Newbie Needs Advice!, software/hardware setup can't decide Options

[mook noodler]

First of all, Hello! I've been looking around in here for about 3 hours now and I'm really impressed. This is one of the best forums I've been to and seems to be the most helpful. Now that my nose is well browned...

here's my situation: (and I don't mean to repeat other topics but there's so many that I'm overwhelmed!!!) I've been recording music for the past 3 years or so on a PC with Cakewalk and Cakewalk Sonar. I like Sonar, but I got so sick of PCs that I went and got myself a PowerMac dual1.25 G4 with OSX. Now I needs a new setup. I record guitar, bass, vocals, and keyboard and drum machine. I have a Midisport 4x4 for midi, but I'm definitely not a midi whiz. I also have several outboard effects (delay, compression, etc) that I like to use.

At first I leaned toward the Digi 001 cuz of all the I/O's, but this forum has me thinking Logic or Cubase, which leaves me pretty confused about a hardware interface. I don't think I need a mixer type thing (already have a mixer), but I'd like something with several I/O's for sending tracks to outboard effects, and I'd really like a breakout box. I just need basic plug-ins but would like to be able to add more later. Softsynths would be cool too.

Hope I didn't go over the top w/ details. Any advice/input would be greatly appreciated, and I thank you all in advance! PS: my price range is about $1200.

[PlasTree]

Hehe. I'm probably going against the grain here. Seems a majority of users on this forum are Logicheads. I don't use Logic or Cubase. I wouldn't recommend Cubase because it is buggy and amateurish. Logic has the goods, but I don't care for it's interface. It's very non-standard and hard on my eyes. But that's subjective, I guess.

I use Protools and Digital Performer. I actually use DP more often because it's more flexible in terms of hardware support and I like it's interface a little better. But honestly, DP is mostly a copy of Protools with just a few major differences. That's by no means a bad thing, as Protools is the standard, and a good one at that.

I strongly encourage you to give Digital Performer a review along with the other DAW's. An osX version is not out just yet, but is slated for a March release (although I'm not holding my breath). If you must use Logic, I guess you're in good hands, as most of the posters here seem pleased with their software. I personally will never be caught dead using it unless it receives a major interface overhaul.

Good luck in your future making music on a Mac! You got the most important part right, anyway!