Fairlight-CMI

Hi there !

I was just wondering how you all recorded your series 3's : 

I have a small project studio, where I have most of stuff connected digitally.
I dont have a router in series 3, but I do have a stero mix card (Thanks to 
horizontal !)

My question is : if I want to record the fairlight with best sound quality, will I 
need to get a 16  xlr input analogue mixer capable of mixing to subgroups ?

Can I just take the xlrs outputs to a 1/4 inch jacks in a patchbay, and create 
groups by bridging the grouped outputs together, or will I degridate the output 
?

I am really just after some ideas on how you guys do it and what results you 
get. 

I probably find you all have huge mixing desks now and ill be embarased. ;( 

Cheers,

Arron