Before I call Presonus..

Hello,

I am having trouble with a Presonus Firebox. Before I call them I wanted to drop a post here to get some feedback.

Equipment:
iBook G4 1gb ram
WD USB 2.0 external hard drive for audio tracks
Presonus Firebox
Shure 57 mic
M Audio Condenser Mic
NEW firewire cable for Firebox

Situation:
I just purchased and setup the Firebox. I swapped out the included firewire cable with a "better" one per the salesman's direction at Guitar Center. I configured my Audio Preferences settings to use the Firebox for Input and Output and set the levels to 100% I configured the Firebox Mixer and set the sliders to full as well as bypassed the Mixers Out to avoid feedback and noise through the monitor speakers. I first tried my Condenser mic to record some acoustic guitar. I found that I had to turn the Preamp gain wide open on the Firebox and nestle right up to the condenser to get even the weakest of signal in Garageband. (yes phantom power was on) I then enabled the Firebox Control for the +12db boost on all inputs. Still getting a signal but it is not what I expected. The signal is not even getting to -8db in Garageband. This is a condenser mic that works fine with an EMU 1820 on windoze. I am a bit frustrated so I remove the condenser and hook up the Shure 57. I placed it infront of my amp and go to town. Same results...Better signal but I would expect to get clips on the Firebox with everything set to full. No luck. So, am I missing something? The preamps seem to be weak. The gain is more like an on off switch and provide no value due to the fact that I have to crank them to get a decent signal. Furthermore, the mixer software that came with the Firebox seems to be of no value for I get no usable signal unless they are wide open. The condenser should NOT need cranked at the preamp. I should NOT have to crank every setting I can find to get a subpar input signal. I have to me missing a setting or configuration somewhere. This product is of no use if this is, in fact, how it is designed to work. Am I missing something?? Is the product defective?

Thanks!
Mojo