> if you want to record anything to your computer.....you're gonna need an
> interface of some type. be it an external recorder like a fostex mr8 or
> an A-D converter like an MBox or a Digi 002.

Is this difficulty a Windows PC type of thing? Everybody keeps saying you need all this stuff to record to the computer but all I have to do is plug something into the 1/8" sound input on the back of the Mac (ie, a mixer)
The only conversion I need is for the midi, so I use an opcode midi translator in the modem port.
For $50 it gives you one input and 3 outputs so, in other words you can basically connect all your midi and audio equipment for $50, go to the sound control panel and select 'Audio In', and you're ready to go with 128 tracks of audio and unlimited MIDI.
And this computer is 5 years old. 266mhz processor, 320MB of Ram & no USB.