I'm a mac user so I can't help on the PC Stuff, but if your new to this. try looking in the clearance bin at the local music stores. I often see really good stuff go for cheap. I got a midi controller with extra knobs and sliders for like $120 CDN Bought an OK power conditiooner for $100. I've seen gold items that I couldn't afford show up. I once saw a 24 track reel to reel tape machine (that I owned a tape for) come through and go for $1500, I later found out that machine brand new was $20,000. Check out the rental dept. for used cables. You can always buy new ones when you have the money.

thanks for the feedback

You might check out the Presonus Firepod...

(Dead Link Removed)

Personally, I would get this instead of the Soundcard+Mixer+DI combo... it is all three in one single device with a firewire connection... plus you get double the inputs. You can also multi-track really easily... instead of just having a stereo mix coming from the outboard mixer onto one track you can set any of the inputs on the firepod to a separate track and record that way (of course with some mixers+soundcards you can route the whole thing so you can multi-track... but it takes literally the click af a mouse to set the firepod up to multi-track...).

It comes with Cubase LE but I'm sure it would work well with Cubase SX... and I also use it occasionally with an old copy of Cool Edit Pro... so it might work with Audition...

I pretty much exclusively use Reason right now for midi.... which for me runs very well in Cubase via rewire. Oh yeah, My comp specs are almost exactly the same as yours (I have less RAM)... so I bet it would run pretty well on your machine...

All right... I'm jumping of the firepods'/cubases' nuts now... :)

Again, this is all just my opinion and what works for me... good luck!!

Thanks for the informative response. I just went and read a bunch about the Firepod and it sounds like a good deal. It's also good to hear somebody with similar CPU specs say it works well on their system. The only other option I was thinking about was the M-audio Firewire 1814 (http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOFW1814). It's about the same price range and the big difference seems to be that it offers ADAT connection. Does that mean that it's just a little bit easier to expand what you can do? Thanks again for the suggestion, I really appreciate it.

Ok, I think I've narrowed it down to the pre-sonus firepod(which I'm leaning towards) and the the m-audio firewire 1814, I can get the 1814 for $399 no shipping and the firepod for $499 + shipping, with a free Audio-Technica AT2020 Microphone($100 value). The mic would come in handy considering I would have to buy another if I didn't get this.
Any comments or experiences with either one or both before I make the plunge?

hey i hate to post if you have stoped checking put the FIREPOD is AMAZING it does everything you could possibly want and does it with NO latecy and well... its just an amazing piece of equipment.

peace
Looby

I actually just ordered it yesterday so it's good to hear some more things about it, thanks.