FWIW,
A compadre regularly tracks thru his Nagra (IV), but just uses it's pre's, then directly into his DAW: he swears by it, (usually drum OH's) and often masters his mixes onto it, then back into the DAW: I haven't heard anything sonically "astounding" from this route, but again, YMMV...
PS: if you have T power, make sure it's off: it throws a 10 (or 15 k) squeal across a mix that you might find interesting at first, but later will drive you nuts (and all the dogs in the 'hood)...
best of luck,