Best Setup? Options

[bjurusik]

Alright, I've tried to find answers to my questions in the forums, but I'm still confused. I'm new to computer recording and am unsure as what I need. Currently I have a 17" iMac and a Tascam US-428.
Basically I just want to multitrack with guitar and voice. I've never really used midi, but in the future I may add a midi keyboard. As I understand it, the midi keyboard plays sounds off your computer correct? For example you could chose a grand piano sound set and the notes are controlled by the keyboard. Now when you record a guitar or vocal, it shows up as a waveform. Does midi do the same thing? Say your drum track is midi, is it going to show up in the tracks window below the guitar track? Any suggestions as to what software would work best for me? It has to be reasonably cheap, 300 or less. I've looked at Cubase, Logic, and DP, but they all seem like way to much for what I want to do. Would I be best getting something like ProTools LE? thanks.

[bjurusik]

Thanks for the replies and the link to the MIDI info. I think I'm leaning towards getting the Logic Big Box. Just let me review, this will allow me to:

1. Record acoustic, electric and vocals.

2. Suppose I purchase a MIDI keyboard, I can load modules which will allow me to record, say drums, strings, synths, horns, any noise module I have, over my guitar and vocal tracks.

With these USB MIDI keyboards, you can send the MIDI info from the MIDI out or the USB correct? Are there any benefits over one or the other? I'm thinking of getting perhaps the Oxygen 8, but I'm not sure if this will be sufficient. I also play piano and would like to record piano pieces without the hassle of micing up my piano. However, the Oxygen 8 only has 25 keys ... 2 octaves. Do they make sound modules that mimic a full size piano and would I be better off spending more money on a midi keyboard with more keys? Also, recomendations for keyboards ... m-audio, edirol? Thanks.