Ditto....

Find out what others are using.... listen to their music. If you like what you hear contact them..... ask questions before you spend money.

I do not like or recommend any of the 2 in 1 combo things they make.... Ex: mixer with built in USB interface or the USB mics.

Stay away from the USB mics. While they are sold almost everywhere, and they work OK for certain things, making music on a PC is not the ideal use for a USB mic.

It would be far better to have a dedicated USB INTERFACE with midi and nice high quality audio preamps. ( Focusrite meets this requirement) Then buy a nice condenser microphone.

With my Focusrite interface, I have no need for an external mixer board. I plug my Rode straight into the interface and do the same with my guitar using a POD 2. I get plenty of gain and do everything else in the DAW I use. (X1)

In the Sonar forums we have people come there from time to time who buy before they research and they have problems with the gear they have bought. Once they return it and get good gear they are usually able to work effectively.

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.