[screamingFit]

I've decided it's time to ditch my old cassette 4 track and move up to digital. I've played around with various mutli-track software on my Powerbook and they seem fine - but, what do I need to be able to record onto two or more tracks with two or more instruments? Example: Guitar and vocals, recording at the same time onto different tracks.

It would seem to me I would need some sort of breakout box or something that had multiple inputs and outputs but how would I get multiple inputs on my Powerbook?

[tr]

you'd need something like this:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/m-audio/fw410.php

or something like this:

http://www.digidesign.com/mbox

personally, i'm lusting after the fw410, as it seems to be the cheapest solution for a fw audio interface. one popular one is the motu 828, but it's pricey:

http://www.motu.com/english/motuaudio/828/body.html

tr

[xanderwilson]

Check out macmusic.org and osxaudio.com for more advice

and this baby:
http://www.digigram.com/products/get...?prod_key=9000

for possibly what you're looking for.

Alex.

[Axo1ot1]

I happen to have a Motu 828 that I'm selling for a friend of mine. Email me if you are interested. It's a great piece of equipment.

[screamingFit]

Thanks everyone for the replies and links. While looking at all the different options that have recently come to light with your information, I have also been looking at stand-alone recording stations and have come to a realization about all of it. Unless you want to spend a bunch of money, you're hosed if you want more than two tracks to record to at a time. The only promising item in terms of cost ($500) that isn't even shipping is the Firewire 410 from M-Audio. Other than that, if you want to spend more money, you can go to the MOTU 828 ($750). Add that to some decent software ($300) plus a control surface with sliders and what not ($300) (personal preference - I can't get in the grove of sliding a mouse about on faders and knobs), I'm looking at (at least, to me) a bunch of money. Granted, it is cheap in comparision to what you could do with $1000 five years ago on recording equipment.

It looks like I am seriously looking at keeping my 4 track (which I can record to all four track simutaneously!) and just outputting one track at a time into my Powerbook onto different tracks for final mixdown in Logic or Cubase OR buying a standalone rig like the Tascam 788 ($600) which records SIX tracks at once and input my Powerbook doing sequenced tracks out of Reason onto a track of the Tascam.

All in all, it's been a long, confusing ride with all the options that are available. I've gotten to the point of information overload and sometimes think it would be better if I hadn't of looked down this path at all! Thanks again for your responses - very cool that there are a couple of Mac only audio sites out there!

[Super Glitcher]

I don't know if you've given up, but mAudio has some cheaper options than $500 if you're looking for a 4track-

4in/4out - $229
http://www.humbuckermusic.com/mmdelta44.html

6in/6out - $299
http://www.humbuckermusic.com/mmdelta66.html