i have a couple of questions...1. how much difference in sound quality is there between say a 001/828 and a TDM system?? obviously some but...2.i'm planning on getting some sort of interface(i have a G4). The number of simul. ins/outs isnt so important as the overall sound quality and performance and price. Basically is there anything cheaper than those that are just as good? how does say an audiomedia III fair against a 001/828? I used protools at school a lot and played around with Cubase and Logic a bit. Software compatibility isnt much of an issue. I'm mostly using it for multi-tracking and eqs and effects. 3. on a side note which software has the best effects(VST, RTAS, etc...) or should i say BETTER sounding effects??? thanks for any and all help .......

As you don't seem to be getting much help, I suggest you have a look at the Mbox (digidesign.com) if you're only using audio and only need a couple of I/O.

once again, Presto is selling the Mbox. are you working for digidesign? just kidding.
I too think the Mbox is great for audio (and, like Presto, have never used midi), but I think that your A/D converter is only a starting point when recording audio. If your talking about sound quality, you'll soon see that good mics, and a good pre-amp are very, if not more, important then the converter (which in case of the Mbox has a great pre-amp) or the sequencer.
oh, and then there are always compressors... and the recording location...

The Mbox is a nice unit, but seeing it in action I was not all that impressed. I think mainly because I have never been a fan of USB audio. Now if I had to pick a USB audio interface. I would say the Maudio quattra. This baby's packed. it costs about US$259 and you can get the Omni I/O for you mic pres. I find it to be a more stable system. I have seen a few Mboxes come back but never a Quattra.