Easy...

PC or MAC? You tell me.

Oh lord, no!!

Not easy:
It depends on what you are doing and who is using it.... lol...

Anyway - at this point (imho) windows 7 and mac osx are so close its a push. Most major software is made for both platforms. Windows for business and Mac for home.

PC or MAC? You tell me.

Tell us what you want to do.

let's just say this. I want a library of sounds/instruments. The ability to record live drums, guitar and vocals.

But if I can save money and legitimately not regret it in the long run it would be nice. But if in a year I'm saying to myself I should've bought a Mac I would rather just spend the extra cake.

let's just say this. I want a library of sounds/instruments. The ability to record live drums, guitar and vocals.

But if I can save money and legitimately not regret it in the long run it would be nice. But if in a year I'm saying to myself I should've bought a Mac I would rather just spend the extra cake.

And I'm not a noob just sayin.

But I am a noob at editing posts apparently. Haha.

I bought a Mac in 06 I think. Been using it ever since. Still using it. No regrets.

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

GarageBand comes free with Macs.

A lot will depend on what DAW you want to use.

I use Logic. Logic Pro comes with tons of loops, samples and virtual instruments.

..But it can only be run on a Mac.

Some of the other major DAWs like Protools, Cubase, Nuendo and Reaper can run on either a PC or Mac.

Sonar only works on PC.

..or, another option: Macs can now run both Mac OSX and Windows (you'd have to buy and install Windows), but they could then run any of the DAWs mentioned.

Don't really know what I'll be running yet. Was thinking about ableton but wasn't set on anything yet. Figured I would get the computer then choose software.

imho, I think it's better to think of it the other way around: Research and decide what software you want to run, then get the machine needed to run it.

imho, I think it's better to think of it the other way around: Research and decide what software you want to run, then get the machine needed to run it.

^^^^^^
This.

Cheers,
Geoff

Scat and Geoff are right, but I'm gonna have to recuse myself from trying to offer an objective opinion, since I've been on Mac for 25 years and ain't about to change.

At one time, the conventional wisdom was "Windows for business, Macs for creativity." While that's no longer strictly true, there is a seed of truth there. For instance, I'm glad I started out on Garageband (created as a DAW for noobs) instead of one of the more complex "pro" programs. But you're not me and need to find your own way into this insiduous, addictive activity! :mrgreen:

let's just say this. I want a library of sounds/instruments. The ability to record live drums, guitar and vocals.

But if I can save money and legitimately not regret it in the long run it would be nice. But if in a year I'm saying to myself I should've bought a Mac I would rather just spend the extra cake.


go here and listen, every one of these songs was recorded LIVE into a PC running SONAR recording software.

http://www.soundclick.com/rod77

anybody that tells you "need a mac to do sound recording" is a Mac snob.

And I used to be one.

Now I detest all things Apple, after years dealing with them.

you also dont need a Mac to do graphic design either, here's my professional design site, the site and all the work therein, all done on PC

http://www.roddeyphipps.com

go here and listen, every one of these songs was recorded LIVE into a PC running SONAR recording software.

http://www.soundclick.com/rod77

anybody that tells you "need a mac to do sound recording" is a Mac snob.

And I used to be one.

Now I detest all things Apple, after years dealing with them.

you also dont need a Mac to do graphic design either, here's my professional design site, the site and all the work therein, all done on PC

http://www.roddeyphipps.com

Ok so that sounds really good but how much did the PC used in those recordings cost. Cause of its the same or more than a Mac I'd have to say I would just go Mac.

But that sounded great and more importantly what is soundclick?

Ok so that sounds really good but how much did the PC used in those recordings cost. Cause of its the same or more than a Mac I'd have to say I would just go Mac.

These days, you can get a super-fast PC for $800 or $900 dollars.

I've owned (and built) perhaps ten or more PC's over the last 20 or so years and use PC's at work all day long.

I also recently bought a macbook pro 13" to replace a netbook that had a broken internal power adapter pin.

