Choice Of Multitrack Music Software Options

[keybie]

Reading the "rumor" websites to see if/when a new Powerbook is around the corner I'm ready to get one any time now. A 15" Powerbook that is, at 1.5 or 1.67GHz (or perhaps even faster?)

Anyway, I'm pretty clueless to the software issue regarding music making
So far (having used an Macs, pre OSX) I really haven't used Macs for music at all. What I have used (and still use) is an Atari Mega STe running Emagic/C-Lab Notator SL (the precursor to Logic on the Mac as well as on the Atari ST of course) as a MIDI sequencer, controlling my various MIDI keyboards, samplers and modules. Works great!

But I don't have anything to record audio with, which is where the new Powerbook will come in.For the time being I'm perfectly happy continuing to use the Atari ST for MIDI, and the MIDI modules as audio sources. But I would like to do multitrack recording, with some way to sync the Atari ST to the Mac (MIDI sync?) so I can add tracks. It would also be great if I could add effects etc. within the mix, and since my rack-sampler is time consuming and cumbersome to use (there's no hard drive for instance, so all samples have to be loaded from floppy disks) it would be very convenient with a "soft sampler" on the Mac which I could control via MIDI from an external keyboard just like with my external rack sampler.
I don't have any real need for soft-synths right now as I already have all the synths I need (and I like physical knobs and switches as opposed to using the mouse for everything), but this might be something to look into later.

So what kind of software will allow me to do this?
And what kind of software will allow me to do this and let me expand later if I want to go all (or more or less) virtual?

I've been told by others that "Garageband" which comes with any current Mac is something to look into, but I always thought it was more or less a "toy" where you cut/paste pre-made drum loops and all kinds of other pre-recorded instrument loops into "your own" songs. Probably fun to play with for a while, but not what I'd call "making music". But perhaps I've gotten it all wrong.
Does it do multitrack recording, sync to MIDI etc?

Then there's Logic express. I understand that it does "everything" -correct?

I really don't know what else there is.

As for audio hardware, I think I can do fine with the built-in stereo audio input of the Powerbook for a while as I have a decent mixer which is pretty flexible. Later on I might need more inputs, so expansion options for audio interfaces is probably something I'll need (or upgrade to a new program that does this if there is free software that I can start out with to begin with).

Thanks for any suggestions/comments

[Chris C.L]

hi keybe
I dont have much experience with lots of different brand of sequencers, but needing to upgrade myself have been keeping an eye on certain products and their development. I use cubase SE(almost cubase's equivelent of logic express). Its a perfectly capable program, except its a budget version- cut down. My 2 reasons for wanting to upgrade is- no midi clock+ no external midi to vst effects. I just looked at logic site to check specs but cant understand half the jargon. With lots of outboard stuff these are things you need to double check. Is there a studio shop you can visit to at least test the software?
The reason I will not upgrade to a full cubase package is that for a huge cost you end up with a load of virtual instruments you dont need. Metro's the one I am hopeing to switch to http://www.sagantech.biz/. Dont know what its like for lots of hardware but the site's forum+ developer are very friendly and happy to discuss your needs. Again the full version is the only one with things like midi clock though but a lot more affordable than logic pro.
A full list of mac sequencers is here http://www.macmusic.org/softs/softcat.php/...ang/EN/id/7014/