Soundcard
Ok I’ve read all the blogs and reviews, but I can’t decide which sound card to get. I want Firewire and I’d prefer it to be around 300 bucks. And I’m using a mac.
Do you plan on doing all of your mixing internally (VCI-100) or externally (on a mixer)?
Internally get an Echo Audiofire 2, Externally get a presonus firebox. I own the Audiofire and soon to own the firebox…I did alot of research on both. Also, be sure to buy a good quality firewire cable such as Dynex, that is gold plated.
Both those FW Audio cards are awesome… although… Dynex is the BestBuy brand and I have had all sorts of crappy luck with their products. Also, my buddy works as an Inventory Manager at a BB here in town and told me that they are not of the highest build or material quality when he hooked em up for me (wholesale +5% discount, 5 USB and 5 FW 6to6 for a total of 7 bucks) i have 2 of each that are alive… 
after a year of use.
The m-audio Firewire 410 is a really decent card, haven’t had any problems with it and it sounds great. I think they are on Firewire 610 now, and they are about 350 new.
Presonus ftw. You can have 4 external decks and its got Midi and 2 firewire ports.
Built like a tank and ultra reliable.
K
Well I payed 50 bucks for Dynex firewire chord that is gold plated. Best one I could find. Every other chord I used kept cutting out because my connector is not the best on my pc. It fits nice and snug now.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?spcDB=10301&spcWord=Firewire+Cables&keyword=firewire
Don’t hold your finger in the air about the price. Every cable I’ve gotten from monoprice.com has never failed me.