Where to start? Hardware?

[1150A]

Hi All,
I'm sure this question comes up a lot, but I'm hoping I can get some pointers suggestions on what direction to look.

I'm a classical trained pianist and percussionist, though, I've been focusing on drum (kit) primarily the past 6 years or so. I've dabbled with electronic music in the past, and while I did have fun, I just couldn't get the hang of being connected to a computer, reaching for my mouse, and dabbling with everything that way. I never got completely comfortable with it, but I've made things in Reason that I was pretty proud of.

I don't want to be specific to any genres that I enjoy the most, but and are two musicians that I really enjoy listening to and would hope to get some inspiration from.

As I mentioned, I really enjoy not being connected to the computer, however, it seems like if I take the hardware route, things could easily get pretty expensive, which is also an issue. I can definitely see how going the software route has it's advantages. However, I think the hardware would really help me learn the ins and outs of a unit and spark my creativity a bit better.

I'm new to all this, but I'm here to learn. I'm hoping to spend ~$1000 to get me started, but of course, the cheaper the better. For me, I think, less is better, especially right now as I'm trying to get more serious about it and learn.

Few devices that have interested me are:

1. Elektron Monomachine
2. Korg Volca Series

3. Arturia Spark LE + Minilab - (I understand this is a hybrid type deal, but it's also cheap, and I believe it's integrated well enough that it may feel more like hardware, I hope?)

Curious to hear everyones thoughts.

Thanks!

[rod_zero]

If you want soft-hardware integration I would gor for Ableton Push or NI Maschine. With both you can mess a lot with out looking at the computer as if they were "hardware only" devices, at least for the composition/arrengement stages.

For only hardware since you are a trained pianist I would recommend getting a synth like the virus, nord lead, ultranova. Then something to complement as an octatrack or maybe an analog four for some bass, leads and percussion while playing harmony with a synth.