Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini Recording Bundle- Garageband/ProTools Upgrade Questions

[MacMufasa.com]

Hi Everyone,

I am thinking about upgrading my gear. I've been reading and searching here and "the Google" :-)

I was thinking about going this route:

Buy Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini Recording Bundle | Studio & Recording Packages | Computer Music Packages | Musician's Friend

But, I just go back and forth on what to do. I currently use GarageBand on a MacBook Pro, have a 1/4" to mini cable to plug straight into my mac to record my Strat, and have a Samson USB Mic to record vox and my Taylor acoustic. I'm just a beginner with the mixing process and have had great help here on mixing and input on my songs I've uploaded.

I know ProTools (although not the favorite around here) is in an entirely different league than GarageBand, and using an audio interface is always better than plugging straight in - I'm looking for input on what to do. Stick with what I have longer to learn more about mixing, or upgrade.

I guess I'd get better sound from ProTools than GarageBand right?
I guess I'd get better sound from the Mbox 2 Mini than straight in for electric guitars?
Am I going to get a "sounds like a real recording" with the new gear I mentioned than with GarageBand? (I know a lot depends on the mixing though)
Can you even get that "sounds like a real recording" with what I use now? (I know a lot depends on the mixing though)

Any input you can give me to help me decide what to do would be awesome. I love this board.

[Husky Band]

I don't know what exactly comes in the studio bundle from MF but the MBox 2 Mini and PT 8.0 are solid products. There are however, many ways to go for the beginner. Going with the MBox mini locks you into Digidesign hardware as long as you continue to use ProTools Not that there is anything wrong with PT LE but, you could go with any other DAW package like Cubase or Sonar and not be locked into any particular brand of hardware. These other DAW's also do not limit your total number of simultaneous inputs to 18 the way that PT LE does. This may not seem like a problem now but it could be one later on down the road. I like and use ProTools LE but, I don't think that with its' limitations it is the best way to start out. (jmho)

[MacMufasa.com]

Thanks for the input Husky. Right now, LOL, I've decided to pick out an audio interface using the wizard on this site, and get either a small keyboard, or bass, or both - and stick with GarageBand just for now until ready to move on. Maybe that will stick so I won't change my mind again.

I'm recording bass lines using the onscreen keyboard in GarageBand and it gets medieval trying to deal with lag and being limited to an octave. Same goes for organ and horns with that blasted onscreen keyboard. Getting a cheap bass would fix that and getting a keyboard would help with putting down other midi I want. The audio interface should help my guitar sound, and bass sound, instead of going though the 1/4" to mini Monster cable I have that goes straight into the Mac.