Pci/firewire Audio Interface Options, Best buy? Options

[Neilsonite]

Hi everyone, this is my first post, so be nice...

I'm buying a dual 867 G4 for midi programming (Reason) and audio recording (probably Logic, when it comes out for OS X), and I need some advice about audio interface options.

I will mostly be recording one or two tracks at a time (guitar/bass/vocals/keys), but will also want to record drums (which obviously requires more tracks). So, I figure I need an interface with 8 or so inputs, 2 of which have good preamps. This way, I can record guitars/vocals whenever I want, and when I want to record drums I can hire a good mixer and mikes and use up to 8 (or so) inputs (without having to pay up front for 8 good preamps, which I will rarely use).

So, I need:
- 8 audio inputs, 2 with good preamps
- 24/96
- MIDI would be good
- OS X support
- Firewire strikes me as cool, but PCI would also be fine
- Not stupidly expensive

Any recommendations? I've been thinking about MOTU 828/896, Presonus Firestation, M-Audio Delta 1010-LT, Edirol DA-2496...
Most of these have some compromises, are there any others I should be looking at? Anyone have any info on new hardware coming as a result of Apple's Emagic acquisition that I should be waiting for?

Thanks!
Neilsonite

P.S. Sorry this post is a bit long...

[Levon River]

I've looked at everything you've looked at, and may I recommend that you look at the Event EZBus, plus its optional PCI card for eight channels of digital I/O.

(There is a special running through, I think, September, where if you buy the PCI card [around $150] you get a $150 cash rebate--so it's essentially free.]

The machine fundamentally is USB (which should easily handle what you say the most usual demands on it will be), but the digital I/O would be there for the drum sessions, or a group of more musicians live.

It has 2 MIDI ins and outs, 8 analog ins, PLUS is a full-featured control deck that works with most popular DAW software packages, and has a host of internal bus routing options.

The member here with the nick BusError bought one within the last few days, and wrote a message expressing how great it is. I recommend that you look into it before you jump.