ProTools Free on ibook SE Options

I have an iBook SE (ie 466 mhz model) with 192 MB RAM and I'm trying to run ProTools free. I want to use it as an entry point into hard disk recording and to replace my aging 4 track. However as many of you may know, the iBook has no sound in port. Instead I've opted for the cheap solution, which is the Griffin iMic USB audio in port. The problem is that ProTools doesn't seem to know how to interface with this device, and it crashes upon startup.

Griffin's web page has a description for this problem, which is quoted below:
'Some programs such as Logic Audio can not support USB audio devices like the iMic with the OS version on most Macs. You can use the ASIO Sound Manager driver below to allow these programs to work with the iMic. A few programs that do not currently work with USB audio such as Soundedit II, Pro Tools free, Deck II, or Mic Note Pad do not support ASIO.

For these programs the only current solution is to have the Apple Audio Extension, v 1.3.3 or later installed on your computer. The extension ships with current Macs (CD v 1.2). There is currently no way to upgrade this component so you must have the CD from a recent machine in order to obtain it. Logic Audio is also directly compatible without using the ASIO driver with the newer Apple Audio Extension. '

I have MacOS 9.04 and the CD that came with the computer doesn't have this version of the audio extension. I've check apples web site and they don't have this version either. Does anyone know where I can get this audio extension or know of a different solution to this problem? I'm also interested in people's opinions of this particular setup.

THanks
Tony Nelson

[Mello]

I don't know the musicians friend products mentioned here, I've yet to see a USB or firewire audio I/O for less than $500 from them. The imic's $35 pricetag does seem a lot more tempting. The Roland UA-30 doesn't look like it gives you any more than the imic and costs about $200. The eight input devices mentioned by sonic the hedgehog sound wonderful, but what are they? I'm just about to add an audio setup to my ibook and I have been planning on going imic. If there really is something better for less than $300 I'd sure like to know. As it stands, running a Behringer eurorack mixer into the imic is going to cost less than $200. I might pick up Cubasis VST 2.0 the new version looks like it actually has some muscle - 48 audio tracks and 64 midi. So if anyone has advise (especially sonic the hedgehog) I'd love it before I throw down my cash. To help the person who originally posted this. There's an ASIO available from a german company whose name currently escapes me. It says it will bring your latency down to 7 ms (from 11.6 ms) and is compatible with the imic. They want $50 for it. I don't know if that helps or not. Once you throw $50 at the ASIO you're awfully close to the $75 for cubasis. Since I don't own that, I can't say that will work either. The name is currently escaping me of the company, but if you decide you want it, e-mail me and I'll send it to you. rtpeyton@ukans.edu