| There is ADAT I/O on the interface which you could use to connect external preamps to the MR if your selected pres have digital and ADAT options. I've heard that the drivers aren't that rock-solid either for some users but there has also been a lot of happy customers.
If you want rock solidity and full expandability, the RME FF400/FF800 might be the way to go. Drivers have never been faulty, preamps are very good (if a little too clean) and the AD/DA is great. Steinberg supposedly does have better AD/DA but I wouldn't think it would make the biggest difference ever, I have got album-quality tracks from my FF400 and some even get it with MOTU interfaces which are another step down from the FF400. Or you could get both of them, using the MR preamps and the FF AD/DA and routing options.
If you need more expandability you can link up to 3 FF modules together (3 400s OR 3 800s) and have even more I/O. With 3 FF400s you get 6 preamps, 6 switchable instrument/line inputs, 12 line inputs, 24 line outputs, 24 ADAT I/O, 3 SPDIF I/O (carries 2 channels each) and word clock.
You can also link 3 MR units together and get 24 preamps (6 bypass preamp stages) 24 ADAT I/O, 24 line outputs, 3 SPDIF I/O (Carries 2 channels each) and word clock. Preamps are better, AD/DA is also better (So I have heard) and you get integration with Cubase and Nuendo.
All in all, it depends on what you want from your system. If you want better hardware/software interfacing which is solid, with plenty of expandability, get the FF400/800 for their solid drivers and flexible routing. If you want direct integration with Cubase and Nuendo, with nicer pres and AD/DA, get the MR816. You can also get 1 REV-X Reverb instance per unit. If you get the CSX models you also get the compressor/EQ channel strip (8 per CSX unit). |