Depending on what mediums you which to use (synths, sampling, real instrumentation).. on a budget, as I myself am, just started using Reason recently- you can do a lot with it- it has a sampler, drum machine, synth w/effects, and sequencer- basically an all-in-one program. If you have a fairly new computer I'd recommend trying it, as opposed to buying expensive hardware. My only beef with it is that you cant use external voices from keyboards or sound modules, you can only use the patches included (altho the effects are tight, so you can manipulate the sounds to how you want)... you should also pick up an inexpensive midi controller keyboard for programming melodies, basslines, drums, and triggering samples. If you are into synths, I've heard
the Roland Jv-1080 is a good sound module that is very affordable, especially used... youll need another sequencer (Logic, Cakewalk, Cubase) tho since Reason doesnt allow usage of external patches.
Dont know what a 4 track will do for you now.. if you want to do recording right away, and have a decent computer, you can do it all on there and then some.. even so, if you want to get started making beats a 4 track recorder is not what you need to get started. And drum machines arent very useful IMO.. unless you mean a sampling drum machine such as SP-1200 or MPC- but these arent cheap....
