EttieneB wrote: how does a new maya compare to the m-audio stuff?

ESI and M-Audio are on a level AFAIC - good hardware at affordable prices. If anything, M-Audio have been known to have dodgy drivers, but they usually get them sorted out.

For mixers i was thinking to get a fourchannel just for simplicity's sake....but which one!!

The entry-level stuff is mostly much of a muchness - Yamaha and Alesis would probably be where I would start looking. Six channels will be the norm. However, on a budget I probably wouldn't bother with a mixer, just make sure the interface has a pair of nice mic pres built in and your set.

Something far more important is a pair of decent nearfield monitors...

mics.........condensers spesifically, and need to know whats the best all rounder!!!!?????

Best? Neumann U87. ? Unless you'd care to share your budget? Rode and SE Electronics both have good value-for money LDCs.

I dont want to spend too much on the mics and the mixer cause ill rather dish out on a good soundcard!!!!!!!!!!

Chains... weakest links... Goodbye.

All entry level stuff. As Allan says, get a decent 2 in external with headphone mix etc. I'm a fan of the TC electronic stuff.
We have the older version of this one. Versatile, on-board compressor and Reverb.

Although I am very old school, and believe that a mixer
is the center of the studio, a lot of latest sound cards offer enough features
that u can scrap a mixer out of your list all together.

I'm an RME fan, and I own a couple of very expensive ones.
However, I do have a number of other cards.

Maudio - reasonable, good cards, at ok prices.
they are pioneers at this field, they however do no make high end units for some reason.

Presonus - i think one would struggle to find a card as easy to use\setup as the
audiobox USB, and at the same time get a card with such good drivers and converters, and of course, really REALLY good pre-amps.
at that price, i think its top of its class.
they just went out of production so some shops still could have older stock
for even better prices.
i think it retails at R1999.

Mics -
Im a Rode fan, i own almost every one of their mic's, some more than just one of them.
NT2A, very good mic.

I'd check if you can get also a dynamic, like the good old SM57.
a must have in your average studio.