Advice on setting up with TiBook, Been-there, done-that with a Powerbook? Options

[sambeau]

I've got a TiBook and have probably paid off enough now to get some Audo tools.

Does anyone have any advice?

I would like to do audio and MIDI, would like to portable and quiet and as near to professional as I can get without spending more than $1000 max. And preferably a lot less Buying abit at a time would also be better than having to shell out all at once.

Do I need an Audio card? How is USB Audio?

What should I do? What would you do if you were setting up today?

The new USB Mbox from Digidesign will probably do what you need for the best price. It comes with Pro Tools LE (24 tracks), and will be available soon. The list price is about $500 and I'd guess it'll be under $450 from a dealer.

It has built-in phantom power so that you can plug a high quality condenser mic directly into it (I recommend, as a minimum, one of the $300 AKG or Audio Technica mics you can get at www.zzounds.com).

It's got to be the best hardware/software deal for a laptop. For $750 and the price of a mic stand and headphones (I think you can plug 2 sets into the Mbox) you are in the portable overdub business.