Can anyone suggest a USB interface with more than 8 line level TRS inputs that doesn't rely on an additional unit with ADAT or similar?
 
Ideally with a couple of mic pres (or failing that more TRS so mic pres can be added) and good, low latency as well.

 

you could cascade 2 roland octa-capture which would give you 18 IN channels ( 2x 8 XLR (mic pre) / TRS plus 1x (stereo) SPDIF ). these interfaces are good quality. i use 1 octa-capture to extend my vs-700r. what i particulary like about the octa-capture are the special features it comes with (4x hardware mixes possible, input auto-sens)

however, not having the option to connect an ADAT interface is the biggest drawback of the octa-capture.

how come you want to deliberately exclude ADAT options?

MOTU Ultralite Hybrid MK3.

8 analog in, 8 analog out
runs on USB or Firewire
2 mic pres
 
ah - but you said "MORE THAN"  sorry.
 
I can't think of any off of the top of my head with more than 8 on a single unit.  but there are several which can be chained together using USB or Firewire now instead of going thru ADAT.  the motu unit above will do that.  the roland octacaptures will, too.

I was about to say similar, but I think he wants only one unit with more than 8 inputs. And he wants them to be TRS, which could also be combo XLR/TRS I suppose.

Steve

Yep - I see that, Steve, I was correcting my post at the same time you posted.

I found the Tascam US-1800 and US2000. Sweetwater sells the 1800 for $199!!!
Be aware of the cons.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul10/articles/tascamus2000.htm
If you have a lot more money to spend, there are many professional options.

Wilko

A bit of explanation...

At present I have a bunch of hardware synths connected to a Mackie mixer which in turn feeds two pairs of UA-101 line ins, plus one UA-101 in/out pair acting as an aux bus for an external fx unit I sometimes use on anything from one track to a complete mix.
 
Ideally I'd like to remove the mixer and the fx unit on the Mackie's aux bus which provides a basic delay and reverb and connect everything direct to the interface then monitor via Sonar, thereby making vst effects available while tracking (if I can get latency low enough).

My comment about ADAT isn't because of any prejudices or desire to avoid ADAT in principle, simply that ideally I'd like to only have one box to power rather than two, thereby saving space and power sockets.

To be honest I'm not 100% commited to removing the mixer etc., because there are issues with direct monitoring just as their are (different) issues with my current setup.

Thanks for the suggestions - I've been considering the MOTU unit + one one of their preamp units and ADATing them together. I'd not spotted that Tascam make interfaces with that many ins/outs though.

Time to do some more thinking........

personally I would not recommend the tascam unit - I wouldn't buy one for 1/2 that price.  tascams drivers are not "rock solid" and it's hit or miss if they work with your system or not.

Ya, I'd stay away from the Tascam stuff. Pretty tough to find a single interface with more than 8 analog inputs. You generally have to expand from there. I'm in the same boat as you with two 24 ch. analog mixers pretty much patched full of outboard synths 'n stuff. When you compile a lot a gear and want it all plugged in and ready to go at any time, you pretty much need a mixer to augment your audio interface(s)...or a patchbay. I'd rather use a mixer. I don't want to patch anything!