3.0! 3.0! Waiting with baited breath!
I run firewire on my PC, but only because I installed a $14 dual firewire card (with the TI chipset). Like I said before, USB 2.0 will definitely meet your needs.
Hit the 2i2 ($119), Steinberg UR22 ($145) or Tascam US 200 ($139). The last two also have midi if you feel you'll ever need that, but the focusrite 2i2 has (arguably) the best preamps. Also, if you look, each comes with different DAWs lite versions (Ableton or Cubase) so get a good picture (watch some YouTube on each of these) of which DAW you'd like to work with, and that will help your buying decision.
As a minimum interface, there is a $90 option in the M-Audio M-Track. Have not heard anything horribly wrong about this box and it comes with Ignite and Ableton lite...If anyone's heard nasties about this interface, let him know.
As far as microphones, let's see...The MXL V67G ($90) is a good option with a fairly flat freq curve and a nice rise in the 2K-12K range. There are others as well. Check with
recordinghacks and have a look through the list of mics. They give specifications and look for problems you might have later from poor design/manufacturing, etc.
Anyway, as a minimum, you spend about $90 on interface, $90 on mike and then you'll need a stand, boom, shock mount and pop filter. Save your boxtops until you're in the $250 range and you should be set to go.
Then come back and we'll talk about bass traps and other wonderful acoustic treatment options, because even if your budget was $30,000, you will only get the sound you record to sound as good as the room you record it in...
