I’m About To Buy My First Computer For Recording Music…

[Catoogie]

Actually this will be the first computer I’ve ever purchased. I recently came into a bit of cash and I’ve decided to upgrade my recording rig from a Fostex FD-8 with a ADA8000 to a computer dedicated to recording music. I was all set to go with a G5 and a 002R but as I’m getting deeper into my research I’m thinking I should at least open myself to the idea of possibly going with a PC over the Mac.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of both? As I said I had planned on just going with a G5, a 2.3 with the 20” Cinema display, what PC would be comparable in terms of specs and performance? I’m assuming a PC would be considerably less money (not that that, thankfully, is an issue right now).

What would you do? I want to make sure I may a smart decision and don’t just go throwing money around ‘cause it’s currently available. I do however want to get a nice stable, fast rig that will serve me well with a minimum of hassle. I’m not a technical guy so I need something low-maintenance.

Thanks in advance for all of your help!!

[chris harris]

you'll get a million opinions on this. but, if money isn't an issue, and getting something somewhat hassle-free is, then you should really get the mac.

a mac will be super simple to learn and use. if you go the PC route, you'll spend more time learning about computers than about recording with a computer.

[wedge]

If money isn't an issue, then get what you want. You won't be wasting any money with Mac or PC. Both can do the job. Totally. Usability may be easier on the Mac, especially for a newbie. Actually, since you say this is your first computer, then I'd definitely get a Mac, because OSX is an awesome operating system. XP is pretty cool in it's own way, too, but OSX is technologically superior at the moment, and it's easy to use.

Plus, since it'll be your first comp, you're going to use it for internet connectivity I would imagine, and 99% of virulent viruses are PC-based. You'll bypass that entire headache with a Mac.

OSX is totally multithreaded, so one bad app won't take the whole comp down, as in the old days. This is something that Microsoft is shooting for in it's much delayed replacement for XP -- still probably a year or two away...

And with an Apple Cinema Display?!? Feck! That's the way to go, if you can manage it... I can't imagine you not being totally geeked out about it...
_________________
MOTHER Loves You

[bannerj]

think about customer support. There are something like fifty PC owners for every mac owner... I can actually call my local mac dealer and talk directly to the tech.

plus. mac is sexier

[Silverlode]

Mac's make better music
_________________
y.t. > Silverlode
http://thebside.org

[joel hamilton]

Every time I have to work with someone that has a PC it is a pain in thne ass. Really. EVERY time. There is always some dumb thing that doesnt work from me and I ALWAYS can read whatever they bring ME!?!?

I have no idea about PC, as I have been using Mac since the IIe, and I have been using protools since PT3.0! Always on a mac!
_________________
http://joelhamiltonrecording.com/

http://www.studiogbrooklyn.com

http://www.lawless-music.com

http://www.myspace.com/thebookofknots

[joel hamilton]

Every time I have to work with someone that has a PC it is a pain in thne ass. Really. EVERY time. There is always some dumb thing that doesnt work from me and I ALWAYS can read whatever they bring ME!?!?

I have no idea about PC, as I have been using Mac since the IIe, and I have been using protools since PT3.0! Always on a mac!
_________________
http://joelhamiltonrecording.com/

http://www.studiogbrooklyn.com

http://www.lawless-music.com

http://www.myspace.com/thebookofknots

[starscream]

I'm a PC user (have been for 15years) and don't have any plans on changing anytime in the foreseeable future but, that being said, if this is your first audio computer I would go with a MAC. The OS seems to be very user-friendly and the computer as a whole seems to be virtually maintenance free. PC's are great but they do require some tech 'know how' (for both the hardware and software) to keep them running smoothly, especially for audio. Hope this helps.

Nick
_________________
Nick Evans

www.nickolusevans.com

[AnalogElectric]

Regarding computer recording: I started with a Mac G3, then over a 4 years ago I bulked up to a massive PC setup, then got frustrated to the point where I bought a G5, and I couldn't be happier. As far as a first-time computer for audio goes you'd be better off with a Mac.

Considering you said, "I do ... want to get a nice stable, fast rig that will serve me well with a minimum of hassle. I’m not a technical guy so I need something low-maintenance."

It sounds like you'd be happy with a Mac. The PC I ran initially I had to do a lot of tweaking... it worked great but PC's (especially for audio recording) isn't as easy as plug-in and go, most of the time. Sure there are some tweaks in the Mac but to me were easier to understand and navigate thru (Macs are more graphical-tech rather than numerical-tech--- but that's also the problem for those that want to tweak a Mac even further but can't unlike like someone with a PC can).

The big drawback of a Mac is it is more expensive but as far as a 'good to go' system, you can't beat it.... not unless you get a PC and know how to tweak both BIOS and other settings.

-- Adam Lazlo
_________________
AnalogElectric Recording
Gilbert, Arizona USA
http://www.analogelectric.com
http://www.myspace.com/adamlazlo

[Knights Who Say Neve]

Hmm, I guess my experience w/ Macs is different from most. The G3s I used to work with were notoriously unreliable. External drives would dissapear, the MOTU interfaces would crackle and pop, weird crashes in Pro Tools...and unlike a PC, there wasn't much I could do about it except reboot and hope for the best. PCs are weird, but once you set them up they tend to stay set up in my experience. Then when you install a new thing sometimes they break, but then you fix it and it's fine again and stays fine.

If you're buying a 1st audio computer your money will go a lot further with a PC. Just have someone experienced help you set it up, and then don't mess with it too much. The "macs are more reliable" thing is, in my admittedly limited opinion, a myth. It was probably a true myth in the 90's, but things have changed.
_________________
"What you're saying is, unlike all the other writers, if it was really new, you'd know it was new when you heard it, and you'd love it. That's a hell of an assumption". -B. Marsalis

[BradG]

[Knights Who Say Neve]

[chris harris]

I used a PC for years and learned more about the inner workings of those things (software and hardware) than I ever wanted to know.
and, once I got it set up properly, it worked flawlessly for me for 3 years.
then, when upgrade time came around, I realized how much I had forgotten about building and configuring a PC. I just couldn't be bothered to learn about modern motherboards and chipsets again. So, I got a g5 and got straight back to work.

[Cyan421]

Ah the mac life is sweet. I just got myself a mac mini and a 20' cinema display. The computer is pretty quick, Im not recording on it yet. Not real fast, the the G5 is over twice as fast, and you can get way tons of ram. anyways, the display is awsome!! Its a beautiful peice of hardware. Its pretty anoying watching movies and playing games cause none, NONE of them support the resolution format. Most DVD's (widescreeen) still have black bars on the top and bottom, but some (some widescreen) have black bars on the top and bottom AND on the SIDES!!! I can't handle wasted space!! Still, it looks as good or better as any LCD. And has a pretty cool setup wizard that rivals high end home theater displays and projectors.

But in the Pro Tools environment you can fill your screen with whatever you heart desires.

I belive the myth that Mac is more reliable. But whatever you do purchase the extended waranty. Whoever you buy from, especially mac.
_________________
"What a wonerful smell you've discovered"

[Catoogie]

Thanks so much for all of your help. After reading your posts in addition to all of my other research I've come to the conclusion that I'm just gonna go with a G5. That to me seems like my best bet.

One more question. How do you feel about buying the Apple Certified Refurbished stuff?

[chris harris]

I probably wouldn't have any problem with it. Actually, staying a little bit behind the bleeding edge will probably save you a lot of money on a mac. And, you don't NEED a dual 2.7Ghz G5 to run audio apps.