Hi, I'm a singer/songwriter and am researching about what to do for my future home recording studio.

I'd like to ask you guys and girls out there, how much was the Mac that you're using for recording music. I mean the sum total - with the souncard and stuff.

I don't know much about Macs, but I know it's going to take me some time to learn to work with it if I get one. Right now I'm just confused

Please, let me know. If I buy a new killer PC or a new Mac, is Mac going to be much more expensive?

Will it be more expensive? Oh yes !(if you buy new anyway) But will it be more productive, intuitive, more musical, less frustrating, more like a proper tool/instrument. Most definately yes

more intuitive? sure, if you are a)familiar with the mac os and not just #doze, or b)are computer savvy.

more productive? no way, unless you dont mind booting back in to os9. this should change eventually, thanks to the endless march of software development (even if it is on half-time right now for os x audio...)

more musical? that's totally up to petra, not what computer/os is used.



sorry, this is a troll.

It all depends on what you want to do and how deep you want to get into this business.

As for me, I don't see why I can't use a PC for recording purposes and indeed I use it for Acid Pro programming and SysEx editing/librarian purposes because those are not offered under OS X. The only reason I use my Mac for main recording station is because there's that chemistry between me and my Mac. That's all there is to it. So if you don't think you'll be comfortable in Mac-land, I don't recommend switching... On the contrary, if you can get comfortable with a Macintosh, you won't regret switching. So go to a nearby Apple authorized retail store and just experience it for yourself. Ask a lot of questions and play as much as you can with OS X. Good luck.

Tell you what Visit some busy studios that do day to day commercial work, failing that -watch the 'making off' bits on your favourite DVDs. Glance into the background and see what type of systems they're running in general. It's great to theorise and try to be an explorer, ie finding new ways to work, new kit etc but there are many people who have done this for donkeys years and found that there are just some things worth doing a certain way. Macs and music are just one of those combo's. Forget tech specs, comparisons, salesman b*ll*cks -look at what people use proffessionally (ie they earn they're living solely from music)

Metachor, if you must pick at my points, anything new is likely to be harder to begin with! We're talking about the future here, not just next week. I don't imagine Petra is concerned because of a plan to switch between systems. Presumebly this is a crossroads and involves the spending of some dosh!

One thing to say -integrated hardware and OS! Coupled with a mac friendly company like DP or Emagic, stuff gets done.

Good point though, macs are going through a potentially exciting metmorphosis at the moment and this I imagine is a little daunting for the newcomer -it is for me!. Apple could help more here. However, in the abscence of any other competition (windows/mac) I will trust apple to get it right -they usually do.

Personally I don't want Mr Gates any where near my creative process, it would be a bit like having sex with Thora Herd. You can potentially achieve a result if only you can get the idea that it might conk out on you at any time out of your head.

Sorry I don't offer any more technical advice/argument. I don't want to understand dos or windows, though I'm sure some people do and get by just fine. I think I'd rather return to my trusy atari
xxx

a good rig should run you around 5800 USD. my tibook cost me 3000, but they're slightly more expensive now. an external firewire drive for backup cost about 300. my mackie cost about 400, a good mic will run 200 or so, a good pair of headphones likewise, a motu 828 or something like it is in the 800 dollar range, a good mic stand should run about 25 bucks, then throw in another 100 or so for cables and such, and you're looking at roughly 5800.



think of it like this. imagine you're shopping for a car. and you're deciding between a volvo, which has the best safety record in the industry, and a kia, which is made out of plastic. sure, the kia costs half as much, but are you going to feel safe driving your kids to school everyday?

if the music is your baby, and it should be, you're going to want to be able to trust your hardware. macs crash less. it's a proven fact and cannot be logically disputed. get a mac, backup all the time (and i do mean ALL the time) and you cannot go wrong.