Tascam Or Quattro, Help Needed Options

[JoeS]

I am looking to set up a home studio, and am trying to understand all that's involved. I have started collecting elements slowly and have a Mackie 1202, condenser mic, and Cubase VST. I will using this on a 366 mHz iBook with 196 RAM and 10 gb drive. Yes, I realize I might need a Firewire hard drive at some point. And I'll probably be purchasing a desktop G4 fairly soon. I'll be recording instrumentals (solo, multi-tracking) on guitar, flute and keyboard. I'd like to have the option of including MIDI at some point.
I assume my next puchase needs to be a USB A/D/A converter. I'd like to keep costs around $250-300 (probably by buying used).
I've been checking out the Midiman Quattro and the Tascam 428. Am I on the right track regarding what I need to get started? Do these perform similar functions?
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Joe S.

[rickenbacker]

There is a multitude of USB options available, most of which have been discussed in these forums - have a scout around under topics such as "newbie needs help" or some such title.

As for your choices so far, be aware that a lot of people complain about M-Audio products (the new name for Midiman), especially the Quattro. The 428 is pretty good and there's also the smaller bus-powered 224. How about Edirol's UA-5 or the forthcoming UA-20? I know the UA-5 gives a good sound - in a comparison with the 224, I preferred the results of the UA-5 and I know that the 224 and the 428 have exactly the same components.

The UA-5 has no Midi but a better range of connectivity ports, while the UA-20 will have Midi but less connection options. Out at the end of the month, I believe. I think a good compromise is separate interfaces - one for audio, one for Midi.

And if you need a USB hub after all this, try the Griffin Technology 4-Port Audio Hub. Apparently it's been optimised for audio work. Whether this really makes any difference, I don't know, but I've had one on my desk for a couple of weeks and I don't have any complaints with its performance.

Good luck choosing - I know what a minefield all this can be when you first get into it!