card with various analog/digital connectors on it and daughter cards, then added ADDA.  Now they are mostly MADI and USB which plug into your computer and their hardware units come with digital in/outs for further expansion (or via MADI, Dante).
 
Re: Presonus.  A long time ago I had their original FireStation unit.  It was great - the first affordable 8 track digital interface, but Yamaha built it (I think) and definitely wrote the FireWire (mLan) drivers.  After a year or so they updated the Station and bricked my unit (and others) with a firmware upgrade for it.  I ended up kicking up a fuss about the time of one of the major trade shows, writing online about both companies products (as well as to the Presidents of both companies).  The next week I was contacted by both.  And fortunately, both companies were coming out with new units and so they tried to make me happy (and shut me up) and I got the better deal on a new Firepod from Presonus.  So I don't have anything bad to say about them, since as far as I could tell their hardware got shafted by Yamaha mLAN drivers.

vladasyn
 
Not sure what you mean. You mean- connect to the computer via different inputs? Like one to Thunderbolt, another to USB? And what PCIE? 
Thank you. 

Yes, you can connect one via TB and one via USB as an example.
There are some (*older as well) Pcie RME cards (*that have been updated to the latest drivers).
https://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/overview_pci_express.php
 

Re: an analog mixer - that was basically my idea of a patchbay. While a mixer may be more convenient because you can leave its output plugged into your interface, it adds, as you say, a potential source of problems and at the very least will add a slight amount of noise and coloration.

Regardless, I feel Vladasyn has basically made up her mind to do whatever she wants, which is completely within her rights of course.

vladasyn
Johan, I like your cat!
 
I did say I need 10 synths (at least), which is 20 inputs in stereo as each synth takes 2 inputs. And that is without being future proof. I can always buy more synths. Right now I have all 24 channels taken on Presonus, and my electronic drum set cables laying on the floor somewhere behind the desk, as well as few more synths. RME box will let me connect 1 mic, 1 guitar and 5 synths.

 
I see what you mean. The RME would definitely require additional hardware in order to do what you're trying to do.
 
An original RME UFX and a pair Behringer ADA800's would cost you less than the UFX+ and would then give you up to 28 inputs for synths. Not as ideal a solution as one box that does it all I realize. But to be fair, a one box 28 input audio interface solution is going to be hard to find. Digital mixers can do it, but digital mixers are generally built to be mixers with the audio interface as an afterthought. Per your original post, you're doing a lot with Kontakt these days. Is a digital mixer going to handle a couple instances of Kontakt plus what ever plugs you need with no latency issues?
 
From what you describe of your needs, I think I'd give up looking for one box that can handle all your synths and any you add later. Why spend all that money to have a ton of boxes all hooked up at once when you yourself say you don't really use most of them all that much anymore? I think I'd be in the market for a decent audio interface with a great latency specs and a reasonable number of ins and outs. And then I'd get one or two $100 DBX patch bays. Hook up 8 or 10 ins from the I/O box on one end and all your synths on the other and call it a day.
 
When you want to mess with the old PolySix, you plug in two patch cables and let it rip. On this project you're thinking the old CZ101 is the perfect tone? No problem, two patch cables and you're done. Simple, elegant and as easily expandable as it gets.
 

With RME you need to consider the long-term costs vs other platforms.  I had a hammerfall for ages.  They supported new drivers long after the Hammerfall was not in their current  product offering.  I now have 2 FF800s.  Those have long been discontinued, but new drivers come out constantly.  
 
I  had used MOTU before upgrading to RME.  while my issues were few, it was at a time when MOTU was principally a mac platform and the windows stuff seemed to lag as far as updates were concerned.  
 
RME has a variety of products that work off USB, Firewire (400 and 800) and Thunderbolt.  They also have MADI stuff but I have no experience with MADI so I cannot fairly comment.  
 
Maybe RME is boring, but it is rock solid and well supported.  There are few interfaces with lower latency than the RME equipment.  In my opinion, they have excelled in low latency drivers.  
 
I cannot comment on the UAD interfaces.  I do have a couple of PCI cards (2 quads) and was a big user of the UAD 1 platform when it came out.  In my opinion, their plugins are amongst the best out there.  Then again, I am biased.  

Hey there
I am still considering different options- looking in to Antelope Orion interfaces. Just typed big post, hit wrong button and it all disappeared.
Antelope Audio Orion32+  https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Orion32PlusHas 32 line inputs!  

Thunderbolt, USB, and more

The Antelope Audio Orion 32+ utilizes Thunderbolt or USB to connect with Mac and Windows computers. Multiple digital formats, including MADI, ADAT, and S/PDIF.
that is all nice but it has no Preamps? And it has no headphone outputs. This is frustrating. I use headphones for everything. I have ART headphone amp, but why would I want to use 200$ headphone amp to listen $3000 interface?
 
And then there is Antelope Orion Studio https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/OrionStudio
For some reason, this one does not support Thunderbolt on Windows, only Mac. Windows is USB. There is no MADI. So looks like I would have to use ADAT to connect this one and Orion 32+ to get headphones output and Preamps? This makes no sense.
 
The interesting part is that it has Overloud amp models for reamping, and it has Guitar Output on the front panel that allows to route guitar out for reamping. I record guitars live as in my house it is impossible to keep everybody quiet. So guitar output would not really help me. But watch the viseo on the product page- it talks about guitar recording and reamping. I find it interesting but not sure I can use it. Isn't Cakewalk used to offer discount for Overloud products?

Check this one out" This is new Antelope Goliath audio interface that will be released this summer. This is full package, but out of my price range. Supposed to be 6-7k retail. But looks so awesome! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUdavtR7hq0
 
And then there will be old Goliath option to consider- may be the price will go down some. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Goliath
 
New Orion Studio will be shipping in May: http://www.sonicstate.com...refreshed/