a few more questions, need help seeing my way around Options

[edea]

ive been looking into sound apps lately and trying to use demos dl'ing manuals and what not and had a couple of questions as i am now ready to spend a little bit of money.

first off, reason seems a little easier then the rest to use but it also looks as though it may be an inferior product to some of the others. basically what would be a good package of software for me to get to get going. i am looking into making idm/breakbeats/mostly electronic, maybe some voiceovers everyonce in awhile but strictly electronic music. im thinking more into logic or digital performer as ive heard good things (protools looks a little tough to me) but im not exactly sure what they are in the broad scheme of things (as you see i need help) logic seems like it is a favorite among people that arent into protools, but i could be wrong.

second, i want to buy a keyboard. i am not so concerned with with the sounds that may come on it but i also have NO knowledge of keyboards at all. i was looking at usb keyboards from midiman but those seem like they could be huge pieces of crap. what is the best under 500 dollar way to go to get a keyboard into my computer with good sound quality.

those are basically my only questions right now, but there is one more thing. it is important to me that i get something decent even if it costs a little more than i expect. granted i am just learning but how do i expect to be happy with progress if i hear a bunch of hissing and static. plus im not really into going into things buying a bunch of shit. so please give me a hand. im not looking into becoming a professional but i would like to have something that sounds good.

thank you.

[Synthetic]

Well, you can always make electronic music with no keyboard at all and just program it in Reason or use samples in an audio sequencing program but some of the best melodies, bass lines and such are hard to program and sometimes it sounds more natural and free flowing using the keyboard. If you don't read or understand music or don't have any passion for playing keyboard but want to make electronic music then maybe the keyboard is not needed.

Roland is good but I am not sure if its better than Midiman or not. Any of those will work. But look at the price. $200 ... For $80 you can get a cheap Casio or Yamaha with sounds on board and with midi and another $60 will buy the midi USB interface and then you can sit on a couch dreaming up melodies or bass lines to use in your new songs then go back and hook it up to midi later. Midi is just computer code and does not transmit audio in case you didn't know. Midi lets electronic music equipment communicate and thus you can record melodies and such as midi notes in a software program but unless you assign the midi to some type of sound on the computer... there will be no audio at all. 2 midi controllers is only useful if you are super talented and can two keyboards at once for a live performance. Otherwise.... no need for 2 keyboards.