I believe some Digidesign/M-Audio stuff has mic inputs.

The idea is that you would be using that gear in a more large-budget studio where external preamps (with mic jacks on one side and balanced line outs on the other) would be in use.

T303, ProTools is simply a highly integrated software/hardware package. It's not "ah la carte", like your current system & so many others are. Being one of the very first to develop multi-track computer audio recording systems. Originally, you'd use your system in a professional recording studio and environment. That meant, you already had a console with microphone preamps. The proliferation of consumer home recordists prompted them to introduce smaller consumer systems. So you'll find a couple of microphone inputs on their lower cost consumer models. Their microphone preamps are run-of-the-mill & generally adequate for most any recording purposes. But most people with high-end ProTools systems generally want to use their own choice of recording tools that is generally assumed to provide more professional results. So you really haven't looked into their product line much as you thought they don't include microphone preamps? Their lower-cost stuff has just that, affordable microphone preamps built in. Will they provide you with the best possible sound? They will be as good as your recording technique provides for. I'm a professional with personal preferences. But as a professional, I'll make a good professional recording regardless of the equipment presented to me.

I get hired by some folks to record them on their own personal equipment, at their home studio. Why? Because that way, they know they are getting a real engineer that will show them how to obtain real professional results from their home equipment. In the process, they also get a private lesson on the art of recording, mixing, use of certain microphone techniques & their technologies. So I'm one of the few professional audio doctors that still makes house calls. That's sort of like having Harvard or Princeton come to your house to teach you.

So, if you want to learn how to use ProTools? You have to have a piece of their authorized hardware with the proper authorized computer equipment to use it with. As you cannot use it with any general-purpose stuff. They are highly specific of their technical requirements. So it's a mixed bag for some folks. I needed to have ProTools and so I purchased a used laptop that would support their requirements as my new laptop didn't! And my ProTools is not a top shelf version but the consumer oriented version. Thankfully, stuff produced on the lower end systems are completely compatible with their higher end systems. That's great for a person like yourself. Folks can record their stuff at home. Later, you can take all that you recorded to the full-service high-end studio & have it mixed conveniently on their system. The nice thing is, it will also work the other way around, provided it doesn't exceed the consumer oriented stuff's capabilities.

But if you are getting adequate results with what you have? No real reason to change just for the sake of change. If you believe your results are in adequate because of your equipment limitations? It's most likely due to a lack of technique and not the equipment.

Higher sample rates such as 192kHz offer a higher resolution sound to snobby people who believe that to be important. If you are in the big business of producing something under contract? You might feel it necessary to provide the best that money has to offer. If you believe that it will make your crappy sounding recording a work of art? You are sadly mistaken. Your recording are only as good as your capabilities permit. People still cannot believe that I recorded at 16-bit 44.1kHz. But the fact is, I really know it doesn't make a bit of difference. A good recording will always sound like a good recording regardless of technologies of the Times. But a bad recording of a good performance will be perceived as bad by most if there is no "feel-good factor" to the quality of the capture. So if you understand the limitations of your technologies? You can get the most from it.

One of the reel ones.
Ms. Remy Ann David

The HD systems also require the use of a preamp with DB-25 connectors which are a single connector combining the wiring of up to 8 preamp lines. Of course the obvious solution is yet another Didgidesign product but fortunately other high end preamps also have these connectors.

LOL! Or you could buy one of their cable kits. It gets very expensive.

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?itemid=6002&mkt=ALL