Reaper

Pros

• get a free DAW (Bitwig 8 track, Reaper, ...)
• I use Reaper for everything. When using synths I let Reaper send the clock and use midi items to play the synths or let the synths just run a sequence.
• having only used Reaper on the off chance to simply line up individually recorded snippets of music.
• I've worked out a mix of automating patterns using p-locks and just sending MIDI from Reaper for 1-time or off-grid patterns.
• Effects: Probably Valhalla Supermassive for reverb, everything else is stock Reaper plugins

Cons

• Besides some coding, I do a lot of audio editing in Reaper (playing in a band and recording our own songs)
• you can try recording into a computer with an audio interface and Reaper, which you can set up to record the same input a one level and then at -12dB for a safety track.