Guitar Gear Forum

I am checking into new computers to record and edit music with and am looking to spend $1500 or less. The Macs have got my attention.
Any recommendations? I've read reviews that the macbook pros are good enough and others say go with an IMac.
Right now portability is not a major issue.
I would be open to a Windows based computer system as well.

A refurb iMac + Logic X and you'd still have cash leftover to toss at plugins or an interface. That's what my last two recording computers have been. Second to last one went to the wife when I needed an upgrade and she's been using it for writing and such for the last couple years. Still going strong. I just pushed too much crap on it with my music projects.

I am selling my iMac 27" to fund a new Mac Mini. Mac + Logic Pro X = super easy to use recording set up with very intuitive yet mild learning curve. I feel like I get some damn solid recordings for STILL not really knowing how to use most of my damn gear! LOL!

Just for my personal taste I prefer Windows and Reaper. I also prefer a desktop. If doing a laptop make sure you max the memory and use an SSD for your primary drive (same for a desktop really).

There are some companies that make PC's/Laptops for audio. I also end to not connect my Audio PC to the Internets! Internets are bad. I do have several MAC's and unfortunately everytime they release an update you need to buy a new level of software also. FWIR. You can run Reaper on a MAC too. If you go laptop look for USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt which is backwards compatible with most Firewire. I know it is with my Saffire PRO 40.

Just curious, Jer - how much are you selling the iMac for? What's the specs?

Jer I wasn't dissing on your sale of a MAC hope it didn't come across that way. I have a Mini and a i-Mac myself and they are awesome. Just wanted to clarify.

Built a cheap desktop for $800. Smokes my Macs.

i5, 32GB ddr4 Ram, USB 3.1 MSI MObo, 3TB hdd, 1Tb hdd. Tower and card reader/usb 3/3.1 hub ext.

Sonar X3 Plat. 24" TS monitors.

What specs affect recording performance? My gaming computer runs all that shit fine and I spent like 1k on it

I need to upgrade my computer and optimize it for recording. It gets a little wonky from time to time.

Sorry. Missed this. Selling the iMac for $600 + shipping (or pick it up when you bring Mark for me to profile...). 1tb hard drive, 16gb RAM. Mid 2010. In excellent shape.

I spent about 1500 on mine , I racked up a credit from newegg and built a bad ass machine . I built in a backwards direction though as I needed a MB with several pci slots , this tech is already outdated and it's hard to find them anymore . Tech is moving so fast but it may not be ideal for music applications . An older machine may be better suited for some music hardware . It will all change again in another month .

Holy-diver wrote:What specs affect recording performance? My gaming computer runs all that shit fine and I spent like 1k on it

Lots of RAM if you are dealing with plugins and virtual instruments.

Most gaming computers with a good audio interface can handle just about any DAW software. Audio software, like video is better when you have multiple drives for the program, and for the data.

Audio is far less demanding compared to video.

At shows I use an XR18 and a simple Asus i3 w 8GB ram to record all 16 tracks at once via USB into Sonar X1 Producer. (I licensed an old copy for just this purpose).

Avg Computer with W7-W10 a decent interface and Reaper/ Sonar etc will be fine.

You only realize limitations once you start adding plugins and VSt's, or as track counts get really high.

A current Mac Mini for $700 or so can get dozens of tracks. I don't really think it's too much of an issue anymore. My Air (when I had it) got 36 tracks on the Logic stress test from Gearslutz, and that's just ridiculous; like 5 plugins per track, including convolution reverb. That's just a 1.7Ghz i7.

The only thing I don't like about the mac offerings is the IMac is essentially a laptop so know that going in. If you don't have software for either platform definitely think long and hard about it and remember one is not better than the other in any way. The caveat being OSX incremental updates do tend to break everything so be prepared.

In modern machine will run well and like everyone said go at LEAST 8 GB of RAM and an SSD. If you are using a 2.5" 5400 RPM drive, just kill yourself now, its easier.

bdubbs wrote:The only thing I don't like about the mac offerings is the IMac is essentially a laptop so know that going in. If you don't have software for either platform definitely think long and hard about it and remember one is not better than the other in any way. The caveat being OSX incremental updates do tend to break everything so be prepared.

In modern machine will run well and like everyone said go at LEAST 8 GB of RAM and an SSD. If you are using a 2.5" 5400 RPM drive, just kill yourself now, its easier.

Pretty much! That's why I have W7 machines as well. They can run a lot of older software editors, daw plugs, etc no problem. Changing from different OSX versions f'd my use of a lot of hardware and the vendors would not support the new OSX versions. With OSX revisions, a lot of hardware become SOL.