Picking out a PC to run recording software smoothly.

[LowDesertSludge]

If you were going to buy/build a new computer to mainly use for recording. What features would be a must for smooth program performance? Are folks still loading the DAW's on solid state hard drives? How much RAM?
I will be running Windows7 64bit. Whatcha guys runnin'?

 

[EVHpickdust]

Fuck Windoze. I've been a user since DOS. I took a shit on my last Windoze box and threw it out of the window. I'm sick of their endless security updates, patches, and bullshit.

Bought a Mac 3 years ago and couldn't be happier.

Get a Mac.

 

[BigDog]

Apple!

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Fuck Windoze. I've been a user since DOS. I took a shit on my last Windoze box and threw it out of the window. I'm sick of their endless security updates, patches, and bullshit.

Bought a Mac 3 years ago and couldn't be happier.

Get a Mac.

Being a windows user that long, How long did it take you to familiarize yourself with that new MAC environment?

 

[Steinmetzify]

Not that long; I was zooming around in a couple weeks with no issues. You could always go cheaper and do an iPad and some apps. The shit is amazing anymore.

 

[EVHpickdust]

Fuck Windoze. I've been a user since DOS. I took a shit on my last Windoze box and threw it out of the window. I'm sick of their endless security updates, patches, and bullshit.

Bought a Mac 3 years ago and couldn't be happier.

Get a Mac.

Being a windows user that long, How long did it take you to familiarize yourself with that new MAC environment?

Minutes. I've owned an iPad for years and used to sell Mac's back in the 90's. It's incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate your way around the Apple operating system. Go to an Apple Store if you have one locally, and check it out. I use Windows 7 for work and it's just fucking horrible!

Running DAW software on a 27 inch iMac screen is incredible. It's so bright, and crystal clear. Mac's have come a long way with regard to their video cards in the more affordable line of all-in-ones and laptops they offer. It's not only the super-expensive desktop machines that come with GREAT video cards anymore. I've had this iMac for 3 years now and it's just as fast now as it was when I took it out of the box 3 years ago. Bill Gates' horseshit of installing and uninstalling programs under Windoze clogs up the Registry and slows it down to where you need to give your computer an enema every few years so its not slow as shit anymore.

Everything you need is either on you Dock, or in your Applications folder. That's it. You don't have to go searching for crap all over the place. Programs basically look the same and have the same functionality under both Windows and the OSX environment. If you can use a program under Windoze, you'll be able to use it in OSX. The menus may be laid out a bit differently under OSX, but it's easier. So whatever DAW software you use, it will be pretty much the same. The OSX operating system is a BSD-UNIX based OS. Reliable and rock solid.

And backing your system up, you can clone you hard drive SO easily under OSX it's not funny. You get an external USB drive, and a free program called Carbon Copy Cloner. You clone the hard drive to the USB drive and make it bootable….and there you have it. If your hard drive on your Mac crashes, just boot from the external drive and go until you get your internal hard drive fixed. Then boot up again from the USB drive, and clone IT to the newly installed drive and make it bootable, there you have it, OS restored! Try that shit with Windoze and hope it works!

I hate Windows.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Learning a DAW, I might as well entertain the throught of learning a new OS. Thanks gang.

 

[EVHpickdust]

Learning a DAW, I might as well entertain the throught of learning a new OS. Thanks gang.

Learning the DAW will take a hell of a longer than learning the OS.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I've been running a Rain PC for audio/video for almost 3 years now, no issues.
It helps that I leave it unplugged from the net and only use that cpu for dedicated audio/video projects- no surfing around picking up viruses. I bought a cheap $250 refurbished PC for my virus acquisitions, I mean daily work and surfing. I think of it as disposable, but it may still last me a few years- my last cheapo lasted 5 years, albeit the last few months were difficult

 

[Meathead]

Windows can be fine for recording. I recommend using a second computer for your recording system, separate from your 'normal use' computer. Keep your recording computer off the internet, no need to be downloading every security update or have virus software running to slow it down. You can turn off all of the unnecessary background processes.

