Starting over from scratch - need some advice!

[frequency]

Hey guys,

It's been years since I sold all my equipment, and the itch to start over grows by the day!
I'm on a limited budget => 450€ to be exact.
What I'm thinking about is going completely computer based, with a laptop, DAW and some synth(s) and a controller. Luckily, being a bass player, I've already got a Gigboard than can double as an audio interface, and amplifier and speakers.

So I'm looking for a laptop that won't run out of juice, a DAW that has a Drum Grid Editor and decent enough effects, a software synth (Jupiter 8, wavetable,....) and a controller keyboard.

I'm far from a pc/software expert so I certainly could with your advice.
What laptop (secondhand) would you recommend?
What DAW, synth, and controller?

Greetz!

[frequency]

Anyone have advice on what kind of laptop I could be getting?

[Tooter]

Anyone have advice on what kind of laptop I could be getting?

Somebody should answer you...
Shooting from the hip, I'd say to get the best you can afford (€450 won't buy the best there is) so that it will be able to handle reasonably recent software. As to what you should get in terms of internals and software I'm too out of date to advise.

I've simple needs and desires so I can get what I want with an old Toshiba Equium A80-132 running Windows XP (not internet connected!) that's left over from doing the office work when I ran a small business. I have an old version of NCH Mixpad and Wavepad software which I use a bit like an old 8-track recorder.

It's the most modern bit of technology in my setup, so anything better than that and you're way ahead of me.

[frequency]

Anyone have advice on what kind of laptop I could be getting?

Somebody should answer you...
Shooting from the hip, I'd say to get the best you can afford (€450 won't buy the best there is) so that it will be able to handle reasonably recent software. As to what you should get in terms of internals and software I'm too out of date to advise.

I've simple needs and desires so I can get what I want with an old Toshiba Equium A80-132 running Windows XP (not internet connected!) that's left over from doing the office work when I ran a small business. I have an old version of NCH Mixpad and Wavepad software which I use a bit like an old 8-track recorder.

It's the most modern bit of technology in my setup, so anything better than that and you're way ahead of me.

Thanks Tooter!

[Tooter]

Don't forget to let us know what you end up with and what you think of it - we're not all highly experienced gurus on here (I'm neither) and the info might help another returner or newcomer.

Toot

[madtheory]

I have a 2004 MacBook Pro here. Installed Ubuntu Studio and latest version of Reaper. Works great. Reaper will work on a Chromebook and on a Raspberry Pi.

Use that (Ubuntu and Reaper) and it doesn't matter much what computer you get.