Presonus is good however, I'm biased towards the Focusrite line since I have one and it is impressive. Especially the preamps. The world famous Focusrite preamps are known for being clean and sweet.

I first started back into digital recording by using a Korg D-1600 hard disk recorder. I didn't like how it treated the drums. So I went to a computer based DAW and thought I would use the Korg as an input mixer but soon realized that all I really needed to do is to go straight into the Saffire interface inputs and the results were crystal.

I've had the Saffire now for 6+ years and it's worked on a laptop and now my custom build DAW. 2 inputs is all I need.

If you have Band In A Box, you should also have Real Band. Real Band is a multitrack DAW. Rather than using the BR-8, try working on recording a project totally "in the box" using RB as the multitrack DAW.

For the entire time I have been back into digital recording, I have been working 100% "in the box". When I found out the Saffire would give me crystal input to the DAW, I sold the D-1600 immediately on Ebay and never looked back. For one thing in a DAW, the tracks are laid out in front of you on the screen, so editing and punches and more, are simple procedures to do.

I would stop recording if I had to go back to a standalone digital recorder like the Korg. Period.... done.... find something else to do. There's that much of a difference to me.

It's when you start getting into the multitrack stuff, and especially when using the midi softsynths that the interface will shine. The ASIO drivers along with the "engineered for music" circuitry will make things run like they are supposed to run.

Essentially, the interface and the hardware should be transparent to you.....it should not get in the way of the creative process. I turn my studio on, and it's ready to go. Hit record and I'm recording and everything else is perfectly synched up as it should be. All 16 to 20 or more channels of audio and the synths.

my 2 cents

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.