Need Help On Soundcard Choice Options

[straydog]

I just bought a brand new imac G5 and I'm looking for a somewhat low-priced soundcard option (since most of my extra cash was spent on extra memory). I already have an AER compact head acoustic preamp (great!) so I really have not much need in terms of gain control, XLR ins or phantom power. I checked out the m-audio audiophile USB, which seems to work fine for me, but since i have some more to spent, I also think of buying the Digidesign M-box (no MIDI,sadly). So I guess three questions arise:
a) Does the audiophile have decent sound quality?
b) Is there anything at about the price of the m-box to rival it?
c) Is the Protools LE software (never tried it) so much better than Cubase that it would be worth buying the M-Box just to be able to use it?

Any help will be really appreciated

Odysseas

[deegone]

hi!
i've used cubase for long time and i loved it (and i still do,vst 5 kicks ass!!!)i even recorded an album an a single with it 'cause i didn't want to do what everybody else does with pro tools...have to say that i was young and stupid about that issue.the sound quality and editing capabilities of PT is far far superior to those in cubase.i just got an digi 001 with PTLE 6.4 and it rocks.i think the mbox is a good choice.btw i've been reading the forums and people is not so happy(or not happy at all )with the guys at M-audio...

[rickenbacker]

The downside of Pro Tools is that it always requires the Digidesign hardware to be attached in order to launch the software. And you are locked into a proprietorial system, such that upgrades and plug-ins are more expensive and sometimes not available at all. I have no axe to grind, but this is all true, so consider this a friendly warning. You do get a nice software bundle with the MBox, though, so it's a better deal now than it's ever been. Also, FireWire interfaces are preferable to USB devices, but consequently more expensive. Worth it in the long run, though. As for Cubase, IMHO SX3 is a really nice product on paper, but it's full of bugs and can't be relied upon day in, day out.

[deegone]

hi rickenbacker.i totally agree with you,cubase was good 'till they changed to sx...that's what basically put me off it and that's how i ended up with logic.as for PT,yeah it costs a lot more to fill it up with plugs and stuff,even though is worth it,it all depends on what sort of application are you going to use it.

[straydog]

Thanks everybody. I guess I'll be getting an m-box after all (and a seperate midi-interface to go with it). Just hope they'll patch the pantherOS compatibility problems soon enough (and sure hope there won't be any new ones when Tiger comes out!).

Odysseas