Pre-usb Keyboards And Usb/fiwi Audio Interface, will all keyboards work as a controller? Options

[amswineh]

As I begin to piece together some equipment for composing music, I've decided my first hardware buys are:

MIDI controller keyboard
Audio (USB or FireWire) interface (1/4" inputs, MIDI, XLRs, etc)
Studio Mic

and I'll go from there with appropriate software.

But I was wondering: I could get a USB controller keyboard. But since I am going to get some sort of audio interface (say a Tascam US-122 or M-Audio 410), do the MIDI inputs transfer through the USB/FiWi. For example, if I want to hook up an old pre-USB keyboard via MIDI, will the hardware properly transfer the MIDI calls from the keyboard and send through USB/FiWi to the computer? And will any MIDI keyboard work? Any problems you see with this setup? Did I just confuse the hell out of you?

Also, I need more information on the "debate" between USB and FireWire audio interfaces. I know which one is the best, but it's also the more expensive, and I'm pretty low on money at the moment.

just a caveman,
alphonse

[rcase]

sethjacquay, thanks so much for doing that. It tells me what I need to know; primarily, that you can use an acoustic-electric to simulate multiple guitar sounds via a GarageBand-type amp simulator. I noticed you made the pro/home studio distinction, and I understand your point. I do wonder though, if some of the settings wouldn't be sufficient for some projects that are generated in home studios, but find their way into various media settings. Several of the settings you demonstrated sounded pretty convincing to me. And perhaps the Amplitube product produces even better results. Anybody reading this who has used that one, please offer your opinions.
Now there's just the little matter of learning to play...