This mixer / interface / recorder - may not be for everyone - but it was definitely perfect for me. I looked for an all in one solution (after several years of being out of the music recording loop due to work etc.) . This one fit the said requirements perfectly - it's a mixer with more than enough connections for live recording including drum recording (which alone needs 8 mics in my setup) + other live instruments, it's a more than capable audio interface (up to 48kHz 24bit) for my DAW, and it's also a standalone multitrack recorder (which needs an SD card) - perfect for simple live recording without depending on a DAW in live situations (but which can of course be imported to the DAW later on for more advanced mixing and mastering). It's also rather visually appealing with a vintage (faux) wood finish.
The standalone multitrack recording capabilities took me back on memory lane to the days of my 4 track fostex cassette recorder - but I digress (as well as revealing my age).
One slight drawback though - it would be nice to have an option to record the individual tracks through the audio interface into the DAW post fader - as well as pre fader - thus enabling to use the onboard EQ and effects on individual tracks. As it is - the only way to do this is through the stereo mixdown (channels 23/24). Still, most people would be using the DAW plugins anyway for EQ, effects and such, so it's not really a deal breaker as such. There are also steady firmware updates, so who's to tell what functionality might still be added.
Also, the newer (but much smaller) Model 12 has some functionality the Model 24 lacks - a built in metronome as well as a MIDI interface (so you don't need an extra MIDI usb adapter). These would have been nice to have on this Model as well, so if you don't need 24 tracks - maybe the Model 12 could be a better fit for you. But for me none of these are major issues.
So in short - highly recommended.
