Maybe I can help (as I run a shop and a tech forum in Lisbon, Portugal)... www.danceplanet.com..



2 help ya out I need 2 know what u have, what u intend 2 produce, yer favorite method.. is it 4 live usage or studio.. and off course budget...



One good tip is u get a brill powerfull PC/ Mac... and follow some of the hardware/ Config tips in this forum!



Personally I go 4 small synths with loads of character ...

My favourites at the moment are A Station / Key Station / DrumStation (yes Novation Kicks u know what)... But also Waldorf Pulse Plus ( just blood* amazing I tell ya) and Red Darkstar... this sort of thing is generally discarted by the big boys .. but let me tell ya.. u get round' em and it just takes of!! ...



Software ... DON'T go installing every software u find, choose well ... waves, native instruments, TC, steinberg, e-magic are household names 4 quality!



I go 4 Cubase SX, Wavelab, Fruity, Recycle 2 and Reason!



Don't need anything more!!



Yer soundcard will eventually become the heart of yer system go don't go cheap there!!



If u play 2 go the all hardware way... Mackie desk (I prefer the Spirit eq. but mackie is a standard), Akai MPC 4000 (expensive as hell .. but i get D sequencer with a mother of a Sampler/ synth)... Novation Nova/ Waldorf Micro Q/ Virus C rack... all these r good and depend on pref... try 2 get a synth with Kb .. that way u can b sorted 4 keys and synth!!



Look around the 2nd hand markett... U can easily get more 4 less!!... Some over here suggested ebay!!



Z