[Midlandmorgan]

I too use the d8b...with Samplitude.

And for all the extremely cool things Samp does, there are times in which the digital mixer comes in really handy....especially at tracking times. Just being able to adjust cue sends/pans without opening a new screen or another application is often times a valid justification for keeping it here.

Same could be said for analog mixers...some people just prefer the ergonomics of sliding things, twisting actual knobs, pushing real buttons, etc....let the DAW do the processing, and let the mixer do the levels, pans, and 2 track routing.

Its a choice based on preferences and work habit - nothing more. Given my druthers, I'd have a digitally controlled analog mixer (ala Euphonics) but don't have $160,000 druthers laying around. (or whatever they cost these days)