In theory using all the inputs at once you can input 18 channels at once. This is enough for a phase locked "band" backing track of drums gtrs bass keys and guide vocals.
That is cool enough in my book
I wonder if you can go spdif or lightpipe i/o with deluxe reverbs or FX. Then the rtas stuff could just do EQ and Compression, would sort of lighten the load on the Mac....Could be a cool way to go.....
Jules