I currently own a MOTU896HD mk2 firewire interface which gives me 8 mic pres to my DAW (XP / Cubase) very reliably.

Unfortunately the mic preamps on the MOTU are a little poor in the sense that 90% of the gain control is in the last couple of mm of travel on the pots.

In any case I want to expand to at least 12 channel I/O of which at least 8 must be mic pres.

MOTU have an 8pre which on paper integrates nicely into a existing MOTU setup but I am keen to see what other options from alternative manufacturers exist.

Can anyone suggest a setup from RME that would give me 8 channels of mic pre plus at least 4 line at the same time to my DAW over firewire?

Thanks for reading

Tony