It all depends what kind of sound you are looking to produce. My band is industrial, and we do all of our own recording in our own studio. To do it at home, you can start with a basic 4-track Tascam. I recommend this unit, as it is very durable and produces quality sound. As for music programs, there are a few good programs out there, such as ReBirth, Massiva, and Cubase. They can be purchased, although they can be a little on the expensive side, at most music retail outlets. We purchased our's at Steve's music, which is a major franchaise here. I highly recommend you go online and see if you can find one of these programs on a trial basis first, just to see if they are what you want BEFORE you purchase them first. Keep in mind, they can be a major investment for a musician on a budget.