Os X Software / Interface, Looking for getting-started advice Options

OK, I'm getting rid of the recording hardware and moving to Mac.

I record mostly live instruments and vocals. What I need is an integrated audio / midi recorder / sequencer, like Logic Audio. The 32 tracks that come with Logic Audio are plenty.

My dilemma is the number of audio inputs I will need. If I can control and record a software synthesizer with excellent drum sounds through my midi trigger pads, then I will only need a couple of simultaneously available inputs (like the mBox). If this is a tall order, then I'll need something that can handle 8 - like the MOTU 828.

I don't need a million plug-ins. Basic stuff is fine: reverb, delay, compression, chorus, and the like.

I'd like to keep the total bill under $1000.

Finally, it's gotta be OS X - I have a G4 with a huge hard drive.

So any recommendations for software, especially for a synth with great drum sounds and a lot of control (like being able to give each drum in the kit a different audio track and midi channel) would be great.

Thanks,
Jeff

[rickenbacker]

loveme1965: you can't use VST plug-ins at all with Logic on OS X at the moment, perhaps never. Emagic made the decision to drop support for everything bar Audio Units for OS X, a move that may backfire on them. Even though AUs are better for system performance, the VST format is well-established and Steinberg have continued it for OS X and Cubase SX, with plenty of other developers following suit.

Personally, I love SX: audio slicing, beautiful interface, True Tape analogue-style recording warmth built in, simple learning curve, VSTi support, MIDI synths and drum machine built in, Nuendo audio engine, Offline Process History for maximum "undo" flexibility, ReWire support. Logic say ReWire is supported in Platinum 6, but they've never been big fans of ReWire (or any other software apart from their own, it would seem) so I don't know how well it will work or be supported.

Re. the Logic Big Box: it's good value, but the EXSP24 included is not exactly a "lite" version of the EXS24 - it is only a sample PLAYER. You can't actually record new samples.

As for interfaces, I like the Edirol range. USB like the MBox, but you're not tied to Pro Tools, and OS X drivers available for all. A UA-5 + Cubase or Logic would be a cool system.

Enjoy!