Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey gang. I have Pro Tools LE with the MBox (version 1) and am thinking of getting a Mac to use for recording only. How much can I expect to spend for a decent machine with gobs of hard drive space? 1) New, or 2) used.

I spent about 2K for the new intel iMac with 2 GB RAM (very important for recording).

Used Intel PC's probably go for around $1500-1800...

For a powerPC mac, you're looking at 500-1200 on the used market but they aren't buildilng any new software for those, so you are buying an obsolete machine...

$599 for a Mac Mini new. Up the memory and use an external disk. If you already have a monitor and a keyboard this is an easy way to go.

You can find them used for $500.

You're going to want external disk unless you want to pony up $ for a Mac Pro or PowerMac G5.

"For a powerPC mac ... they aren't buildilng any new software for those, so you are buying an obsolete machine..."

Almost all of the 'new' software that is being released is universal and runs on the PowerPC fine. The only exceptions I know of are the Joost beta and Parallels. With that said, I agree that buying an intel-mac is the way to go at this point. But if price is a primary concern the PowerPC should work fine...

Just spent time in a studio; running ProTools 7 (?) into a dual-processor G5 with 2GB RAM. I was amazed at how fast this rig burned rough mixes to disc. I think this runs in the $3300.00 street price range...probably a good deal cheaper in the online high-volume MAC distributors.

I use both Mac & PC in various studios & both are good, as long as you dedicate your computer to recording & NOTHING else!

Yah, you don't want viruses and spyware slowing your PC down while you're recording! That said, you can always use removeable drive trays and seperate drives for recording and general use if you need to.

That's the reason I'm doing it. It will stand alone (no 'net) and only be used for recording. Thanks for all the great info, everyone!

I forgot about the Mac mini's....that's a good idea John.

Go to the Mac side

The only thing that I don't like about it is that I can't use Sonar (PC only)

That's the problem with Macs...a lot of software just isn't available. I've always found what I want for Macs (musically wise), but there's no doubt that PC's are more 'catered' for.
You're right Greg, but computers are so cheap now, that if you are serious about recording, it just doesn't make sense to multi task your recording computer.

I was always a Mac desktop person, having started with an Apple 2+ back in '80 (64K RAM!!!), and progressing through a couple of Power Macs through G3, and then a G4 Platinum. Time to upgrade last Winter; moved into a 20" G5 iMac with 2 GB RAM. Compact, portable to some extent; minimum of cables and POWERFUL. Price? Just a tad over $1K. Incredible bargain.

At my office I use an older G4, and a one year old Dell GX series. The Dell (low-end, admittedly) is a frustrating, clunky, poorly-built, erm, item. The G4 gets me through whenever I get the frequent "the program is not responding..." message on the Dell. The OLD. pre-owned G4 just shoulders on and on.

How did you end up with that powerful of a G5 for $1K? That was a smoking deal Paul!

"Thinking" of getting a Mac?!

DO IT!

Another Mac owner reporting in.

"You're right Greg, but computers are so cheap now, that if you are serious about recording, it just doesn't make sense to multi task your recording computer."

Some people are still rather cheap these days Anthony! Personally I'll be going with a nice Intel Mac that will be dedicated for recording use only, but it can wait. I've still got to rebuild my late 70's MCI JH-16 2 inch 24 track machine, and I've got my trusty PC with multiple hard drives in the meantime.