Which Audio Interface for Me?

Okay, I have decided to make the switch from my iMic and a mixer to an audio interface that has two inputs so I can record two channels at once. I may be using external pre's at times so it must have line-in's. Also, right now I am using a Rev. A Mac Mini, but soon I will be upgrading to a Mac Intel Book to be named later. I will mainly use this to record acoustic guitar, vocals, bass, and ocassionally drums (using a mixer to sub mix and then into the audio interface). I will do everything for my own home enjoyment so my standards are real high. Here are the possibilities I have come up with from the Sweetwater catalog in my price range ($150 - $300):
1.)Lexicon Alpha (this is a new model) or Lambda - both are USB
2.)Tapco Link.USB
3.)Makie Spike (USB)
4.)Alesis io I 14 (what is this thing USB or Firewire?)
5.)M-Audio Firewire 410
6.)Presonus Firebox
It doesn't matter to me if it is USB or Firewire, I guess my biggest requirement is the ability to use the line-in for external pre's. Thanks for any help!

I guess you guys mean that I could pan channel one
left and two right and then into the iMic?
That's correct
There are two jacks on the iMic I see,
No, one of those is the input, one of those is the output (you could plug headphoines into that one)
but I guess I don't
understand how I can have those on two seperate
channels in garageband.
That's the easy part. Create a New Basic Track and click the "I"nfo button, then set the input popUp menu to "Channel 1 (Mono)". Create a second New Basic Track and set it's Input popUp menu to "Channel 2 (mono)". Make sure the little red Record Enable buttons are on for both track and hit record. You'll be recording 2 tracks.
Also, I think one thing for
me as that my mixer didn't have in/outs on each
channel so I can use external pre's.
Okay, like I said, I would never dissuade someone from getting a better interface, and the iMic is nowhere near the Top Of The Line...
I use PreSonus' FirePod and for the year+ that I've had it I've been thrilled with it. I have no person al experience with the FireBox, but PreSonus has an excellent reputation so if it has the features you want, I'd expect it to be a great product.
Finally, I guess I should say that I'm using
Garageband now, but had thought about Logic Express
in the future. Thanks for the help
Any of the interfaces you listed should work fine with whatever software you want to use (the compatibility question is not really with the software, but rather the hardware. If the interface works on your Mac then it will work with GB and Logic).
Hope that helps --HangTime [Will Compute for Food] B-|>

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    Thomjinx wrote:
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    G5 QuadPPC2.5, Ram:12.5g, Magma PCIe-PCI expansion   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   2X Hammerfall DSP Digiface+Multiface, Digi 002r, 4X UAD-1

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  • Help! which Audio Interface to buy?

    Hi,
    I have just got garageband and have fiddled with it for a few months now so Im comfortable with it. I now wnat to connect my Condenser Mic (RODE NT1-A) which will need phantom power and my electric guitar . Everything else will be recorded with the inbuilt soft synths on GB. I know nothing of audio interfaces and am only familar with M Audio Fast track as a brand.
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    Paul

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