Looking For A Start In Music, Just ordered a new iMac G5 Options

[enygma]

Hi, I am kinda new to what is available in the world of the Mac. I have ordered a new iMac G5 computer with 512MB of RAM and started looking at Garage Band. I wanted to talk to my uncle regarding things having to do with music as he used a Mac to create the songs for all his albums using Digital Performer (not sure of the version). However, I am looking at Garage Band and Logic as possible options, but I am not sure where to start, or what equipment I would need, or how it all works. I used to do music tracking on my old 486 PC in DOS with Impulse Tracker 2.14, and I am wanting to get back into music.

What do I need to know to head in the right direction? What do I need to use? What is the differences between programs like Garage Band, Digital Performer and Logic?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[twain]

I've never used garageband so I can't really comment on it.
But . . .
Your setup will vary depending on the style of music you want to play. For example recording a live band, is going to be alot different than writing techno.
But here's the basics:
1. A computer with a good amount of ram, and good cpu. RAM should probably be at least 1gig. 2 hard drives is preferable. 1 for all your programs etc, and one for all your audio files, since audio files are so big.
2. a sequencer. there's a bunch. DP4, Logic, Ableton Live 4, Cubase, etc. Sequencers, as a general rule, all have similar features. that's not to say there aren't different features! But most people choose theirs based on how comfortable they are with the interface. I have bought far too many searching for one I liked. My quick review:
Cubase is fairly easy to learn and does exactly what you'd expect. This is actually one of my favorites.
Logic in my opinion is terrible. Don't waste your money. It's really difficult to figure out, and takes loads of time to do simple things. I like the way trent reznor described it. It just looks like a bunch of math. It doesn't really, but it's still a funny comment, and it IS an irritating program. AND it costs $1000!
DP4 I bought. It is really a neat program and enjoyable to use. It's a bit harder to learn though, and there's no book out yet to help (like the ". . . Power!" series. that's about all I can say since I haven't used it much. A book comes out at the end of nov.
Ableton Live 4 is a wonderful program. It's not the best sequencer in the world (it's missing loads of important stuff) BUT despite this, it's still my main sequencer at the moment. It's a loops based program and works great with altering loops and recording your own loops or full performance etc. It just incorporated midi too, so now you don't have to rewire to cubase etc. It can be a bit confusing at first, but when you get it it's great.
3. A book to help you learn which ever program you choose. They're all difficult and take time to learn. Don't expect to just dive right in and start recording immediately if you buy one of these programs.
4. An audio midi interface. This helps you get sound and midi in and out of your computer. Be careful which one you buy though, some are crap, and companies like M-audio haven't worked very hard to develope the drivers needed for macs.
6. If you're gonna do midi you need a midi controller. You can get one for like $100
7. plug ins. You know, effects to alter the sound of your audio you recorded, like distortion eq, reverb, etc And softsynths. which are software synthesizers. Native instruments has a bunch. Drum machines, keyboards etc. A really good program is Reason 2.5. It comes with loads of synths and effects (which can only be used in reason). It is a standalone sequencer (can't record audio though), but it can be rewired to a traditional sequencer.
8. A preamp if your not using a self powered mic. Some audio interfaces come with them. Or you could just buy a stero in sterio out interface and a small mixer that has a preamp built in, and run the out puts to the interface.
9. Monitors, or speakers, so you can here what you're doing!

And that's about it. I use, live 4, reason, and cubase primarily. Although live 4 and reason are enough.
Beware m-audio products. DON'T buy the firewire 410 (audio midi interface)
Oh yeah, be careful which interface you buy, they have different latencies, and when monitoring through your sequencer it can make recording stuff difficult when your interface plays the sound you just made a split second after you did.
I think I mentioned everything.