New Powerbook Studio, Advice on new Powerbook Studio needed Options

[SiGi]

Hi,
I am just starting to put together a home studio and am in need of some advice. I currently have a Powerbook G4 1.5Ghz, 512 running Reason 2.0. I am interested in putting together Vocal/Guitar/Piano based music with a simple system that works, I don't have the technical ability to sort out latency/compatability etc. issues!

What do I need?......
More memory: Should I upgrade to 1GB?
Audio Interface: USB or Firewire (Ua-5, Ua-700 ,Tascam FW1884, RME Hammerfall, MOTU 896 and PreSonus Firestation)) ??
External Hard Drive: Firewire or USB?
Sequencer: Go all out on Logic 6 or will Tracktion do the job?
Vocals: Is this simply input via the Audio Interface or do I need something else, compressor (MAudio TAMPA)?

I am more interested in keeping it simple and having it work without too much fiddling!

Thanks

[hahaworld]

512 should be enough ram for simple V/G/P music. Your Powerbook is definitely powerful enough. I have the same thing you have, and I run all kinds of stuff on mine simultaneously. I don't do many projects with more than 10 or 12 tracks, though. Most of the things I do are demos, so it's usually 3 or 4 tracks, and I never have slowdown or latency problems. You can upgrade to 1GB. It never hurts to have more ram, though. I use a simple MidiSport MIDI interface sometimes, and sometimes I use a little Oxygen USB MIDI keyboard. It's cool, too. Definitely get a FireWire external HD. LaCie makes a GREAT one that's got 200GB, and if you do a search on MySimon.com, you can find one for a little over $200. Don't buy it from the normal computer wholesalers. Do a search. MacMall and places like that hike up the prices too much. If I were you, I'd go all out Logic 6. It is WAY worth the money you'll spend, and you will LOVE it once you learn it. You won't love the manual, though. I'll warn you about that in advance. Get a friend to show you how to use LOGIC. Once you learn it, you'll never want to use anything else! For audio, I'd get an MBox with the ProTools bundle (another great program). It's cheap, portable, reliable and lightweight, as well as easy to set up.

Good luck! I hope this helps!
hahaworld