Another thing that the 2442 provides is the direct outs for channels 1 - 8, which can come in very handy.
Another thing that the 2442 provides is the direct outs for channels 1 - 8, which can come in very handy.
How does the function of the 8 subgroup outputs compare with the function of the 4 Aux Sends? Newbie question.
Sure.
In one of the cases where I use the direct output capability of the 2442, there are certain things that, while, during a live broadcast, I like to hear them all the time, I only want my guests to hear them some of the time and do not necessarily want the audience to hear them at all.
In that case, I run the audio into a channel of the 2442, through which I hear it all of the time, or any time I have the levels up. I then take the direct out of that channel and run it into another channel, which is sent to the Aux and not to either of the subs or main. This allows me to hear the item on one channel, my guests, via mix-minus, on the Aux, on another channel and the audience, either never, or only when I route the channel I hear to one of the subs, or main, which ever the proper case is.
Clear as mud, right? Trust me, it comes in handy for my purposes. :) Maybe, a video of how this works would be interesting? If so, I could try to find time to create one.
I use the sub groups to separate audio inputs, all of which eventually go to air. During my typical broadcast sessions, I like to talk to guests prior to actually going to air, but while using the board to route items to air, much like any normal radio station would. I run microphones to sub-group 1-2 (left-right respectively) and can send that to air, or not, at the press of two buttons (sub-group buttons). I can have off-air conversations with guests, while other things are going to air, when sub-groups 1-2 are off, and route to air when they are on. The same goes for other items routed to other sub-groups. At least, that is the way I am currently using them. I'm sure that others can think of other ways to use them too.
The Aux I only use for mix-minus, or in special cases FX, though others might.
I use one mic locally and 3 inputs from Skype machines. I've used the 2442, in both its USB and non-USB form, for the past 7 years. It has been a work horse.
Here is a link to a pic of my setup (on Google Plus) that was posted prior to my last studio rebuild. I do studio rebuilds about once a year, to keep me sane and clean everything.
I should note that you can't see the whole of the setup from this picture. There are 4 additional systems that are not in the picture. These are used for Skype and audio playback. In addition to that, there are other systems for audio broadcast, storage and backup.
The USB output of the mixer is the same as that of the Main outputs. In other words you cannot do what you are asking, if I read your question correctly. To do something like that you would likely have to go with, at minimum, one of the Presonus StudioLive mixers. I'm sure there are others as well, but mention the Presonus StudioLive as a start-in price point, which is over twice that of the 2442.
If you want to record one channel per track, take a look at the Behringer X32. It allows you to do so over USB. I still don't have any information as to how or whether Skype can see those channels. The StudioLive mixers are Firewire, so they're great for recording, but Skype doesn't like Firewire.