If you really have that much to learn maybe the best bet is to buy an inexpensive pre or a group of inexpensive pre's to learn on. I think putting the gear before the knowledge is the wrong way to go but that's just my opinion.

i would say a couple of bricks, or a mackie vlz pro.

the makie would probably be the best as then you would have more chanels, an eq(though not that great an eq), and summing posabilitys. also ive heard good things about soundcraft boards as well.