nanopad, audio interfaces, behringer c-3

[maghoxfr]

Hi, first post here. I'm researching because i want to make a small homestudio, for now the gear I have in mind is:

Interface: Presonus Firebox ($360) or M-Audio Firewire Solo ($316)
Mic: M-Audio Nova ($160) or Behringer C-3 ($105)
Keyboard: M-Audio Keystation 61 ($255)
Pad controller: Korg Nanopad ($99)

Anyone has experience with any of this gear? I'm a bit limited on budget the prices are higher over here. I will be using ubuntu studio and all opensource software to record.

Thanks

[RawDepth]

Welcome, maghoxfr. I do not have any of those items but I have been hearing about them for some time. I think I would go for the M-Audio interface instead of the Presonus.

Where are you that prices are higher?

[maghoxfr]

Prices are high because I live in Uruguay (South America) so everything is imported, in addition there's not a wide range of things neither, for example to buy the presonus I'd have to go to Argentina which is not far but it impies customs etc. If I wanted to buy over internet, which I never did but I'm considering, I'd have to pay 60% in taxes.Thanks for the answer!

[stainless]

I'd opt for the Presonus,  even though the Presonus has fewer inputs, I think their pre-amps are a bit better, and the included software- for the M-Audio- Ableton Lite is indeed Lite , but  while I haven't yet used the Presonus software it looks to have some pretty impressive features and seems to be a fully functional platform

As to mics- I opt for the higher price M-Audio- My experience with Behringer has been hit and miss, some things have been decent for entry level gear: worked well (rackmount DI), to noisy (headphone amp) to not much help at all (Feedback destroyer and 1953 tube preamp) to downright crap (sub-woofers)  I did have the passive Truth monitors and they were OK... but ended up after a short time being sent to the TV room and then got traded for some cymbal stands-

absolutely no knowledge, nor opinion on the keypad or controller

[maghoxfr]

Thanks a lot stainless, i think you're right about behringer, I've tried some stompboxes, a wah pedal and some monitors that friends have and some things are ok and others are garbage. The Nova is way more appealing because of quality, the c-3 has on its advantage the price ($60 cheaper) and the fact that is multi-pattern. Anyway, I'm pretty sure that coming from behringer the little switches to select patterns won't last long!

Thanks very much, all this information is very useful.

[Catnhat]

I'll second Stainless' vote on the Presonus.  It just sounds cleaner compared to  some others in that range, (my opinion).  But to be fair, I've never had any experience with the m-audio interface.
The Behringer stuff is pretty much a roll of the dice.  Some stuff is great, some just sucks.(thank God the local shop and Guitar Center have fairly lenient return policies) 
I had a C-3, got it because of the switchable patterns, it ended up being very noisy, couldn't stand it.  Returned it and bumped up to a B-1 for just a little more and never looked back.
The keyboard & pad controller...guess it depends on what your recording.  Mainly, do you NEED a 61 key, or would a 49 key be able to do the same thing?
Personally, I'd forget the 61 key and the nanoPad and bump up to the Axiom 49.  Which will do just about what both of the other units will do combined.
But like I said, it depends on what/how you record, and for you, what's available to you.

Oh ya, Welcome to the forum.

[maghoxfr]

Thanks, great answer, I have to say that I'm very hesitant towards Behringer even though it's really cheap. I'll go for the Nova or similar. The thing with the midi keyboard is that I play keys so 61 is great, I would even prefer 88 but don't have the money. The nanopad is the prescindible item there and I don't think I'll buy it anytime near. I don't want to damage the keys drumming though. An axiom would be a dream, but prices here are very high man, I walk out really angry of the music store every time I go there LOL.

I've never used a controller so mouse and keyboard doesn't really bother me, I want a midi keyboard to play, not so much to control knobs and faders.

Thanks for the wellcome!