Once you get the 002 you may find that the 4 mic-pres just isn't enough for the basic track IF you like to record a first draft with the complete band or even a larger drum kit

get an ADA80000 to expand your inputs ... Screw the shop for a deal
these are already cheap and if you get it even cheaper, you just can't go wrong

Forget what people say about Behringer ... perhaps even get a B headphone amp ... again screw them for a deal

Now all you need to focus on is getting some mics
we can talk about mics ... and mics to last a lifetime

Second is headphones
we can talk about headphones

Third is main monitor amp and speakers or powered speakers ...
we can talk ... as this one is very difficult and can be expensive so my advice is to look what most would consider secondary monitoring
again we want to buy something to last a very long time and not temp you to upgrade

Right from the start get set up with quality leads and the ability to maintain and make them

THAT"S IT

spend the next year learning to record
forget plugs and all that other crap
you don't know enough yet

save your money for when you have a clear idea where you are going with all this

web sites
the DUC is ok ... but I don't go there anymore
I tend to frequent
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/

if you feel the need to pick up a soldering iron them my site is a good start
if you want me you will find me ... google

good people here will help with techniques and ideas on recording

I think you can do better for your money than a digi 002--especially if you are going to have $5,000.

If I had that kind of money I'd be looking at Lynx audio cards or Benchmark or Lucid converters and some affordable high-end preamps like Sebatron, Focusrite ISA, Langevin, Sytek.

You will get a lot of this sort of comment.

I've given up on these sort of duscussions as it is the engineer not the gear

Many mix sopecialists and studios will be running a PT system abd you can take your recording there for a mix

many people can support you on this sort of system and I venture to say that most people here don't even own gear like like Sebatron, Focusrite ISA, Langevin, Sytek
... yet spend all day talking about it

keep it simple and just do it

My friend Kev is right.At the beginning you'll want to 'make do' with certain aspects.One of these will be the amount of channels you can use at one time.The Beringer 8000 will sufice and actually the converters arent half bad.You will ABSOLUTELY want the very best control monitors you can afford. You will not need huge 4way liquidcooled neodynynium drivers or 1000 watts per side.You will be IN TRAINING. Heres where training the ear from the start becomes important.Excellent even great monitors from the git-go.And nearfields will probably be enough.You can probably find a used not abused set of self-powered with a small sub monitors for around $1100....this means Genelecs,Adams,that sort of thing.And you'll want,as Kev said, decent mics.A variety of types will go a long way. A decent large diaphram condenser,a decent pair of small diaphram condensers and then you buy smart and get the best dynamics you can find.These would include Shure SM7,Sennheiser MD421,Electrovoice PM20,Audio Technica ATM25,and of course Shure SM57 of which the Audix i5 can be a substitute.
Theres a mile of stuff to discuss.....You're gonna want a little board to monitor through.If you buy a decent used one you might get a model with good mic pres which will help in tracking.A couple to consider would be thw Yamaha PM series(there are 12 channels available)....the Ramsa WRT series....several configurations...for newer stuff always consider Soundcraft....a small Delta will do you well...For the newest the Yamaha MG series has lownoise and transparent pres...and is very usable at under $300....

thanks a lot for all the information! I think that I have a whole lot to learn. from this info, I'm guessing that I don't need to worry too much right now about pre amps, or the 002 provides pretty decent ones buit in?

Looks like your mind is st on the 002 in spite of all the info you've been given... its your money!

well, I really want to learn Pro Tools because it's pretty much the standard right now.

Also I don't know what the heck the ADA80000 is.

The ADA80000 is an 8 channel input and output device with lightpipe I/O

so you can expand you 002 to have 16 analog inputs
The ADA8000 inputs will accept mic level and has phantom power.
This will give your system12 mic inputs.

The ADA8000 has 8 analog outputs, again expanding your system.

The Alesis Ai3 is a similar unit but is not Microphone ready.

I have posted often on these units here and you will find info down to chip or IC level for both units.

Trust me
you don't need to know about this stuff yet BUT if people want to comment I'm sure I can help get past the BS.

Remember this unit is cheap and will serve you well for the next year or two ... provided it doesn't break down ... alwasy an issue for the very cheap gear we buy