Alright, newb here. I'm not a newb musician (several years of hobby guitar and amateur performance sax, less piano experience than I'd like), but I am entirely new to the notion of music being made on a computer. Even so, I'm a pretty big fan of a few bronies and non-bronies that do, and I've come up with some ideas for tunes (mostly remixes) that I'd love to put out.
So here's my problem. I've got a brand new computer. (Built it myself from ordered parts, for gaming purposes.) I have a friend that used to be into this a few years back, and gave me his copies of Magicx Music Maker 12 deluxe and Cakewalk Music Creator 4. Unfortunately, the two things those programs have in common are their inability to work with my computer, due to age. I think he has a copy of Sony ACID Music Studio 8 that's actually new, but I don't know whether I can get that, depending on how strongly enforced the 1 computer at a time thing is.
Back to scratch, what do you guys suggest as a free alternative? I need a DAW and a couple of synths.
Also, tips? I never turn down wisdom.
Thanks for answering.