[margo209320]

I agree that the price / functionality ratio is much better in modern times. But a significant drawback, which I didn't see mentioned, is that most of those nice hardware buttons, knobs and sliders are now tiny, obscure controls arranged on a multitude of hidden screens on that tiny laptop display, which you have to awkwardly operate with your virtual mouse pointer. Usability in fact suffers a lot if you go "all software".

[jefftk]

The UIs for pre-laptop digital gear were generally much worse! A small number of buttons that you would use to enter many different things, minimal to no ability for visualization, many many modes. Ex: http://www.synthfool.com/docs/Yamaha/DX_Series/Yamaha%20DX7%...

Even analog gear, with no modes and everything all in front of you, can be a lot more awkward. For example, compare setting EQ with only rotating knobs for parameters versus a laptop where you can see the output frequency function as you manipulate it.

[rimliu]

There is a plenty of hardware controls you can buy for your DAWs.

[tokamak-teapot]

Can you suggest anything that's reasonably priced? I have a great (cheap) setup for recording guitar + vocals but fiddling with the laptop when I'm trying to record causes me too much stress!

[margo209320]

I know. But then you are buying hardware again. And the good quality stuff is expensive.

[coldtea]

Still much cheaper than in the 80s/90s.

You can get analogue polysynth for sub-$500, moog mini clone for $250, a great 16 channel mixer for $200 and so on...

[highhedgehog]

> a great 16 channel mixer for $200

Example?

[coldtea]

I had a Behringer Xenyx a few years ago that was better than anything I had in the 90s. And not to the stereotype of the "cheap" Behringer quality, they're up to par these days.

(Sure, it's no SSL/Neve, but better than any demo/home studio had in past decades - I remember the days of Fostex/Tascam 4track cassete tape recorders/mixers).

[highhedgehog]

Check the Behringer X Air XR16/18 out too, it seems great (more expensive though)