Portable Studio Setup, The best options for portable studio Options

[DEVIOUS]

I know that there are many discussions on this topic but I am still uncertain what is the best option for an affordable compact studio solution. I intend to use it for recording both 'real' instruments (guitar, vocals) and midi. I record a variety of different types of music but wish to concentrate on the more dancy/electronic type of music.

So far this is what I've come up with to add to my Powerbook G4:

Tascam US-122 (I only need 2 channels recording at once so I think USB should be ok)

Midiman Keystation Radium49 Keyboard (I need something I can actually play stuff on- can't accept the tiny keyboards. I intend to use portability only for the guitar and vocal recording)

Reason 2.5

A good all rounder microphone (does this exist? I want to be able to record both vocals and acoustic guitar through this)

I wish to later add Cubase Sx to this but currently money is of prime importance.

Does anyone have any alternatives or opinions on this?
Nearly all the posts tell people to spend more and more until it's all costing too much to be a hobby. I wish for quality like anyone else but don't expect to do more than neatly develop my ideas on this setup.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[lionelw]

i am a pc user so i guess now that i outed myself my opinion doesn't count. but i get along very well with this asus 1,6ghz centrino laptop.
512 mbram isn't alot but i've programmed tracks with up to 20 VSTI's.
as an audio interface i musst agree that the nu usb-tascam box is super, but i really wanted firewire and went ahead and purchased the motu 828 mk2.
it's big it's heavy but all fit into a small suitcase on wheels it works out fine.

All i'm waiting for is a firewire-interface with preamp but also compressor.
cause it's a real bitch when those singers decide last minute on extreme dynamics..... ah well so far so good i'm really happy.

if your not looking into recording audio but just arranging i strongly advise purchasing the echo indigo card. there's one that has two stereo outputs so that two people can listen too your track at once and it's got a volume knob and supports asio drivers which is all you need really. besides it's pci-mcia so it's tiny and always there when you need it.

hope my ludicrously bad grammer and spelling doesn't take away from the quality of this article....

lioNel

lionelw@gmx.de