Probably an interface. The latest MacBook Pros have a FireWire 800 port, so you have a wide choice of interfaces, even if it means using a cable adaptor for the FW400 devices.

Tell us more about what you want to do, how many channels etc.

i use the old macbook pro with logic 9. since installing snow leopard i haven't had a single cpu overload with any of my projects (20 to 50 tracks with tons of plugins)

you should consider getting an external hard drive for your project files. firewire800 would be perfect for that. firewire400 is ok too. but usb drives are usually too slow with bigger projects.

and here is the main problem with using a macbook. you only have one firewire port. if you get a firewire hard drive you should consider getting a usb interface. you could daisy chain the hard drive and the interface to the one firewire port, but that can cause problems with the interface. i was having that kind of trouble since i got me a focusrite saffire pro24 firewire interface. but i have the old macbook pro with an expresscard slot, so i got a firewire expresscard extension for the hard drives. the new macbook pro doesn't have that (it has a sd card slot instead. i don't know who's idea that was...)

so if you're not planning on recording a whole band at once a usb interface might be better for you. there are some really nice ones. the connection speed is good enough to record 8 tracks at a time in 24bit/44.1kHz.

just my thoughts on the subject.

The 17" MacBook Pro still has the ExpressCard slot, so if you have that model, you can get a FireWire Expresscard that will act as a second FireWire port. Use the built-in FW800 port for the external disk drive and the Expresscard FW port for the audio interface.

I would use the express card slot with an RME or apogee interface and save the FW port for DSP. You can also get an upgrade for the Macbook Pro that externalises the Superdrive and replaces it with a 7200 Rpm internal Hard drive (separate drives for applications and audio for better performance) . Then you can burn disks over USB (usb is not great for audio), use a Powercore unit over firewire and have a descent set of converters hanging off the express slot. It also lets you pick and choose better Mic Pre's to run into your interface. (Most interfaces built in Pre's are pretty crappy)

muxics, post: 294573 wrote: what are all the things im going to need to work logic pro 9...

If you were to ask me I would say lots of patience and a desire to read manuals. It sure helps to know others close by who you can call and chat about various topics as well. I've had Logic pro now for three years and I feel like I am just starting to barely scratch the surface. Maybe when I finish some work around my house I can get a real studio made too.

Anyway, enough about me. Welcome muxics, how are things working out?

YouTube has a buttload of tutorials, if you are willing to pay check out the tutorials from macprovideo.com and groove3.com