? on Using which format of Audio Interface with a Imac i3

Hi,
I have been reading and reading about this topic. My (R.I.P.) eMac has been replaced by a very nice and fast Intel i3 Imac with FW800 and plenty of USB 2.0 and SP/Dif (even)
Fortunately most all of any music gear that needed driver or firmware updates for Snow Leopard had them available, but my Tascam US-120 (USB 1.1) does not so have been looking at USB 2.0 (though its amazing how many USB 1.1 USB Audio Interfaces are still be produced and at $$$ prices. Firewire Audio Interfaces are at FW 400 and with a Firewire 800 port on the back of the iMac appears ? that a interface cable is the required or ? only way to use a Firewire interface 1) I want to make sure I am understanding this correctly, and 2) is this safe ? to do 3) I am getting a FW 800 Extrenal Hard Drive so that is a match, 7200RPM,
I do plug in to the Interface (or did) at times 2 microphones XLR type (to put mic's on a amplifier) , a Electric Guitar , or a Acoutsic Electric Guitar in to the interface or record it with a mic's, I have a MIDI Keyoard that has MIDI in-out as well as USB in, and also plugged two power monotors(Linear Flat Speakers) in to the out puts of the previous Audio Interface.
Last Question I reviewed the bit/kHz of the USB 1.1 interfaces and they range from 16 bit//48 kHz,24bit 44.1kHz, to 24bit 48kHz to 24bit 96kHz (on a USB 1.1 connection from the particular USB audio Interfaces when you find a USB 2.0 modem the max bit rate is 24 and the kHz (ranges from 96 kHz to 192 kHz) I am not a electronics genius
but have recorded music in to computers for over 6+ years and the Resolution rates of the USB 1.1 do not make sense to me (I realize that MP3 (being compressed) and CD quality recordings are only so high but..
I am going to (later) update to Ilife 11 with Garageband 11' which can record up to the 24 bit range so that is a consideration as well
The FW 400 resolution rates in the chart I have are a minimum of 24 bit and kHZ range of 96 kHz to 192 kHz . and in theory USB 2.0 is a bit faster at 480 mbs versus FW 400
at 400 mbs and from what I have learned USB 1.1 is slowest, I guess I am missing something, over thinking this or. Just want to do it safely, and get all of the inputs and out puts I need (I can even use the SP/Dif that comes on alot of Audio Interfaces, The AES Audio Engineers Society just wrapped up a convention and have been looking at their site and new product releases.
Any Input would be greatly appreciated and I wish I could write less and explain more!
David
ambienttales

If you can stretch your budget (quite a bit actually, but you can find deals on the net) I can't recommend the RME Fireface 800 models enough. Lots of I/O, never EVER had a crash, and the drivers and tools are rock solid. RME also makes a FF400 which has less I/O, but also costs less. The sound is steller, and it has no discernable noise. These are Firewire interfaces, but they just camme out with one that also talks USB.
Pete

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