h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Some are commercial, and others are shareware you can download - everything you need to make music, an ideal starting point:

here's a list of tracker and tracker-type software...

http://www.dreamstation.de
Dreamstation-
sounds good, rigid interface.

http://www.sonic-syndicate.com
Orion-highly rated, supports VST instruments, low demands on your CPU.
http://www.arturia.com Storm- Some good
points, sounds good
http://www.buzz2.com Buzz- freeware,
there's a huge community of Buzz users and sites, very powerful but odd interface using a modular synth model. Looks more like a Visio chart than a tracker!

http://www.fruityloops.net FruityLoops-
popular, easy to use, VST and DirectX support, pattern based.

http://www.propellerheads.se Reason-
Propellerheads latest amazo product. Recreates a rack of equipment,sounds great, limited links to anything else though. Is it really progress to emulate hardware so slavishly though? MAC or PC.

http://www.bitheadz.com Acid Loops-
range of loop handling software now available for the MAC as well - sort of Tracker software.

http://www.fasttrak.co.uk
eJay- range of popular pattern based trackers. Simple to use, good sample libraries.
eJay Studio is a GBP163.39 version of Cubasis VST, worth a look if on an tight budget. The rest of the Ejay range is generally available at a range of reasonable prices. Fun to use.

http://www.soundsstudio.co.uk/modules/homepage/
classic tracker from the Amiga now available for the PC
...64 channels, multiple real-time effects, extensive MIDI
support, mealtime synth editor, sample editor, various file formats supported all at the touch of a mouse.