That depends on what sound you're really going for. You can get a really clean sound going completely digital, but you're gonna need a monster of a computer to handle all the shit you're gonna have to run off it. As far as software goes, I recommend Fruity Loops (the newest version is sicc, and there are a grip of plugins available to make virtually any kind of beat you want), Acid Pro, and Cakewalk Sonar (V.4, Producer's Edition is killer) are a good start. I'd also recommend dropping the money on a Korg Triton. Other than that you're gonna need a few good mics (nothing less than a $100 a pop) and a good preamp to run your shit through. That's enough to get you started, provided you have the patience to learn all the programs and how to run them all together. It takes time, but if you're serious about it, you can do it. Good luck homie.
