guys ive had a very similar question to ask as well....

Im currently mixerless as i mix everything in cubase.

I have an Access Virus KC, SH-101, and Jomox Xbase 09, MOTU 828 for hardware, i sequence in cubase and the rest (bread and butter) of the studio is really the software synths....

Recently ive been getting the urge to find a hardware mixer of some sort.
Now i dont know if should invest in something like a MACKIE CONTROL UNIVERSAL and just get a control surface instead (im assuming i would have to go through the hassle of assigning CC#'s to knobs?), or getting a Mackie 1604 or some sort of Mackie Onyx mixer.

The reason why i am leaning towards an analogue mixer is because i like to EQ everything on board instead of opening 15 instances of Waves to do the same job.

On the other hand would it be too much trouble to get an analogue mixer just because of the so called 'analogue color' that hardware fanatics swear by? Would this mean that i have mix everything down in cubase and somehow bounce everything to my Mackie where it would get EQ'd, and then somehow bounce everything back? Would u guys be willing to do the same if in a similar position?

The reason why im so torn is because i have a MOTU 828 right now and that provides me with enough in/outs. If i get the Mackie mixer i would be basically patching everything through the mixer instead of the 828 and would feel that i am wasting money by using the 828 as a soundcard only.

PLEASE HELP! Any opinion would be greatly appreciated!