Hi everyone. I am a senior in high school and have become really interested in electronic music over the past few years and I want to try it for myself. Just a few basic questions:

1.) What type of gear do musicians like BT, Orbital, Sasha and Digweed, etc. use to make their music?
2.) Is anyone familiar with equipment such as the Yamaha RS7000 or Akai MPC3000LE? Can these be used by themselves (stand-alone) to make music similar to that produced by the artists I mentioned above?
3.) What is sequencing exactly?
4.) MIDI confuses and frightens the hell out of me. I think of cheesy Website songs when I hear it. What is its purpose/place in modern electonic music? Where can I go to get more info since I'm totally clueless?
5.) What other boards/sites on the 'Net can I visit to get more info on the stuff I've asked above?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I definetly have the will, but I don't have the knowledge and don't know where to go to get it. Thanks again!