Hardware is very expensive.
You will have to spend laods and laods of money to be able to get pro results.
I`ve been making music for 10 years now, and I`ve been both in a totally analogue and a purely computer based environment.
Quite simply, an investment in a good computer and sound card, can take you from amateur stage to complete pro production, with less limitations than hardware.
One isn`t better than the other, but a computer based setup, is more versatile, and will take you further, than hardware, for the same money.
Anyone who tells you that software cannot do the job, just doesn`t know how to use it.
You can get a wicked PC, Sound Card, and mini mixer Setup for under a Grand. that will be able to take you right up to a level where you can make pro, releasable tunes.
I doubt you could achieve this with hardware for the same money at all.