capable tracking software is still out there for the taking. It's not as user friendly as the type of stuff that most people have become acustomed to in regard to software electronic instrument tools nowadays, but often times is DAMN capable.
BUZZ Machines is pretty noteworthy. Sort of a Tracker version of Native Instruments Reaktor. Cool stuff, notably when you consider it's free. I remember the last time I tried to find it for someone I had to look for awhile (and I don't remember where I found the download), but I know it's out there.
Propellerheads also now gives out their old "Rebirth" software for free. It's available at
The ReBirth Museum
On the surface, it might look like it'd be a horrible tool if one wasn't shooting for doing acid techno; or wanted something more than an 808 and 909 to compliment their tools for House music. BUT, below the surface, Rebirth is much more than a one trick pony. The 808 and 909 are sample based emulations, and there's a indirect means of swapping out the samples that make them up with ones own custom samples.
There's a whole variety of ways one can abuse this, and with a bit of imagination, turning Rebirth into a useful House music tool is quite feasible.
On the same end of Rebirth, D-Lusion also gives out most of their old software for free nowadays. D-Lusion was doing things pre-advent of the modern VSTi age....pretty much had the advent of things like Rebirth beat by a few years. This makes intergrating their tools with some things more difficult at times (if not impossible), but the tools are still useful none the less