If you want to edit the 5.1 audio from a dvd in FC, then it gets a little trickier. Use MacTheRipper to demux (separate) the audio (.ac3) and the video (.m2v) files. Use MPEG streamclip to convert the .m2v to whatever format you need to edit (in FCE, it would be DV). Use mAC3dec to split the 5.1 .ac3 into individual mono aiff's. There will be 6 files (C, L, R, LS, RS, LFE). If you're only wanting to edit the center channel with dialog, then just load that track into FC with your video. Once you've finished your cut, encode your video to .m2v and export your audio channel to aiff. Using Compressor or A.Pack (older versions of FCP), rebuild your .ac3 surround file with your new edited center channel and the remaining untouched files. Once you have your edited .m2v and .ac3, author away. If you're wanting to do work with 5.1 audio you're really going to need FCP, either The Production Suite (FCP 4.5 HD), or Final Cut Studio (v5). Your machine should run 4.5 just fine, but I'd really check to see if it will run 5. Just check out the hardware requirements at Apple. Good luck and be careful buying expensive software on ebay. If it seems too good to be true...... If you can work the educational angle, there are some good deals there.