New iMac-Questions for musicians/computer experts

Question

Friends,
My primary reason for buying a new iMac has to do with home music recordings. (Especially w GarageBand, but other music programs as well.)
Spent the day trying to get things going with my brand new iMac. (Specs below).
Things went pretty well, except when I got to peripherals. So, for some of you musicians out there who might have encountered similar situations when upgrading computers/operating systems:
1) *Presonus Firebox* preamp. On my old iMac, all I would do was plug in the firewire to the computer and the preamp turned on. (Usually left the firewire plug into the preamp all the time.) Never used the AC adaptor. Apparently wasn't necessary. The cable was a 6-pin to 6-pin. (Meaning, I think, 400 to 400.)
a) Tried to get the preamp going on the "new" iMac. Used a new 6-pin, coming out of the PreSonus Firebox, to 9-pin, going into the new iMac firewire port, cable. Nothing happened. Firebox didn't turn on.
b) Thoughts? Why didn't it work? Do I need to go to the PreSonus Firebox web-page to download an updated driver that will work with +Snow Leopard+? (Been to that site and it said +Mac users do not need to do this+.)
c) This is critical for me. I don't want to by a new preamp to do my recordings.
2) *Yamaha DGX-305* keyboard/synthesizer. I've used this for many recording purposes...sole piano work, comping, effects, etc... bringing it in as either MIDI (via USB cable) or analog (headphone out to iMac audio line in). But...
a) when I tried to bring it into my new iMac (same way: USB cable for MIDI), nothing happened. Tried to record....settings were all the same as on the old Mac (i.e. to a MIDI track in GB, line in/out were correct after setting them on the computer)....pushed "record" button, played, marker/track moved, but nothing was recorded.
b) It would seem that I would have to go to the Yamaha web site to download the latest driver to make this work.
Following a visit to the HP site and a phone call, was told that HP stopped making the printer I have (about six years old) and, therefore, do not make drivers compatible with +Snow Leopard+. So, today, I purchased a brand new printer. Certainly did not think I would have to do that after buying a new computer. And wasn't particularly happy about it. Present printer works just fine.
I will be visiting the websites and calling +PreSonus Firebox+ and Yamaha tomorrow morning to inquire about workable updated drivers for +Snow Leopard+. My great fear is that either or both will say the same thing as HP: "Stopped making those models and do not have downloadable drivers" for my new computer/operating system.
If that would be the case, it would mean that the "critical" peripherals for my home music recordings would be obsolete. Effectively negating the usefulness of my brand new iMac.
*THE MAIN CONCERN:*
*I do not want to buy a new preamp, keyboard, or whatever to enable me to resume my recording efforts. I didn't sign up for that when I bought my new iMac.*
Anxiously awaiting your thoughts.
The only reason I bought a new iMac (the old one...which I will still keep, works perfectly fine, just pushed to capacity) was to make my home recording efforts easier. Meaning, less stress on the processor, more space available on the computer itself for those huge music files, and more speed with much more RAM.
But it never occurred to me that buying a new computer would require buying everything else to go with it: printer, preamp, keyboard, etc.
And, just a quick p.s. regarding GB: on the old version I have, GB2, when you double-clicked the "instrument" icon at the very left of the track, it brought up a window where you could adjust things, change instrument sound/audio font, turn monitor on/off etc. However, when I double-clicked the instrument icon on the new GB, nothing happened. It would seem this is a typical problem with updated programs. Nothing, or at least not enough, is where it used to be. A real problem for an old guy like me to re-learn everything. I'm sure I'll have to do a lot more exploring to find out how this new GarageBand works.
Thanks for any comments/suggestions. (If it weren't for the invaluable resource of Apple Discussion Forums, I wouldn't even have considered buying a new computer. At least I know you guys are here.)

Answer 1

• Firebox: There is a problem with the Firewire card in newer Macs - I have the same problem. It will not sync up with some interfaces (I have the Inspire) when they have no external power source. There's only two solutions: use the power adaptor, or chain it with an externally powered hard drive. After everything is up and running, it should be okay to unplug the power adaptor.
• Keyboard: The device that your computer is connected to is not the keyboard but the midi interface (which you call "cable"). You can plug any midi instrument into that, the Mac doesn't care. So you'll have to update your interface's driver, but you don't tell us what it is. If it's a yamaha intereface:
http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/
(And a note: Lengthy posts like yours, with a lot of talk about why you bought your computer etc., don't attract a lot of people to give you answers. A short but concise description of your problem - like what interface you are using - is a lot more helpful.)