Eddie if you want to mix as if you were mixing on an old school mixing desk, that can be done, but using software it really requires a control surface, not a analog mixer that has only audio connection to the software. Something like this http://www.musiciansfriend.com/computer-audio-interfaces-convertors/m-audio-projectmix-i-o The problem you will run into is that route can rapidly get expensive, especially if you want 16 channels. 8 is easy, and some units do expand. A typical mixer, or interface will only send audio to a sound card, or computer, and receive it. It has no ability to move the faders, and controls of the software to mix. So this is where control surfaces come in play.

I understand the frustration, and the fact you have a lot invested in the gear, and it does not do what you wanted. You bought the mackie board, the motu interfaces, and such, but none of these are control surfaces, and you are doing things kind of the hard way.

Take a deep breath my friend, and step back a bit. Figure out what you want, do the research and get the equipment you need, sell what you have, and upgrade if you so choose.

The other Option is to step back and lower your expectations a bit, like the rest of us do, and learn a process that is available to you. We all want the experience to be as easy as possible, but most can't afford to go out and buy a home studio setup that rivals capitol records. Put aside that RB is acting up right now, no software you buy is going to give you this capability with out a hardware element involved. Plus eddie as you and I both know you get a tad wound up, and jump light years ahead. Remember the sessions where we worked on your system online, it was not big things that were stumping you, but small adjustments.

It might seem like you left the system for the night and came back and it failed, but something changed, maybe not from you, but something like the screensaver, or powersaver settings are interfering. Sometimes when I come back to the computer and wake it up, it will struggle to start up for a bit, if you then add the pressure of trying to use RB it might lock up on you.

HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.