using a hardware mixer to make song arrangements

[lozoz]

hi there, can anyone recommend a decent hardware mixer (preferably 8 track) to use as a tool for creating arrangements?

my intention is to send all tracks from ableton to the mixer then do a live mix using mutes, faders and hardware fx sends whilst recording the master output.

i have been working solely ITB and this will be my first foray into the outside world.

[JoshG567]

How many discrete outputs does your interface have? Mine is a decent USB unit and it only has the 2 monitor outs and a couple assignable headphone outs, I guess that is 8 mono channels when I add it up, but I'd need to use a bunch of adapters and shit to get the TRS to dual mono.

[lozoz]

i have access to a presonus firebox which i think has 8 outputs.

[divonic]

I have done what you want to do but I scrapped that setup years ago. I replaced my mixer with an APC40 the I/O of my soundcard goes to external effects and synths / drum modules but control and mixing are all inside the box.