I hope AJ (AKA Bluezplayer) finds this thread since he can recommend a few very good free software synths as well as point you in the right direction in terms of choosing an audio card and a sequencer/audio host application to run all that stuff.

I use a Mac so I can't really do much but recommend a few soft synths that I personally like using for that vintage "John Carpenter" kind of sound.

1. Arturia Moog Modular V.
2. Arturia CS-80.
3. Arturia Minimoog V
4. Gmedia Oddity
5. AAS Ultra Analog
6. NI Pro 53

list goes on but those are probably my favorites. I also like to use this plug-in synth called "Vector Sektor" since it emulates the original Prophet VS synth. Not sure if John Carpenter ever used a Prophet VS (I know that Prophet 5 and 10 as well as a few modular systems by Bob Moog were used on his wellknown "Escape from new York" and "Assault on P13" soundtracks).

But basically what you should be after are some classic sounds (or instruments) that emulate Prophet 5 and Moog 900 Modular systems. That's what I mostly hear on early John Carpenter's works. Although a Prophet VS got used on probably every soundtrack made in late 70's and early 80's.

Okay, hope this helps.

-ED-

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A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally.
- - - Oscar Wilde