Exhausted - Don't Know What To Do Next, Alesis HD24XR, and MacPro Dual Quad Options

[dad4mad]

I've had so many recommendations that my head is going to explode, and yet I'm still asking for help - [size="4"][/size] begging for help.
I have an Alesis HD24XR and a brand new MacPro Dual Quad, 3TB/16GB RAM.
I used to have a Dell, and after fighting this thing (that's why they call 'em workstation) I finally gave up, took out my drives, threw it down the stairs, then went online and bought the Mac.
I don't want to invest in cheap bottom of the line stuff, but don't have a lot of cash after buying the Mac
I am in need of help finding the right interface (or sound card) and the right software for the Mac.
I've been told ProTools is good, but I want to move 24 tracks, so do I need to spend a ton of money
The M2...whatever only does two tracks.

Help i am lost!!
I'm an old school analog guy, wanting to get into the DAW age...

[ckb]

Here's a little more input, and I'm really sorry I forgot about this one the first time I responded: Electronic Musician recently did the article "Building a Personal Studio on Any Budget," and they break down 4 different types of studios (portable digital versus film composing vs. sound design vs.....) and build them out at low and high budgets. Really great roundup.

http://emusician.com/tutorials/emusic_build_personal_studio/

[lunar 1]

Here's a little more input, and I'm really sorry I forgot about this one the first time I responded: Electronic Musician recently did the article "Building a Personal Studio on Any Budget," and they break down 4 different types of studios (portable digital versus film composing vs. sound design vs.....) and build them out at low and high budgets. Really great roundup.

http://emusician.com/tutorials/emusic_build_personal_studio/

Hmm yes, well... Not so recent I'm afraid; the article was written in 2002. To say 'things have improved since then' borders on absurdity. The good news is that all of these examples can now be built for considerably less money (should anybody still desire ). Good article for things to think about, though. The list of microphones for the $30k studio, alone, makes the read worthwhile for folks unfamiliar:
http://emusician.com/tutorials/emusic_buil...dio/index8.html

[ckb]

Here's a little more input, and I'm really sorry I forgot about this one the first time I responded: Electronic Musician recently did the article "Building a Personal Studio on Any Budget," and they break down 4 different types of studios (portable digital versus film composing vs. sound design vs.....) and build them out at low and high budgets. Really great roundup.

http://emusician.com/tutorials/emusic_build_personal_studio/

Hmm yes, well... Not so recent I'm afraid; the article was written in 2002. To say 'things have improved since then' borders on absurdity. The good news is that all of these examples can now be built for considerably less money (should anybody still desire ). Good article for things to think about, though. The list of microphones for the $30k studio, alone, makes the read worthwhile for folks unfamiliar:
http://emusician.com/tutorials/emusic_buil...dio/index8.html

SORRY!!!

Here's the update from 2007 -- they redo it every few years:

http://emusician.com/tutorials/build_personal_studio_budget/

More of the products should ring a bell. It at least points you to players worth investigating.

Sorry for that flub. Apparently a lot of people make that mistake, since the link to the *2002* one is in the "Popular" list in the margin of the EM page! Eeek!