Digidesign's Pro Tools software is hardware-based, ie you can only use it with Digi/M-audio soundcards. It comes in 2 versions: the full version only works with the Pro soundcards (£1200+ and require a desktop computer) and the limited edition (LE) comes free with Digi's USB/Firewire soundcards or can be purchased seperately to use with M-Audio soundcards. PT was primarily designed for editing audio, thus the MIDI features are useable but not advanced. The plug-ins for PT are often more expensive than for other systems and freeware/shareware plug-ins are rarer. PT is quite temperamental (particularly on the PC), and once a stable system has been achieved, it is best not to update the operating system or install other programs. Digi’ often take a while to update their software to adapt to hardware or software updates.

Alternatives to Pro Tools include:

Mac: Logic, Nuendo, Cubase, Digital Performer

PC: Nuendo, Cubase, Sound Forge, Vegas, Audition

Software

Whether you use a Mac or a PC is purely down to individual preference of software, and you can do well with either. I use both: creating a design on a Mac, and using a PC for programming & sometimes for running show control software. Mac's can run Windows software too. Choose the software that lets you create as efficiently as possible - it's better to know a few packages inside out than to have a large complex set-up which you barely know how to use.

Montaging software

Software to allow a montage of sound files to be created and edited, and probably where you'll create most of your design. These are all very powerful software packages, and they run Plug-Ins to provide extra features.

The world is split into those who use Pro Tools and those who don't. Pro Tools is designed as a high-end editing package and is very good at that, hoeever it's not necessarily the best software to "create" with.