I'll ask around.

I think you can probably scratch Reason off your list right now based on your 400 knob and sliders criteria. Reason is the one that simulates everything in the real world, knobs, sliders, switches, meters right down to virtual patch cables on the 'back' of the panels. Unless it's changed since I looked at it a couple of years back.

Crap, Logic Audio requires a USB dongle.

I had a longer response in mind, and might come back to this post, but essentially I think you're going to need at least two packages to do what you want. One for recording, one for synths. The professional musicians I've talked to and read blogs about their setups sere not one-tool setups. The exception to this was some of the electronic/DJ guys that just used Reason for everything. I'd suggest looking at Digidesign's ProTools? If you really want studio quality sound, you should also plan on inputs from a very high quality sound card or USB/Firewire input device.

I'm also curious about what you feel is an easy to use interface? Most of the pro audio packages are targeted at sound engineers most familiar with the knobs-and-sliders interface. I think there are packages out there that allow you to drop down into a more language/script based interface, but I don't know if you'd consider that an improvement.

I'll add Pro Tools to the list of software to check out, thanks!

I guess that some of my requirements, like only one piece of software to do it all, are more of a wish list. What I'd like to do is have one reasonable application that I can start with, and see what my needs end up being. It would be great if I could avoid buying a simplified version for $300, only to find out that I really want the $1000 version (Logic Express vs Logic Pro, for example). But it's hard to know if those extra features are worth it when starting out.

As for the interface thing, I've kind of resigned myself to the large numbers of knobs and sliders, since I don't know how else they'd expose those features. When you see some of those tools running full screen on a 24" monitor, it's kind of overwhelming and hard to know where to start.

There is also a new GarageBand-like product from Steinberg, called Sequel. It supports Windows and Mac, and costs $99. This is probably a little lower end than what I'm looking for though.

Hmm, this might be cool for my oldest however. Any comparisons out their to garage band.

Sounds good, I'll check it out. A bunch of new stuff is coming out in May too that I'm looking forward to. Even GN'R is supposed to finally release Chinese Democracy.

Welcome to Jamrock is a lot more hip-hoppy, but in a peacenik-laidback-Marley kinda way.

I saw him perform on the Tonight Show. Definitely more energy than the usual grass-smoking ganja man.

Also, the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album comes out Tuesday. Best buy has the entire album available for streaming.

I second the Funeral recommendation. If yuo guys like Arcade Fire and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs you might check out Pitchfork. Their reviews can be inconsistent and biased towards whiny indy music but I still really like the Best New Music section.

Jamrock is awesome. Some really slamming songs on there with the classic "sensitive riddims". I can't understand half of what's being said, but that somehow makes it even more catchy.