Almost Ready To Buy First Interface And Software, newbie questions Options

[Rodrigo Ramos]

Hello everybody,

Alright here is where i am at, i have a Mac G4 powerbook and a 1000 dollars to invest in my first interface and software (aaah!) Like several other writers i have been contemplating between:
digidesign mbox with PTLE vs. MOTU ultralite with logic express.

I want to record mostly acoustic instruments (saxophone, elec and acoustic guitars etc.) but i also want to do field recordings (animals and machines) and i am certain that at some point i will work with midi. I am inspired by the work of brian eno, nigel goodrich (radiohead, beck) jim orourke and john mcentire.

Although i am looking towards doing mainly audio recordings i feel like MOTU/logic is more advantageous - 1) both are particularly MAC oriented, 2)both seem to be more flexible in working with other programs 3) tech support for both sounds more favorable- interestingly i have only found one complaint against Logic/MAC (hahaworld from last november) but i have seen much more complaints about digidesign and PTLE tech support. . . me being a newbie this is important. 4) reviews seem more positive about MOTU preamps than the digi mbox 5) MOTU has more analog i/o than the digi mbox.
Does my reasoning make sense?

question #1 can my MAC G4(OSX) handle logic express? i only have 512 MB and i read Lepetitmartien saying that 768 MB is not enough ( LPM, if you are reading this what were you refering to?)

question #2 i am living in spain (canary islands) and retailers/ distributors in the US dont ship overseas, does anyone know any reliable retailers in Europe ( U.K. will be too expensive!)

question #3 if i buy the MOTU interface in europe, will it be rated to work only with european voltage? or can it function in the states also?

thank you,

rodrigo ramos

[Rodrigo Ramos]

Yeah thanks ArchivalAudio, this does help, i want to check out as many ext. HDs as possible before i buy. I am looking at the OWC page right now and the neptune does look good for the price 160 GB for 107$ is very reasonable plus i like that it is compatible with other voltages, i am living in spain (canary islands) but its nice to not have to worry about taking it back to the states and losing files; that is, provided it behaves accordingly, right?

OWC also mentions that the neptune has the oxford 911 bridge, i dont know what this is or does but i have read other users mention it in other threads. I believe it has to do with audio applications, but am not sure. . .


I have never heard of Techtracker or applejack, are these necessary for making music with computers?

I suppose i will look them up on the net, but i was curious how and when you use them?

thanks again