So if you guys are creating your own recordings, what additional sound generation are you using? Do you use VST's within a DAW? Do you have a drum machine and run through a mixer or an interface? Do you use a combination of both? If so what models, brands? I am considering Arturia's new SparkLE to add percussion.

You know, it sounds so bloody complicated when ya get older! I use an all in one machine. Yam DGX. But the drums can be a bit awkward . . . I have to add them after everything else.

You guys`ll be in a different league; but some here will be able to help.

I use combination of everything but 95% of sounds come from my motif XS.
Regarding percussion sounds I started to use Toontrack software recently
Although those sounds in motif XS are good as well.

I am also considering the NI Maschine Mikro. It comes with a HUGE sample library. I could mount that to my stand and it could be a great compliment to the NP2...

I'm pretty high tech. But I'm pretty serious about making music on my computer. I use a focusrite saffire 24 interface. Logic DAW there's alot of good sounds there. But for drums I generally use Addictive drums. I got modern jazz brushes adpak for it to that sounds great.

But if your not to serious most DAWs got adequate sounds for jamming and tinkering in general. If you have the REAL packs for Band in a box your set.

You mentioned the Artura Sparkle, from that I am wondering whether having a role in the performance is important to you. Drum machines come in various forms. They fulfill a role. Short of playing an actual drum kit yourself the pad or other MIDI controller approach is at least a way to build patterns from scratch and you will not be relying on pre-built patterns/loops.

I prefer the expanded visual access that a computer and software DAW provides over working with any small screen on hardware. The two keyboards I have include drum sounds but you are working with all the limitations of the hardware and built-in software including navigating through the interface using a tiny screen so I would rather work with larger more capable tools for most things.

I have Komplete with Studio Drummer and Abbey Road Drummer. They sound great and are easy to use. Assuming you have a computer (posting here) if you have not looked at it, Toontracks EZDrummer and Superior Drummer can be acquired on sale periodically. There are bargains taking the EZDrummer => Superior Drummer Upgrade path to look for.

I use the 8 track digital recorder on my Juno Gi. I like not using a PC and being able just to hit record. Typically my songs have the following arrangements:

Track 1 - Piano L
Track 2 - Piano R
Track 3 - Drums L (I am playing them note for note on the Roland's drum kits)
Track 4 - Drums R
Track 5- Usually a Hammond B3- mono
Track 6- Some sort of electric guitar patch
Track 7 - Bass
Track 8- Vocals:

Now, of course at some point I would love to use 16 tracks but the Juno even includes phantom power for a microphone

Go for some nice software or VST plugin, for example Addictive Drums is amazing; but I believe there are at least a few of them.
Run it through any DAW that is VST host (Logic, Pro Tools, cubase etc...). This way you have one DAW which allows you to both play your drums software and mix your tracks.

BTW, there is also FREE route here you may find few nice drum multisamples http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2010/06/24/free-sample-shootout-2-acoustic-drums-full-kits/
and you need some software to work with it, but there are a few free applications. For example, I use Mulab as a free DAW and VST client, but you'll need some sample player that allows playing multisamples (there are a few free ones). It's simpler to just buy VsT like Addictive Drums which have samples already implemented. Free route requires some more searching and tweaking than when you buy what you want, but it's free. At the website I posted above you may also find links to some other free multisamples, like Rhodes, or VST effects.

Thanks guys. Currently I have Ableton Live, Audacity and Reaper for my DAWs. Since I have no idea how to use these programs to any degree of sophistication I typically use Audacity to record tracks (single). What I would like to be able to do is to add sounds live. Maybe a drum loop. Play riff and loop it etc. Which is why I was looking at an additional controller like the Maschine which comes with a bunch of software. But I am not sure if this is what I need. Am I looking at this wrong?

Ableton is made for exactly this .... check it out more closely.