Logic Express/usb Vs Protools/usb, need some recommendations Options

[JPSpecial]

Hey there!

I can't seem to decide which DAW to purchase.

I'm considering Logic Express with a Tascam USB audio interface. I understand that the Tascam US-428 allows recording of four sources at once. This would be a plus since I wish to record my acoustic guitar with two different mics and my voice with one mic.

The other option I've been considering is the mbox.
Many have said that Protools is easier to learn than Logic and that if midi is not a huge part of the music, Protools might be a better option. However, I have recently read a few posts indicating that the mbox produces both monitoring latency (pretty much unavoidable with a usb interface) and a second type of latency that requires adjustment of tracks once they are recorded. I'm wondering if this is just an issue with the mbox or whether the same problem would occur with Logic Express.

In short, I'm looking for ease of use, minimal problems with latency, and low potential for insanity.

Thanks. I'm always impressed with the passion and knowledge of the users of this site.

P.S. I'm using a 17" imac with 768 ram and OS 10.2.8.

[jamie_lee]

OK.

Bottom line? Having struggled along with Logic (which I find horribly complex), Tracktion (annoying interface), and lately GarageBand (MIDI very poor), I have _finally_ bitten the bullet and bought an M-Box this month; I have been after one for ages, but I kept being put off by lots of silly people who reckoned it was too expensive.

Older versions of ProTools suffered from a latency problem, in each track you recorded would be offset from the previous track by a small amount (~164 samples). This has now been fixed in version 6.4 (which is a free download for M-Box owners).

M-Box has zero-latency monitoring. In fact, there's a dial on the front panel that allows you to select the relative volume of direct input and backing track that you are hearing.

It's flat-out the best thing I have bought in years. Period.

Very pleased with it.