G5 Imac?, How will it cope? Options

[bloodychoir]

Does anyone have any idea how the new imac might measure up speed and track capacity wise, using say Logic Express? Would it be a good or a bad decision to buy a g5 imac loaded up to the gills with ram and a 1.8, or a powermac g5? That's considering the fact you then have to buy display etc. with the PM.

[tunepoet]

Yes, everyone has a point, and we all defend what has worked for us, and that is fair. Unfortunately, each person has their ideal personal process, and can offer the advice of their process, and it will work great for some, and not so well for others. This is why trial and error tends to be the final judge of what works best for you.

I often hear the advice to fully practice and understand the software you have, because if you have talent, you will be able to make great music on whatever system you have or can afford. And this is good advice. But again, others don’t fit into that process as naturally. Which is why, you really have to experiment for yourself, cause what works for someone else, or many other people, may not work for you.

I find I can do really quick work of producing good sounds using the Reason Program, but I wanted to challenge myself to learn the more advanced processes, of using a separate sequencer to run some powerful plug ins. I did not need to go that route, cause I could do most to all of it with Reason, which can do great acrobatics on a very slow computer, but I wanted to expand my horizons.

One can advise someone to pick a program and a process and work it to the bone, and this will work wonders for many, while others, like myself, tend to do better with lots of tools for inspiration and creative diversity. I am sure there are many folks out there who have sold 10 thousand dollars worth of equipment, because they can do it all with 3 hundred dollars worth of software, but then there are the persons who seem to be more creative when they have a large and powerful studio of tools. But no one can truly tell you what works best for you.

That is why I advise getting the best computer you can afford, in case you wind up in the category of people who do better with a large collection of tools. Because if that turns out to be your ideal process, you will be equipped to facilitate that. And if it turns out that you feel really comfortable with 1 program and a modestly fast computer, you can always sell the big stuff and go that route.

It is easier to build a large system, only to find you can reduce it to a small system and do very well, than it is to start out with a small system, only to find that you have stymied your creative process, for you were one of those persons, like myself, who is best inspired by a multitude of tools and equipment.

A person who sculpts in clay, is better off with too much clay, that he can remove much of it to expose his sculpture, than to try and create a sculpture without enough clay. Because too much clay can always be converted into the exactly correct amount of clay, but not enough clay is always not enough clay. That is the statement I am making about one’s music set up.

Starting out with more equipment than you need, will quicker help you to define and uncover your ideal personal creative process, than starting out too conservative, only to find you have been mired in a process that is not best for you. And that is the goal, to as quickly as possible, find what works best for you.

Blessings,
Damon