It would be helpful if maybe more people who have tested recording 16 or 18 tracks could post their results to get this issue resolved.
So please test:
Recording 16-18 tracks for at least 60 minutes or more without dropouts on latest firmware, with a harddrive or pendrive formatted through the QU-16.
Please post what model hard drive was used for the test, and also post the serialnumber of your QU-16.
The direct to USB recording feature is one of the major selling point of this device, and in my opinion should be rock solid. At this point it seems it is not, and I am holding out on buying for now.
kind regards
Jonas