 

[Greazygeo]

Macbook Pro here…..would buy again when needed. PC's are good for games.

 

[skoora]

I'm fine with either. Have a desktop I built a long time ago using XP that works fine. Just put reaper on it as I lost my "free" copy of Nuendo having to reload windows due to a bad motherboard. I have a 2009 MacBook Pro that I put Logic on and haven't had a chance to use it much. Honestly I'm not crazy about the Apple OS and find I navigate on a Windows machine much more intuitively. I do hate iPhoto and iTunes with a passion. Almost as much as I'm starting to hate google

Definitely agree with use an external HD for backups and to save projects. I only tinker with recording these days so I don't bother. I don't care if I lose anything I've done.

Something to consider is expense too. You can get a Desktop or laptop that will have the same processing power and performance as a Mac for half the price. Plus a PC desktop, if you built it, is pretty easy to upgrade or modify as your needs change. But Mac fans feel their machines are more stable. When I was having issues with my MB Pro's wifi, internet searches pulled up plenty of folks having problems with their Mac's. I think the talk about them being more stable is exaggerated but not necessarily inaccurate.

My 2009 MBP is also noticeably slower in areas than when it was new so Mac's slow down too with updates etc.

 

[kiff]

Windows can be fine for recording. I recommend using a second computer for your recording system, separate from your 'normal use' computer. Keep your recording computer off the internet, no need to be downloading every security update or have virus software running to slow it down. You can turn off all of the unnecessary background processes.

This

I've been using macs since the day they came out and I'm not a hater by an means, but IMO a dedicated pc is the way to go for recording. It's WAY cheaper to build one that's dedicated for it. Just get win7, get it stable with the hardware you'll be using and then you can disconnect from the net.

 

[JimmyBlind]

I'm running a MAC. I bought it specifically to produce music at home, back in early 2010. Logic is an excellent piece of software. Can't knock the OS & UI of Apple products. Garageband is also a great piece of free software.

I don't tend to do much production nowadays & my MB Pro has now predominantly been reduced to an expensive media hub/masturbatory aid. I don't see myself purchasing one again if i'm honest & would sooner invest in an Ipad for my needs & leave my MAC as a device hub.

I went with the 15" version, but in many ways wished I owned a 13". The 13 & 15 machines are now of very similar spec (they weren't back then). Worth considering if you're running a decent monitor in a home setup. You'll save a few bucks. The 13 will also have much, much better battery life & is more portable.

Some negative points.
The battery life in my 15 is nothing short of atrocious. Literally 2 & a bit hours now. Good for less than 2 films on a long haul flight. My fiance's 1st gen ipad is still good for about 8 hours & can be charged from a USB port in the plane's arm rest.
A replacement battery, on my native soil, is over £100. I'm now on my 3rd mag safe adapter (by all accounts the worst made & reviewed product on the apple store) which retails for about £60.
I'm missing 4 screws from the unibody which unscrewed themselves. The required screwdriver is non-standard. 4 replacement screws without apple care is £30 retail. Absolutely shocking.

So there are pros & cons to owning a Mac in my opinion. By all accounts excellent machines with great software out the box, but with some major cost & maintenance issues.
The Apple product cycle can leave you feeling a little hard-done-by as the high cost of their products purposefully drives the development & swift redundancy of your expensive purchases.
Apple care not one fuck about its loyal customer base. Don't be misled into thinking they do. They force you to upgrade with questionable regularity, in the same way that your iPhone starts to run like a ZX81 when you install the latest iOS & it refuses to let you restore.
Their friendly customer service & genius bar are a smoke screen for their "O.C.P. from Robocop" hostility. Steve Jobs wasn't the Dalai Lama. He was an egomaniac & a fierce business man, though I do have utmost respect for him & what he achieved.
I digress.

Guy above makes a great point about PCs. True, you won't take advantage of Logic & Apple-specific software (unless you build a hackintosh of some description) but there are sophisticated DAW out there for windows. They're better equipped to play games (if you're into that sort of thing) & you may feel you get more for your money.

