I am building a new studio funded by my company so money is no obeject.

1) What is the best, top of the line, AD/DA converter and Audio I/O that is compatible with MAC G5 Panther.

2) If I am suping up my MAC with 8GB of RAM is it still necessary to buy additional DSP Cards for my VST processing? Ifo so, what is the difference between the two?

Thanks in advance.

BUMP

It all depends on what software you are using, and what you want to do with the studio. If money really is no object, and you want to use Protools, look at a Protools HD system. The DSP cards start at £6000 or so, A/D convertors to match will set you back the good part of £10000, and Digidesign is currently designing a control surface that will cost around £40000. Luckily after speding all that the software is included.
Another alternative would be to fill the PCI slots of your G5 will Firewire cards and fill a 19" rack with MOTU 828 (about £700) or MOTU 896 (about £1100) audio interfaces. You can run (in theory) as many of these at once as you like, and each one offers about 10 analog ins and outs, and 10 digital ins and outs. Unlike the Protools system, while a simple audio sequencer is included, you have to pay extra for something with MIDI and clever features. Luckily the interfaces are compatible with most any OS X audio software. The 896 differs from the 828 in having a higher sample rate and more mic pre-amps. The MOTU interfaces have built in mixers, but no practical control built in, so MIDI fader boxes would probably be required.
As mixing can be handled in either of my suggested solutions, a G5 with 8gb of RAM should handle any plugins you throw at it. The protools DSP cards also handle some plugins.
Enjoy what sounds like a dream studio.

I'd have to agree with the first part of Quindo's post. If money is no object, ProTools | HD Accel is the King of DAW's. TDM systems provide the greatest amount of DSP available today. All of the big-boy's use ProTools TDM systems.

...plus, have you seen the ICON integrated console?! Wheeew!

Just my $.02 (2 cents)

TD

I will be using Logic Pro. Not Pro Tools. The main reason being that Logic has better integrated Midi features. Along with sound design, I will be composing music.

I have been researching the Apogee Rosetta 800. It seems to have higher end AD/DA converters compared to the MOTU stuff. Any thoughts on that?

Does anyone know if the Apogee runs smoothly with MAC OSX and Logic?

well i would say the main ones man to look at is RME-audio/ apogee/ protols is kick as but if its for composing i think go for the apogee or the high quality ad/da converters by rme audio
how many ins/ outs is a question .
the best i/o card i would say is the rme audio HDSP9632 very expandable

Check: Lucid converters or Lavry (4496) converters...and if the price of Rosetta ain't a problem, then you can't go wrong with that. Apogee is very good for the price point...ofcourse you canalways aim at the bigger/higher end of the game but its probably to much...you have to decide. AFAIK the Apogees, Lavry et al, are not in the same league as RME (its good but not comparable...no way).
Check this guys, they have the "full story" on high quality converters:
http://www.mercenary.com/lavry.html

Hey Cyan

In my opinion, the Apogee would be the way to go - for Sound Quality
they have the optional Firewire 800 card that goes w/ most of their interfaces and you could get,for example, the Rosetta 800 ( 8 in / 8 out ) and add later when you need more channels - easy setup

G5 + Logic 6 Pro + Rosetta = MMMmmmm.......

the only reason I could see for getting the Pro-tools hardware ( using Logic as the front-end ) is the TDM plug-ins
but I don't know if Digi has the PCI-X thing happening yet - maybe somebody else knows that or call Digi

Have Fun w/ your G5 !!!!

......running Logic since vers. 1.0..........

Just becasue you have lots of money to spend doesn't mean the most expensive option is best... Don't forget that your music won't be as pristine on the end users system. Ram is a great investment and it looks like you have that more than covered. Logic 7 Pro is a great DAW for MIDI (arguable the best for MIDI). A Motu 828mkII firewire interface with an Apogee Big Ben clock and some Mackie monitors will give you more clarity from your system than any end user will ever be able to appriciate...

Once you've completed a piece burn it and play it through an average end users system. If it doesn't kick there a $40000 Pro Tools mixer and rack of $6000 dollar converters won't make it sound better to the audience... [Unless you equip each theatre with the same kit and stop serving noisy snacks (like those damn nachos!) to the patrons.]

not trying to troll, but i would like to add that logic has come a long way with audio production not just midi. the audio sound coming from logic 7 is pristine. even the big boy PT users have to give it for logic 7.

happy recording. have fun with your new setup.