How do I best use my Mackie 1604 VLZ pro mixer?

[pickin]

I'm wondering what the best way to use my Mackie 1604 VLZ-Pro mixer. I just got it and my thoughts are to send digi001 outputs to the mixer "tape in" and route this signal to my Control Room outs feeding my reference monitors. This way, I'll never have to worry about latency while tracking. I use the tape-ins because there is nothing in the path except the volume pot. But, My question is by going to the RCA plug (Tape-in) conversion am I loosing some sonic quality? Also is there a better way to route digi001 monitoring through the mixer without altering the audio from digi001 outs? If someone has a better solution please let me know.

Thanks

[stickstome2]

What I would is, since 1-8 on the 1604 has direct outs use these to go from 1 to 1 on the digi001 input and so on exp, direct out of # 1 on mackie to in put on 001 # 1 then thru all 8. 2 to 2 3 to 3 4 to 4----then route the main outs from the 001 to the inputs 9 and 10 on the mackie..send only those to subs one and two with correct panning--9 is panned left and ten is panned right---sub 1 is panned left and sub 2 is panned right---if you have a headphone amp the send the 9 and 10 digi inputs to subs three and four to control head fons---do not assign the first inputs ( direct outs ) to any sub because they are already going to the digi and will be heard back through 9 and 10--hope this helps.
thanks
Stix