Protools--vs--????, lost in the digi jungle----HELP!! Options

i am starting from the ground up with a home studio ....i definitly want a mac i have my own website and as well as being a musician/composer...im also an artist

what i need to know is basicaly this;;

what is the best and most cost efficant way to build a home studio that will be album quality and provide me with the warmth i enjoyed with 24 track 2'' tape --is this possible on a budget of a few grand or am i fooling myself??--------is protools the right way to go and what kind of mac is best 4 what im doing-----HELP PLEASE---

[CeJeRo]

I personally have to say that I LOVE both ProTools and Logic because they are really designed for certain different reasons. Logic is great because it is designed for the composer, the Matrix editor is far superior than sequencing in ProTools or any other sequencer I've used (keep in mind this is simply an opinion, please no bashing I know others prefer other sequencers) so I use logic to do all of my sequencing. ProTools is great for editing and it's editing tools are great (again an opinion) the quality is also great when it comes to the TDM/RTAS/AS plugins. I have run into many neat but cheaper VST plugins available. My technique is using Logic to sequence the entire track. I export each track as one long audio file. Import each track into ProTools and EQ it, flange it, and edit it for sound effects. I'll also use ProTools for vocals. So IMHO I think that NO SEQUENCER is perfect and I think they work the best when used in conjunction with eachother. So concerning you're question as to what is better. It's all a matter of opinion. Many like Performer, many like Logic. Wars have been started reguarding which is the best, the best is really what you're personal preference is. Try out demos of each of the major sequencers and see which one you "bond with" if it's ProTools you have no other option than to get Digidesign hardware. I also am blown away that som have said that the Digidesign hardware is poor and expensive. I disagree (opinion yet again) I have found the inputs and outputs in the Digidesign hardware to be of the highest quality and thats the reason for the high cost therefor the cost is now justified. Though I do agree that for the beginning user, or hobbiest, the high end TDM systems are probably out of your league unless your family is really well off. If sub $1000 is ok for you to spend on one card by all means get the Digi001 the ability of ProTools and 2 focusrite XLR/1/4" inputs and 16 simultaneous inputs and outputs is really great (Guitar Center has them for 799 FYI) If you end up with a preference of Logic or Performer get the other hardware like the MOTU 828, or an M-Audio card (by Midiman) and use Logic or Performer. You can always decide to upgrade to ProTools MIX systems or HD systems if you so choose and use Logic and Performer on that hardware as well. So my two cents is simply see what you like, everyone is different, works different and thats good. Find out what YOU like. Sorry for going on, hope this helps somewhat.