Artist/animator Seeks Help!, what equip do i need to setup? Options

[rustik]

hey all you masters of music....i am an collage artist/flash animator seeking to come up with her own sound tracks for my animations. although i have had over 15 years on the mac working in graphic/web programs, i have no experience whatsoever in the music arena. I have read a few posts but i get dizzy because i know so little!:( i assume the basics of input are similar to art however.

i would like to find out what hardware i need to be able to compose..add to...and change my own songs...here are some questions:
1) is this mode of thinking correct?
you use a digi keyboard to input a basic "tune". this tune is then brought into the mac via a) the input audio on the back of the mac or b) "some hardware" maybe that MBOX box?
shall i assume the mac audio is lamo or inappropriate for most needs...and i would want some other part to bring in the sound? is it necessary? me thinkin costs here...you know.
2) then a software interface is needed to bring in the tune...as in photoshop being your interface to twain up a scanner....? is this protools? logic? reason? i have seen an mbox on ebay that came with protools...makes me think this is the interface...? really lost here.
3) finally, is protools ( or whatever software...) also able to warp out these inputted tunes¿ i would like to add sounds from my house, like beer cans smacking together, and add them to my tune. what will i need to make the basic tune sound like a guitar? or a sax? or a clarinet?
(please don't tell me, a sax, a clarinet and a guitar!!!!)

i know know i am lost with questions. i have looked all over for a decent "you need THIS" article, but the sheer volume of choices and equipments prevents me from finding it!

HELP!!! i am eager to melt visual and audio into one experience!

J>

[etyrnal]

is there anything specific i should be looking for in the way of the keyboard???
i don't understand the idea of a dummy midi keyboard? what is this? virtual synths. ....i am sorry this lingo is still sinking into my gray matter.

you can definitley get away with something simple like the Oxygen 8 from MIDIMAN - unless you are a pianist or keyboardist... then tou may want to consider the Radium (more keys) or the newer edirol stuff...

I personally recommend the Oxygen 8 - have it. ues it.

I USED to use a Roland W-30 (12bit sample workstation for controller, but I needed portable)

So i KNOW most of Roland's controllers are TOP GRADE and also that MIDIMAN's drivers work well w/ Mac and PC.