Hey Frank...well, the system specs are scattered about on a couple of different posts but here they are:
Asus P4B266, P4 1.6a(or 1.8a), 512MB DDR 266 PC2100 RAM
That is the basis for the system..Hard drives, video card and Optical drives are all up to you..
I reccomend getting an IDE RAID controller card for better performance as well.
The system if built by me is around 1600.00 which is a pretty fair price and includes the OS as well.
I/O really depends on what you want to do with the machine. How many channels at once do you need? Analog or digital? Etc etc..
Opus

I'd pass on the Digi001- it's the only thing in that price range that is intentionally crippled, and a 'budget' version of a more expensive platform. The converters sound, if not like crap, mediocre at most. IMO, etc.

Opus, Jon, Thanks for the responses!

The system specs cover most of the barebones info, but my feeling from covering some other strings and checking out other DAW gear is making me think that the place to start is with the sound card/software/direct out box and then pick the mobo and components to go with it.

Which leads me to your question about I/O. I would like to have 8 1/4" TRS ins and outs and 2 MIDI I/O's and go to at least 32 channels of audio. The software editing should be extensive for MIDI and audio. So far these are the "must have's". I was looking to do recording sessions with at most 6 mics and heavy on the keyboard to fill in gaps and round out the sound. Also, I'd like to record vocals, including backup. Of course I want the ultimate, but that's not going to happen and I suppose I can compromise on the massive HDD's that seem to be the standard, and can be added later if need be.

I've got to go, we've got lightning and I'm liable to lose this link if I stay longer.

Chow

Well, when you say you want 32 channels of audio do you mean via the sound card or the audio program.
Well, there isnt any audio hardware that will get you that on one card...
but, for 8 in and out..that's not a problem..
I would reccomend getting a USB 2x2 Midi interface than getting an audio card with built on Midi. It's nothing bad to do that but it's just something I like to do.
You have several choices here..
Echo audio makes the Layla24 bit..8 in 8 out, word clock, SPDIF and one Midi in and out as well as an optical port for 8 channels of adat lightpipe in and out. Great sounding converters and ease of use.
MOTU 1224 or MOTU 2408, Maudio Delta cards, DSP2000 box(forget manufacturer's name..)and many others.
The audio program..well, there's a good one! I would look heavily into Cubase SX since that will be a complete overhaul for Cubase and is basically Nuendo in a nutshell! That will have great Midi and great audio features for your needs.
Check it out
Opus

Opus, lots of questions, lots of answers, the deeper I dig the deeper it gets. I'm looking at 32 channels of audio within the audio program, so that gets me back to the sound card issue. Cubase SX I haven't looked at yet, but your saying it's nuendo in a nutshell. Does that include the surround sound stuff and the 200 audio channels? What about the plugins for Cubase, do they have a decent sound and enough in the package to start playing with?I'm sure I can look this stuff up myself, but those are some of the concerns I'm looking at, not to mention price.(yes the almighty dollar rears it's ugly head) As far as I know Cubase' price is on par with PT's so that shouldn't be a problem. Here's what I've come up with so far:

ASUS A7V266
Amd xp-1900
ATI ex2000 32meg rage
512Mg DDR 266bus
ATA-100 32mg-128 controller
40G seagate 7200
100G WD 7200
Plextor 40x12x40 CDRW

What's your take on that? any obvious problems? I'll be scouting the hardware "mosh-pit" for a while still.

over and out....