I wasn't sure where to put this so my apologies if its in the wrong place.

I got a message from my older brother today. He's noodling with his acoustic guitar again and has decided he'd finally like to have some sort of simple/small music creation solution. He was actually asking me what kind of keyboard and drum machine to buy plus what kind of recorder to use it all with. And to be fair, that's the gear I was using the last time he messed about with creating some music in my bedroom when we were kids, but it goes to show where his knowledge base is at.

I called him and we discussed his goals a bit. Not surprisingly we quickly figured out that what he wants is an in-the-box solution. Simple audio interface, a cheap controller keyboard and some kind of very simple DAW with not more than a handful of basic plugins. The key here is it has to be easy to figure out and use.
 
I think something like garage band would be perfect but he's not a mac guy. So what's out there that's simple and intuitive ala garage band but runs on win10?

 
Sorry....... Couldn't resist.
FL Studio 12 would be my suggestion.

-Magix Music Maker
-Ignite by Air Music
-StageLight

Are the easiest ones I’ve seen to use and learn on for someone who doesn’t care about all the studio skills and daw settings/routing etc.
Ignite is probably the most easy to use and learn, very fun for demo work and idea positioning. The other two aren’t that far behind, but do a little more, so more options to learn.
check them out. Good luck

Acid Music Studio
Mixcraft

acid music studio super simple. dated, but simple

Both USB Audio Interfaces and MIDI keyboards usually are bundled with some type of light DAW.
 
USB AUDIO Examples:
Focusrite Scarlett Solo ($100)
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ScarlettSoloG2
 
PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 ($99)
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB96
 
M-Audio M-Track 2xw ($99)
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MTrack2x2
 
 
 
Finally, you could just buy a DAW light version outright.
DAW Light version Examples:
 
Ableton Live Intro ($79)
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Live9Intro
 
Cubase Elements 9.5 ($100)
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CubaseE95
 
PreSonus Studio Artist 3.5 ($99)
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S1v3A
 
 
  

Ableton Live Lite 9 that comes free with most audio interfaces and keyboards.  https://www.ableton.com/en/products/live-lite
 
Tracktion T6 DAW is now free.  https://www.tracktion.com/products/t6-daw
 
Pro Tools First is free.  http://www.avid.com/pro-tools-first
 
Mixbus v4 is on sale for $29 https://sites.fastspring.com/harrisonconsoles/instant/mixbus4?coupon=MBBF
 
AIR Ignite is cheap $39 and simple to get going. It's a bit limited for advanced use, but easy to get started with.  https://www.pluginboutique.com/products/1589
 
Mixcraft 9 Recording Studio is $89 https://www.acoustica.com.ixcraft/buy-mixcraft.php
 
Cubase Elements 9.5, not dirt simple, but only $99.  https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/cubase/cubase_elements.html

Mixcraft looks like the winner for simple but complete.  Keyboard - I like Novation's.  Interface - I'd go with Tascam's since they work and sound good.  But you can say that about most interfaces.

Lots of the above suggestions are great! A thing or two to think about regarding Mixcraft - Sonar owners can get the full Pro Studio for $99, only $10 more than Recording Studio.

https://www.acoustica.com...xcraft-pro-studio.html

And, if he wants to do any singing on the songs he creates, he'll eventually want Melodyne Essential. Which comes included with Mixcraft.  

My usual take on this sort of thing is to start somebody off on something free or REALLY cheap, in case they don't stick with it. But there are some time windows closing on great deals right now.

Also, if you go for the Focusrite Solo, as Martin suggested, BH has a promo going where you also get a free license for Addictive Drums and one ADPak as a 'rebate'. Probably best for general-use one is the Fairfax 1 or Fairfax 2. IMHO.

Also, the Solo comes with a lot of other plugs which don't suck, including a license for any one of his choice of XLN's Addictive Keys.

www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1251661-REG/focusrite_scarlett_solo_2nd_gen_scarlett_solo_usb_audio.html

If he gets past these, the GAS will probably have bloomed by then, and it'll be an entirely different set of suggestions. 



 

Ooh. I just hit a thread at KVR, where I normally hang out, that reminded me of this:

https://gb.zinio.com/www/browse/issue.jsp?skuId=416434065&offerId=500594015&subscription=true#/

Sonar Home Studio can be downloaded from their FileSilo when you buy a digital copy of Issue 250 for about $6.

That should mess with your brother's head for a starter DAW...