More questions:

What software do you plan to use?

Does the midi keyboard have USB output or midi only?

What is your budget?

There are many options. Just a bit more info and somebody will be able to help.

The software I plan to use is the Sony Acid, the keyboard only has MIDI(no USB), my budget is $400-500

BTW, appreciate the haste in response

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Konnekt24D

If you need more than fourteen (four analog) channels at a time you will need a larger interface and your budget will then need to double or triple.

I appreciate it you guys, one last question though. I'm not sacrificing any quality by using a USB interface am I? And if FireWire is better, there must be a cheap way to make my PC FireWire compatible, correct?

The device I linked to is firewire. You need a PCI(e) firewire card.

You don't sacrifice quality with USB. Only throughput. The Konnekt 24 is FireWire though.

There are some reasonably priced PCI firewire cards out there. Make sure it has a Texas Instruments chipset.

So in "one track at a time" recording, USB will work fine? No loss of quality?

carson270 wrote: So in "one track at a time" recording, USB will work fine? No loss of quality?

One track at a time should be fine, there is very little practical difference to FireWire at that point. Two or more tracks at a time though and I would seriously recommend going FireWire. Quality is a different story entirely.

No one has recommended a USB interface. Why the hard on for it? If you don't like the advice then do what you want anyway.

If you want MIDI as well as a mic preamp or two you've ruled out the cheapest of interfaces already. The Konnekt 24D is a well thought out interface that has all the options you want in the price range you want-and it is FIREWIRE.

As of now, I want to find a nice external sound card that can record my vocals via a nice mic, my bass/guitar(anything on a 1/4" cable), and anything off of my MIDI enabled keyboard.

1.) A couple of things *JUMP* right out when I read your post:

carson270 wrote: Recently, I have been getting into digital mixing/recording, but I want to step up my game to get "studio" quality sound.

You want "Studio Quality" Sound, yet have you any idea what this means? How do *YOU* define Studio Quality...A few hundred dollars does not cut it.

2.)

carson270 wrote: I have a desktop computer, of which specs should not be an issue in digital recording. To this point, I've been using a USB headset to record vocals, and yes, I know this is the mark of the beast.

Studio Quality sound has everything to do with your "Specs that shall not be named!!??"

3.)

carson270 wrote:

As of now, I want to find a nice external sound card that can record my vocals via a nice mic, my bass/guitar(anything on a 1/4" cable), and anything off of my MIDI enabled keyboard. If all of these needs are met, than I'm sold on a product as long as quality is not sacrificed.
Can someone shoot holes in my plan/point me in the right direction?

I Certainly can.
Studio quality sound/ANY type of sound depends on your
-System/DAW
-Audio interface, which thereby depends on your ADA converter/analog circuitry/mic pre quality...

You fail to omit your workflow/how many recordings/type of recording you are doing? Are you playing a keyboard, a guitar in addition to vocals?

Any USB mic simply won't cut it for professional quality.
Your budget does not allow for many choices...

Since your budget is small...this is what I recommend:

-Google simply terms like: "How to build a home studio"
-Research USB/USB 2.0 FireWire (which MUST utilise a Texas Instruments chipset) -in order for your FW interface to function.

BUY USED!!!!
For Example: I am selling a Steinberg MI4 midi/USB 1.1 spec audio interface....I got professional results with this and it works with slow computers best....They sell used for $200 and under...

Your best bet "new" is to buy EMU....
Specifically a PCI solution...
$199 gets you an 1820, tons of connectivity and awesome converters (same as Pro Tools HD systems!!!)
Here: http://us.store.creative.com/EMU-1820-Digital-Audio-System/M/B0002E1T5O.htm

BUY your mic used....I did.
I bought an MXL Mogami Edition V69 (Tube Mic) for around $100 bucks...

You need to identify your needs and save your money.