Otari comments:
The Status18r is a pretty different board from the Concept and Concept Elite. The Concepts have two 100mm fader paths and two eqs per module, the Elite has two four band eqs, mid bands parametric, and 10 sends on 8 knobs, per module. A 24 module Elite console (like the one I have) has 48 inputs, 48 4 band eqs, 24 hi- and lo-pass sweepable filters, and complete automation (either VCA, or VCA with moving faders). The Concept does not have the parametric eqs that the Elite has. The Status has one 100mm fader and one 60mm fader, one eq and 8 aux sends per module. All the consoles have "image recall" which allows nearly every knob on the control surface to be recalled manually to a stored value. Works well...takes me less than 10 minutes to recall my board.
Brian-
The modules do, in fact, have a finicky fit into a card (the Quad Channel Processor card) at the rear end of the module...the bulk of the audio is carried on the ribbons though.
I think the mic pres are actually pretty decent...the EQs are functional, no particular magic.
The strength of the Otaris is the recall...and the master section control of the console. Two or three botton pushes in the master section can reconfigure the entire console, really nice. You can also bypass the VCAs...viola, instant summing mixer with pans.
These things run warm!
-tom