OK... after two weeks of messing around and pulling my hair out with my out-dated MIDI gear that I haven't used in so long, but have the urge to start up again, I'm ready to throw in the towel and start looking at more up to date equipment. Keep in mind that I'm not looking to spend a fortune... I'm a guy who just likes to mess around with Country music for my own pleasure - and of course, my family think it's great. I have been looking , pricing stuff from our local music store here in Montreal (Steve's Music Store) after doing a lot of research on different things on the Web and have come up with these products. I am also a new user of BIAB and RealBand UltraPack and so far I have been making great strides with them.

Any comments on my search findings would be appreciated - would it be suitable for what I want to do with it?

Software:
Native Instruments Absynth 4

MIDI Controller (I've been looking at 2 of them:
E-MU Xboard 2

OR

E-MU Xboard 49 (for $30.00 more than the above)

I'm running Win XP Pro, Intel 3gig dual core prossessor, loads of memory and a Audigy Platinum sound card.

Thanks...
Bobby