The mixer section of the dps is an 8 group out. The recorder section
is a 24 track. In order to get the audio from any of the inputs to the
disc tracks through the groups, it will go through the group whose multiple
works out to the disc track.
For instance, tracks 1-8 are accessed by groups 1-8 .
Tracks 9-16 are also accessed by groups 1-8.
Track 9 will receive it's audio from group1.
tracks 17-24 are again also accessed by groups 1-8
Track 22 will receive audio from group 6.

In this scenario, follow the audio from input to disc track.
An audio source is patched into input 1 that we want to record to track 15.

First, call up the fader bank for the inputs.
Assuming you have a good signal at the input (trim control), you have to
route the audio to group 7 (see the table above). Press the group 7/8 assign
button then the select button for input 1.
It should now glow steadily indicating it has been selected and will now send
audio to that group(s).
Now press the fader bank button for the group/fx.
Raise the group 7 fader as you're playing something and you should now see
a level on the meter for group 7.

You could actually be sending to both group 7 and 8 and all the tracks associated
with those groups, but you've only raised the group 7 fader so that's the only one
that will send to disc. Now press the record/edit select button for track 15 and it
will be "armed" (ready to record) and you will now see a level on the track 15 meter.

That's all there is to setting up a track to group. (aside from some monitoring choices).
If you do not select the input to be sent to the L/R out, you'll only hear the track's
output and can raise the track 15 fader so you can hear it well enough for playing purposes.
Later you can turn it down to the correct level in relation to the other tracks.
If the input is selected to be sent to the L/R outs it will sound unnaturally loud
and "phased" when you're playing since the input and the track will be playing
back simultaneously.
When the input isn't sent to the L/R out the "mix" will sound better, but you
won't hear yourself when the machine starts rolling until you press PLAY & RECORD
to drop in to record mode. It sounds more complicated than it really is.
Play around with it some and it should start to make sense. You might also try
sending the input to different tracks via the groups just to get some practice
working with the groups method.

To get the Studio Outputs working, you need to go to the MIXER screen,
and then FX/AUX SETUP. Here you sacrifice your FX3 and/or FX4 sends to
create a foldback mix for your studio monitoring. This is entirely separate from
your control room monitoring. See page 67 in the DPS24 manual for details,
or click the tab that says " foldback talent setup".

Don't forget about panning also. If you're sending to group 1/2 and only want to
record that input to track 1...pan hard left.
Otherwise, you'll be recording a mono source (if that's the case) to a stereo pair.

Each buss has its own list of stops that it goes to (like a mass transit bus line on the road).
The 1/2 buss can go to: track 1 (pan left), track 2 (pan right) 1 and 2 (don't pan),
track 9 (pan left) track 10 (pan right) or tracks 9 and 10 (don't pan), track 17 (pan left)
track 18 (pan right) or tracks 17 and 18 (don't pan). You can send the the signal to
any one or all of these tracks at the same time.

The main purpose of the bus approach is to allow submixing input signals prior to
committing them to disk tracks.
If you had 5 mics on the drum kit, but you didn't want to use 5 disk tracks on drums.
You could use Group 1/2 to create a stereo submix for the drums, so you'd only need
two disk tracks to record all 5 signals. This saves you disk tracks and it makes your
project smaller, but there is a drawback. If the is submix wrong, you can't unmix it later.

There are many other ways the Groups can be used, but this is one main function.

In using the "ADCs > Tracks Direct" patch preset.
That bypasses the Groups and the "Input Channels" and connects the 12 ADC
outputs directly to Disk Track Inputs 1-12 and 13-24.

If you're seeing a level (either through the groups or direct to disc track),
just make sure you have a hot signal (no red lights) and you're ready to record.