I'm buying a mac?

[ak50324]

Ok, I have finally decided to buy a new computer(mine is curently sitting in the garage) and after doing a bit of researce, I found that Apple includes some cool music recording software with all new Imacs, and since I really only use the internet,(limewire) I decided to buy an Imac.

is there any thing I should buy or know about before I buy it? Thanks.

[gambit99]

dude i have a powerbook and its awesome. everything about the mac is better including recording. it comes with a program called garage band which is pretty cool. the imac has a built in mic but you should still consider getting some kind of interface. let me know if you need anything else

[Alma]

Logic 7 is awesome.

Shame Apple own the rights to it :(

[kilian]

I would go for a wishbass.


Yeah really.

[SixnStones]

Apple is awesome, you'll never regret it. It's good for music, Garage Band is an awesome program, and the overall system is top notch today.

[naut]

well, the new Powerbooks and iMacs are being made with Intel chips now, thereby making them even faster.

[Wintermute]

Apple is awesome, you'll never regret it. It's good for music, Garage Band is an awesome program, and the overall system is top notch today.

Right...

If you're going to Apple for music software, you would be crazy to use Garageband. It's ok. But if you're spending all that money on a new computer specifically for music software... get Logic. Get Reason. (It's multiplatform) Get ProTools, if you can. An LE/Mbox version.

There's a lot of debating over whether Apple or Windows is a better platform for music software, but when you get right down to it they are about even until you get to ProTools.

The best audio sequencer on Windows is Cubase SX3.
The best audio sequencer on Mac is ProTools - but Logic is far more affordable than the top ProTools systems, which can cost thousands.
Which is better out of Logic and Cubase? It's actually just a matter of opinion. On paper they're about equal - some people just prefer the way one works over the other.

The best MIDI sequencer/synthesizer on Windows is Reason 3
The best MIDI sequencer/synthesizer on Mac is Reason 3
So no difference there.


There are cut-budget ProTools LE/Mbox systems, the only real advantage I've found with them over Logic is that familiarity with ProTools LE/Mbox will help you out if you ever come to use the top end ProTools HDD systems.


Something else worth bearing in mind - if you are not intending to buy these systems, but to pirate them. (Shame on you *shifty eyes*) you'll find it MUCH more available for Windows.

The Mac/PC debate will rage till the end of time... but for my money until I can afford top end ProTools systems, I'm sticking with PC.

[naut]

indeed, ProTools is an amazing software, and Reason is pretty sweet as well. i haven't gotten to work with Logic yet...although, on a side note, i hear that they'll give you a discount of up to 50% if you're a student, which is awesome.

[Wintermute]

I picked up Reason 3 for half the list price on an Educational license :D

Students' Union cards can save you so much money...

[Jody LeCompte]

Ive always thought mac was designed with the graphics designer, programmer, or muisician in mind. The layout and pre bundled tools just seem that way. I hate my Pc...but my mom says mac products arent allowed in the house...long story

[naut]

I picked up Reason 3 for half the list price on an Educational license :D

Students' Union cards can save you so much money...

WOW, i was under the impression that Reason didn't do student discounts.:upset:

[SixnStones]

Garage band is free (you know what i mean), and for what you pay for it IS awesome

[ebe9]

i am a PC fan and shall remain so till my dying day, i have dealt with Mac before and while i believe that they might have the better software, they unfortunately do not have the compatibility, with a view to what OS developers are coding programs for.

Anyway, if it is just going to be used for music purposes and pretty much nothing else then go for it, but if you are going to use it for music as well as work and gaming, then seriously re-think

[naut]

Garage band is free (you know what i mean), and for what you pay for it IS awesome

yep.

[naut]

i am a PC fan and shall remain so till my dying day, i have dealt with Mac before and while i believe that they might have the better software, they unfortunately do not have the compatibility, with a view to what OS developers are coding programs for.

compatibility for what? what are you referring to?

[z-sprout]

macs rule. end of story

the imac is kinda pricey maybe you would benifit from looking into the ibook or powerbook range?

[ebe9]

compatibility in terms of the vast majority of software out there not being compatible for Mac, plus the fact that i network on a fairly regular basis and need to be compatible with others, but that is a side note

[amj]

compatibility in terms of the vast majority of software out there not being compatible for Mac, plus the fact that i network on a fairly regular basis and need to be compatible with others, but that is a side note

You'll find now that this is pretty much a non-issue. All the essentials have a Mac compatible version or equivalent. Games are the only real issue. For everything, it has all you need.

[Polyamarous]

Limewire has more viruses than a septic tank.
All macs are awesome though.

[christophicus]

well, the new Powerbooks and iMacs are being made with Intel chips now, thereby making them even faster.


That is not the case by a long shot Ibm prossessors are amazing.you cant compare them with intel in the normal sense because clock for clock IBMs are faster.

[naut]

compatibility in terms of the vast majority of software out there not being compatible for Mac, plus the fact that i network on a fairly regular basis and need to be compatible with others, but that is a side note

eh, i don't know...Macs have come a long way in terms of compatibility, and still seem to be going even farther. perhaps in some aspects, you're right; but for the most part, i think many people are still stuck in old mind-sets, and don't quite realize where Mac is at.

[naut]

That is not the case by a long shot Ibm prossessors are amazing.you cant compare them with intel in the normal sense because clock for clock IBMs are faster.

huh? i think you misunderstood me...

[Psychopsilocybin]

The new powerbooks (or Mac Book pro as it's now called) have dual core Intel processors, and are much better than the older powerbooks. And they have future Windows Vista compatability, so you could dual boot Mac OS X/WIndows Vista. Get one if you have the cash

[Manticore Guy]

Limewire has more viruses than a septic tank.
All macs are awesome though.

123 on both

[naut]

yeah, if you use a Mac, Acquisition is the way to go. (in reference to file-sharing).

[muthafunkabass]

The new powerbooks (or Mac Book pro as it's now called) have dual core Intel processors, and are much better than the older powerbooks. And they have future Windows Vista compatability, so you could dual boot Mac OS X/WIndows Vista. Get one if you have the cash
sry, i have been hearing about this, what is windows vista?

[ak50324]

Anyway, if it is just going to be used for music purposes and pretty much nothing else then go for it, but if you are going to use it for music as well as work and gaming, then seriously re-think


nah, i'm just buying it since I've always wanted a mac and for me, the advantages of simply turning it on and being able to actually do stuff with my computer at a decent speed (without tons of money) really outweigh the "compatibility" issues(My nerd register is going way up...better wear a Led zeppelin shirt :))

...and I would probably use the video editing software a lot more than that garge band thing.

[naut]

i assure you, it's a good choice. i've owned Macs for about a decade now, and to me, they blow PC's out of the water. oh and believe me, i've worked with my fair share of PC's so it's not a completely biast statement.:p