On the subject of quality, I agree. Don't use the name Behringer in the same sentence with the word quality, and you won't get laughed at. Behringer stuff is made from plagiarized designs/ideas with the cheapest components they can find, in order to sell the biggest unit with the lowest price to the most people with the smallest budget. A good business model, but crap for the buyer.
Remember, a mixer is usually quite complex so if you use marginal components to build it, there will be lots of places for things to happen to your sound that aren't good - just one example is when the two channels of a stereo pair have uneven response due to wide variations in component value - this can be heard in several ways, one being uneven phase response causing stereo image shift (this can happen anywhere along the signal path, but is most likely in EQ circuits)
On the subject of # of inputs, I believe in always buying at least TWICE as many inputs as you ever think you'll want, then you'll only be short by 3 or 4. However, the other side of the coin is that your signal will likely pass through the mixer at least twice on its way to becoming a CD so quality circuitry counts here a lot.
Soundcraft in general make much better products than Behringer, and most are noticeably better than similar Mackies, although the Mackie stuff is much more reliable and cleaner than anything Behringer ever stole (oops, I mean designed)
"But I want some of the best sound that I can get." -
If this is your criteria, I would go with the Soundcraft - but there's a lot more to it than just the mixer - will you be recording on a computer? If so, what software? Which sound card? What sample rate/depth? Which mics?
My point there is that audio recording really proves the saying that "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link" - So if quality is your goal, I'd be looking at quality mics, high end preamps, serious A/D converters, proffessional quality software, hand-picked computer components, proffessional quality monitor speakers, and (something a lot of people here want to forget, because it's not "sexy") ROOM treatment. Couple those with quality musicianship (not saying you don't have this, just that it's mandatory) , the knowledge to use the gear you have, and well-written songs, and you're getting close to something others will listen to in awe.
There is so much information and knowledge necessary to obtain quality work; not trying to put you off, only to inform.
Man, that got longwinded for an "either/or" question, sorry... Steve
