New interface vs mixer vs both?

$2k-$2500 is a pretty big budget to replace your existing interface. let us know what type of ports your new computer will have and we'll be able to tell you if you should go with a Motu Tbolt interface, or something USB-based. or maybe keep what you have and buy a light-pipe converter. lots of options..

How many signals max will you need to convert at one time , less than 8, less than 16, less than 24 ?

As much of an analog guy I am, I'd say you'd be best served with a good interface and a preamp patchbay first, then a summing mixer with inserts (going to another patchbay) for the mixdown stage. Once you get all this working, then decide if you really need a mixer later.

For me, since I'm doing this stuff semi-professionally, I've found that a mixer is great for me, but I use it mostly to work with stems and submixes for guitars, bass, vocals and effects.  For drums I use separate channels and then sum through a bus.

Thanks for the rapid answers!

My inputs will likely be a Max of 4 microphones plus their individual preamp/eq/comp

The Soundcraft Signature 22 MTK does 24 channels in & 22 out via discrete channels over USB... I explain it a little more in this thread:

realgearonline.com/thread/6621/soundcraft-mtk-22

EDIT: BTW, it's a Hybrid Console. You can use it as an interface in the Studio or as an analog standalone Live Mixer. You can send your VST/VSTi's out the mains during a live show, or route them for recording... or both.

Well, one thing I can tell you right off the bat (and I may have more to say later) is this - you do NOT want a crappy Mackie mixer (and Mackie mixers are crappy by definition, I've owned too many of them) in your recording chain. In the musicians' tracking monitor chain, maybe. In your recording or control room monitor chain, no way.

If I'm not mistaken, their conversion limits you to 44.1/48 kHz sampling rate. That's a HUGE inconvenience these days when most plugins run best at 96. I would also not want my conversion to be married to my mixer. And I wouldn't want my audio always running through their converters, which it must if you're to apply VSTs through the board.

Also, if you have quality outboard preamps and EQ would you REALLY want to be forced to run them through the analog stages of a prosumer level mixer? I wouldn't. You'd be sacrificing all the headroom advantage of your outboard gear. And despite all of Harman's hoopla about "famous Ghost preamps", I'd want to at least see schematics to see what kinda of circuitry they use. I am not at all convinced that the "ghost preamps" in their prosumer boards are the same circuit used in their top of the line consoles, no matter what the PR weasels claim. And IIRC the first Soundcraft Ghosts were actually prosumer/medium club consoles, not top of the line. And at any rate, they were reinforcement consoles, not recording desks.

Well, the OP could take his $2.5k budget and get nearly the same setup as the 22 MTK ($800), with an added benefit or two. Most people who have heard or used this new Soundcraft board have been impressed with the bang for buck. I've conversed with one of the engineers from the Signature project who says if he could have taken anything from that project, it would have been the 22 MTK, and I know what he means now. After I bought it, my Sweetwater Rep said he was impressed with it; which he didn't hear it before I bought it, but after I commented on it he gave it a whirl. I, as a user would absolutely buy it again if I needed to. Most owners love the quality and price to performance ratio and would buy it again... Yeah, I would have paid more, for more on this desk and 32 channels instead of 22/24, but it is what it is and delivers what it delivers from Harman's expertise. Soundcraft delivered on this board, IMO. Any great engineer could make music with it.

Of the features that are there, nothing is lacking. These 16 Ghost Preamps are great. The Sapphire EQ is great (4 band with two sweepable mids). The DBX limiters are great. The dual engine Lexicon FX are great. The GB routing is great. All from previous SC Consoles, hence the "signature" name. This ain't a Mackie mixer. Nothing else out there delivers these features for 800 bucks... I've looked.

If I do sound design, I use a 192k setup. To me, 24/48k is fine for everyday use. If you can't make competitive music on this desk, the desk is not what's holding you back. The 22 MTK is my everyday rig now. I can track all of the features on this console at 192k into another system and mix that in the box for vid or whatever, with a control surface.

The sound is inspirational. There is nothing holding me back here. I've written, arranged, and rehearsed nearly 2 albums worth of material on this desk in the 10 months I've used the 22 MTK. I've put the last 2 albums on hold, because this desk's inspirational sound has made way for the new stuff. IMO, there are no "album filler" material in the bunch.

ericn, you didn't give the OP any recommendations after you knocked an "all in one" rig. I'm confident the OP would be satisfied with the 22 MTK. I think he may find he rarely uses his outboard gear, but rather uses it because he has it. For a live setup, this is a no brainer. Haul all of the outboard gear around if you want to... I'm too old to deal with the mess. My 2 ton Fender Amp will stay put.

One other point a budget of $x is often better in the bank if you don't know what you want, till you know what you need. I know what I would do, but I'm not you!
I have seen to many go broke in my gear pimp days spending their wad upfront and ending up with a great set up for someone else, not them. Better to start with the basics and figure it out from there.

I'm saying start with the most basic set up, figure out what ones individual needs really are then grow. I also have to add John Eppstiens point about the danger of ending up with a mixer interface that is a victim of no longer being supported is also something I would fear. Honestly I would fear any Harman Semi Pro product that plugs into a computer, seen to many people burned !
I admit the feature list is attractive I can see it working for you but I have had to help way to many dig out of putting all their eggs in one basket before, I have had to win back clients who bought into Harman's interfaces before ( oh how the screwed the pooch with Lexicon) and that scares me big time !
I hate to say this but as much as I can't stand what. Behringer did as far as stealing others designs, in the last 10 years they have proven to be a much Better big company than Harman and seam to actually care about the customer ( god it hurts to say that)!

Thanks for all the insight and comments...very useful!
Having something that is supported and compatible long term is important so will likely go with an RME if I can find a good deal or one of the MOTUs (828x, 16A or 1248)

Cheers
Mac