Help! How do I get started?

[deepside]

I am looking to make an electro record which I have in my head. I am completely new to music production. Can anyone help me get started?
What I need to know is:
What computer software, that is easy to use and suited to electronic music, should I purchase for PC?
Do I need a soundcard, if so what is a good one?
What additional electronic devices do I need to build myself a home studio? (keeping things relatively simple & size conscious)
Do i need a synthesieser or is that built in to the software?
What is an approximate budget for getting all the correct equipment & software?

Thank you for helping

[mosc]

Deepside.

You are asking some very basic questions for which no one will be able to provide THE answer. You'll have to sort this out for yourself.

Apparently, you already have a computer. You're off to a good start. Don't replace it, or buy anything until you know you need it, or else you can spend a fortune on software and equipment that you end up not using. This has happened to more people that you could imagine.

If your PC doesn't have a built-in audio card you will need one. The built-in won't be the greatest, but it will be good enough to get you started. Then you'll need to get some software to start learning. There are many topics here on the forum where people have discussed this. I suggest getting something that supports VST pluggins. There are many free ones you can get, including some synthesizers and nice processors.

So, what kind of computer do you have? Are you a keyboard player?