 

[paulyc]

I know Keith Merrow built a PC for recording and gaming with parts he bought online from New Egg and Didgikey Electronics, and he's said he's had no issues...I bought a Mac Mini a year or so ago from GC when they sold their recording bundle for 900 bucks and I don't find the OS intuitive at all...just my .02 .

 

[Code001]

You can buy screws for a MBP for $3 shipped... And a battery is like $60 shipped.

 

[ibenhad]

Just my .02 but don't believe the hype around MAC's. Way over priced and everytime they upgrade the OS e.g. 10.7-10.8 you will need to buy a new version of logic or other DAW. This isn't typically the case with Windblows. I don't think Windows is that great either and if I could I would totally run Linux. Windows has it's quirks and I totally agree that it is a mess but at least I know what security patches I am running and updates I install. Apple gives one bulk update and tells you nothing. Plus with MS Security essentials and a built in Firewall, Windows is a lot safer than it used to be. I can also probably buy 3 decent windows boxes for the price of one MAC allowing me to spend $$$ on studio gear. MAC's are pretty and sleek and just so androgynous I see most of the girls at the Campus I work carrying them around to accessorize with their Iphone. So cute. IMHO while Windows isn't awesome it is the smartest option based on many factors. Plus Reaper is free (runs on MAC too) and is ROCK solid on every version of Windows I have tried it on. I also have found MAC drivers to be wonky and trust me there are a ton more drivers out there for Windows then MAC. I find that hardware will also stay around with support for much longer on PC then MAC. YMMV but I have run both for over 16 years and have been an IT professional supporting both and a Network Manager for over 4000 College students who come to Campus with every OS you can imagine. Best of luck.


PSA - Learning a new OS might be doable, learning a new DAW like LOGIC might be boiling the Ocean. If you wanna get to work and not be years crawling around in a steep learning curve go Windows 8 and Reaper and be done with it.

 

[dfrattaroli]

I use Logic on an iMac since about 2012. Got tired of Sonar/PC deciding to not work because of an automatic Windows update or a new printer driver I needed to apply. Again. The Apple just works.

 

[Anonymous]

2010 Macbook Pro/Mountain Lion/Logic.

Its like they were made for each other...oh wait! They were!

 

[Greazygeo]

Just my .02 but don't believe the hype around MAC's. Way over priced and everytime they upgrade the OS e.g. 10.7-10.8 you will need to buy a new version of logic or other DAW. This isn't typically the case with Windblows. I don't think Windows is that great either and if I could I would totally run Linux. Windows has it's quirks and I totally agree that it is a mess but at least I know what security patches I am running and updates I install. Apple gives one bulk update and tells you nothing. Plus with MS Security essentials and a built in Firewall, Windows is a lot safer than it used to be. I can also probably buy 3 decent windows boxes for the price of one MAC allowing me to spend $$$ on studio gear. MAC's are pretty and sleek and just so androgynous I see most of the girls at the Campus I work carrying them around to accessorize with their Iphone. So cute. IMHO while Windows isn't awesome it is the smartest option based on many factors. Plus Reaper is free (runs on MAC too) and is ROCK solid on every version of Windows I have tried it on. I also have found MAC drivers to be wonky and trust me there are a ton more drivers out there for Windows then MAC. I find that hardware will also stay around with support for much longer on PC then MAC. YMMV but I have run both for over 16 years and have been an IT professional supporting both and a Network Manager for over 4000 College students who come to Campus with every OS you can imagine. Best of luck.


PSA - Learning a new OS might be doable, learning a new DAW like LOGIC might be boiling the Ocean. If you wanna get to work and not be years crawling around in a steep learning curve go Windows 8 and Reaper and be done with it.

my findings are pretty different to say the least. I've upgraded my os many times, still running Logic Pro 8. Any piece of hardware I have plugged in just works. Except for the RP1000 that is.

I don't find Logic that hard to use compared to Cubase/ Sonar. Sure it's deep, but not that hard to figure out.

Any updates that come up have a button to click that goes into more detail what is in it.......

All I can say is whenI want to get some work done, just fire up the gear and get to it. Pretty happy about that.