forget sonar not easy to come to grips with
ableton is awsome and very very easy and quick
upgrades are always offered...maybe wait for Live8 though?
also Reason 4 and Ableton work like a charm re-wired together
with those 2 and a few inexpensive plugins you are good to go!

cheers!

thx for you help.
What about pro tools?

pro tools is another thing entirely...

I have no information on it other than what you hear from other
forum types...

I really dont think it is what you want,,

there may be inexpensive versions

but for quick easy and effective stay with my suggestions

there are alwys demos too..and your platform is important too

PC or MAC? does limit your choices..

i just use cubase at the min. was using reason but found it hard to get the sounds i wanted. cubase might take a bit of time to get to grips with, but once you get the hang of it you'll be flying...

if you know of any good electro synths etc let me know

stylophone? no seriously...

It sounds like you are on a PC, which obviously rules out Logic. I've just started using that, and after a few one-to-one sessions at a local college I'm up and running, and it is FANTASTIC. I think I paid about £180 for the full version, comes with so much stuff its unreal, tons of loops to help get tracks up and running quickly when you want to move fast, and the synths and sampler are just amazing considering the price.

From what I know Cubase is probably the best vfm on PC for an all-rounder, and Ableton is pretty great if you are doing lots of re-edits and mash-ups.

But if its at all an option, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Logic, so so good.