What You Need To Succeed: Software

This post is a very basic. When buying a computer ensure it can run one of these two programs: Adobe Audition or Avid's Pro Tools. 

Personally, I use Adobe Audition. Every station I have worked at has used this software. It is also the software we use at NSCC in Radio and Television Arts. This program is easy to use to start and has tonnes of features to learn to master over time. I really think you can jump right in with Audition. 

Give it a try: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=audition

I also have Pro Tools, I do not find it as user friendly. But, I know people who love it. In producers message board it is very popular. I intend on learning it, but I have been pumping out work in Audition for my final project, hopefully once I am finished school I will update this section with a more insightful view of Pro Tools. 

Check it out: http://www.avid.com/US/products/family/pro-tools

Garageband is what I learned to produce on. This is what I learned on before radio school. It was a good way to learn, just fooling around on my Mac. But, it really doesn't produce the best audio. It is worth it to make the investment. If you are a radio student, your school may have a license key you can buy to save hundred of dollars. I recommend investing while you are at school, many students leave school without it (relying on an employer buying the product for them) and have to pay the full price for the software once in industry.