Ahoy all,
In the latest in a long line of projects I'm likely to abandon before I see it through, I've struck upon the idea of putting together a music project, where I want to compose a piece using just a computer (alongside a vocalist) and then have more talented musicians re-record each component on acoustic instruments in site-specific spots, replacing the basic synthesised lines with these recordings and then processing them further as needs be. It may not be the most revolutionary idea in music history, but it seems achieveable and fun.

So I have a few ideas sketched out, but now I'd really appreciate some advice on what kind of software you'd recommend for this. Really, what I need is something that is relatively easy to work with in the beginning, able to generate the synth lines with a decent selection of instrument sounds, and later that can accomodate the DAT recordings and allow for a lot of control of each individual layer. I realise that along the way I'll have to add on to the basic set up, but as a man of limited wealth where would you begin?

Thanks DiS.