Recording etc.
I would just use the inputs of the firewire, and bypass the mixer as far as in going signal. Why would you put extra noise into the recording chain with the decent converters in the firepod? If you need to monitor your tracks, just use the main outs of the firepod into your mixer. If you want to mix after your recording, use the 8 analog outs of the firepod into line ins on 8 channels of your yamaha to use the board's routing ie; effects, eq etc.
All you have to do is assign your recorded tracks to specific outputs on the firepod....either individual tracks or busses......using your recording software. Then you can manipulate your tracks in your yamaha how you wish.
I've had firepods, (they work very well, good units) but recently swapped them out for all Travelers and 896HDs. This is due to extra digital in and out options as well the high converters.
This is what I do:
Record thru the interfaces direct to computer.......after recording, assign outputs from tracks thru the analog outs into a 32X8 Soundtracs, so I may eq etc and grab a little analog sound post recording. Works real nice! Set up templates for assigning ahead of time, saves time....reuse again easy. I use some plugins and eq on the computer, but very little. I have a laptop and a monster rack jobby I built so I may use a hell of alot of pluggins without the things wanting to puke. But prefer to use the mixer for mixing down. Hope this helps, Mike