Help please Upgrading my System

[jukeboyjim]

I know these general questions are generally frowned upon and I haven't posted here in a while so if I am paining everyone's ass sorry but I looked and can't find exactly what I am looking for so here goes. I am beginning work on a recording project and I want to upgrade my rack and I need some suggestions since new stuff is coming out every day and I can't keep track. On my last record I used the original MBox with a 2 channel Rosetta converter/clock on to my Mac with Pro Tools LE( can't remember which version). I sold the Apogee but have great classic external mic's and preamps. I was sending the mic'pre's into the Apogee then digitally in to the M Box and overdubbing. I recorded the basics in a studio and did a final mix in the studio. Nothing too unusual right?? So, I want to record my next record with an 8 channel ( or 4 possibly) configuration so I can record the band in our rehearsal space live and then do some overdubbing to finish it. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on fancy high end stuff to do it. I would rather buy old quality than new trendy. Where is the best bang for the buck for me? There is so much out there these days. How about 888's? I don't want to spend 1k on converters but I doubt Behringer makes anything decent as well. Where is the middle ground? How about an Mbox 2 with Black Tiger mod's? I don't want to use the micpre in any cheap box like Mbox. Music is swampy 3 piece blues/rock. Anyone been down this road??? Thanks