48 pot MIDI controller needs to be faster...

Projects General Guidance
16 
for(int a=0; a < 48; a++){  //loop through all 48 channels
  if((a >= 0) && (a < 16)){
   }
  else if((a >= 16) && (a < 32)){
   }
  else if((a >= 32) && (a < 48)){

Wouldn't three for loops make more sense?