I don't think the machine is doing what I want because I get no signal on the destination track. There is an outgoing signal showing up from the Aux send and the outboard unit is getting signal input according to the meters on the unit. I maxed out the return gain on the external unit to ensure my G should see some incoming signal.
The manual seems to imply once you have completed the correct steps the lights should no longer blink. This does seem to be a consistent pattern on the AW16G with most features. i.e. during input assignment to destination tracks all input and destination tracks with blink red until you make at least connection between one input and one recording destination track. As far as the G is concerned at this point you have successfully completed a signal path now to record at least one channel of input. Select one input and that input button stays on red (stops blinking) while all destination tracks continue to blink. After you select a destination track for the selected input both the input and destination track no longer blink and stay red.
If I remember right the remaining inputs and destination tracks all quit blinking at this point. When you select another track it blinks red until it is paired with an available destination track. Once a successful internal connection is completed between the two then those two quit blinking.
Regardless, after you have set connected an input and destination in the manner described in the manual; you cannot exit to ANY other screen with out resetting all the connections you are trying to make to a no connection clean slate. At this point you can either select "safe" within either the Bus mode or Direct mode which deletes the track assignment you just made OR you can try to enter another menu at which point you have to acknowledge you want to clear all your selections.
Since I have a "dry" (no external unit through the Aux sends/returns) version recorded, I kind of want to do this in Mix Down mode. The manual definitely indicates that you are supposed to be able to do this. What I haven't tried and just now occurred to me is to just enter "normal" tracking record mode and record the externally processed track to channels 15/16. As long as my dual Compressor/LImiter/Expander is working right I think that should work but I am too exhausted right now to try it out.
Unfortunately very shortly after I bought the unit on eBay many years ago, I ran into a long, tortuous but losing battle to keep my job and not end up on LTD. Although I hooked it up in my batch bay and played with it just a little to make sure it powered up and the meters responded to input and output signals I never really got to put it to use. Until now it has been sitting idle since 2007. My living space is so tight it is a major ordeal to run sends and returns through the patch pay and to the one effects rack I squeezed into the room so I haven't wanted to try sending signal through another unit for trouble shooting purposes. If I ever get my HUD refurbished so I can have my own place again I will be able to get behind gear and/or racks without having to be a contortionists standing on one foot and trying snake up cables to a patch bay. I had planned on doing it early but the space is too tight and too nerve wracking worrying dozens of other things on the same shelving unit don't go crashing onto the floor.
Sounds like everyone has retired their G and I have yet to have opportunity to put even 100 hours on it so far LOL. If my second approach doesn't work I just won't mess with it.
Thanks again Byron! You were a big help for explaining/confirming how to mix to the virtual stereo tracks.