I don't want to start off that nasty "PC vs Sampler" thread again that
recently ended up with one list-member self-combusting, but I'd
recommend that if you're setting up a home-studio from scratch with
not much money, then try to find yourself a second-hand Ensoniq EPS
16+ sampler - should cost about 700 dollars for the rackmount version.
Just listen to any of Autechre's tracks (they use one as their main
piece of kit) and you'll hear its FX and fancy sampling tricks
everywhere... or LFO (Bell and Varley have one each!), or Alex Reece,
who wrote his first album with just that and a cheap keyboard...get
the idea ?
Together with a second-hand Atari and Cubase software ($200) and a
Boss DR660 drum machine ($300), you'd have a shit-hot little setup
with tighter MIDI timing than most budget PC setups, and which would
still be useful in two years time.
This is one reason why I prefer "real" samplers and synths to PCs -
whereas computers tend to be regarded as obsolete after a few years,
musical equipment just becomes "classic" or "old school"...would you
rather be the future owner of a TB303 or a 286 ? :)
I've lived a "discount store" lifestyle longer than I can recall in
order to get a half-decent studio set-up together, and I can honestly
say that even with racks full of gear and synths (including an Akai
industry standard S3200XL that kept me in polyester clothing for two
years to pay off), my old Ensoniq EPS 16+ has the best FX and features
that I've ever heard/seen on any device.
The versatility and sound of the thing is fantastic - it's difficult
_not_ to create incredible soundscapes - gutsy, raw, weird, twisted,
kooky, electric sounds pour out of the machine. Choose wisely !
James