fl studio, ableton live, cubase, reason are the main ones
wading further out you have reaktor, max/msp,
then gets scary around pd, csound,
then you're alone with the crickets with chuck and scripting your apis directly with c++. ams is badass if you like a modular simulator.
also, the waves bundle and tc effects are good, but say chucks butterworths are just as good but you have more control.
if you are into producing generic techno, maybe d&b, idm, go with ableton live. fl studio is a good choice too though. go with max/msp if you want to do something highly altered.