I use cakewalk sonar professional on the PC for recording.

On balance I wish I didn't record using my PC - Cakewalk and the Windows 7 operating system more generally doesn't natively support multiple concurrent audio devices. Most Mac audio software does.

So on balance I prefer the Mac for web browsing on the lounge and for netbook style tasks. It is better for audio and to be honest the graphics and video performance is pretty excellent although I don't use a large screen with it.

The PC is better for running MS Office and especially for VBA programming support which I believe the Mac can do but I believe it is a clipped down version without full functionality.

The Mac is better for pro audio and perhaps has a slight edge for video/graphics - although the PC is no slouch there as far as I'm concerned and it's a toss up.

Sometimes the way macs are locked down is a bit annoying but it does simplify things. I couldn't live without at least one high powered PC though. So if I had to have one system it would a high-powered desktop PC but if you can afford two or more computers at least one of them would be a small lightweight Mac for porting around the house.

YMMV.

My PC cost about 700 dollars, and it screams. Try that with a Mac. Thats one of the reasons I switched over, I got tired of Apple's prices, when PCs were just as fast, just as powerful, and a lot cheaper.

I also put in a good soundcard in my PC, an M AUdio Delta 10/10, but I found it cheap, used on Ebay. SONAR itself is a very affordable sound program. I've got less than a grand into the entire recording setup.

thats the beauty of PCs; theres a wealth of third party manufacturers that make hardware, all that competition keeps prices low.

The more I think about it the more I think just buy a Mac and be done with it. Nothing really hard sways me to a PC.

Mac Mini...$700. Comes with GarageBand.

Mac Mini...$700. Comes with GarageBand.

Yeah but you have to buy the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and external hard drive. False economy.

PAC

When I wanted a new computer and had the money to get one I decided to get a Mac. I had been battling with the PC I had for years and I got sick of dealing with it. I was looking at a comparable PC but after all the customizations and software it would have came close to the cost of the I-Mac if not equal.

I ordered the Mac with upgraded RAM and Logic 9 pre-installed. When it arrived it took approximately 30 minutes from unpacking to recording. It was that easy.

It seems a lot of the debate between Apple and PC folk has really nothing to do with the product but with people's personal opinions about how Apple/Microsoft supposedly do business. The actual functionality and intuitiveness of the computer/software never gets a mention.

No difference. Seriously. None at all. Get what runs the software you want to use.

When I wanted a new computer and had the money to get one I decided to get a Mac. I had been battling with the PC I had for years and I got sick of dealing with it. I was looking at a comparable PC but after all the customizations and software it would have came close to the cost of the I-Mac if not equal.

I ordered the Mac with upgraded RAM and Logic 9 pre-installed. When it arrived it took approximately 30 minutes from unpacking to recording. It was that easy.

It seems a lot of the debate between Apple and PC folk has really nothing to do with the product but with people's personal opinions about how Apple/Microsoft supposedly do business. The actual functionality and intuitiveness of the computer/software never gets a mention.


I was an art director at an ad agency once and I often I did nothing but fix blown up Macs. To me, it's a myth that Macs are more dependable and easier to set up than a modern PC.

Yeah but you have to buy the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and external hard drive. False economy.

Only if you don't already have a monitor, kbd, mouse and HD. :wink:

Only if you don't already have a monitor, kbd, mouse and HD. :wink:

True. But he didn't mention that he did.:razz:

I was an art director at an ad agency once and I often I did nothing but fix blown up Macs. To me, it's a myth that Macs are more dependable and easier to set up than a modern PC.

I never said that a Mac was more dependable than a PC. I have had Apple products go south on me as well as PC's. But than again Apple doesn't put "bloatware" on their computers.

But I did have an easier go with my Mac than I have ever did with a PC. The important thing to do is to do everything you can at the beginning to get the most out of your computer. Get the best one you can afford, get the RAM upgraded, get everything pre-installed, get an external hard drive, get the warranty, make sure your system is compatible with your audio interface and DAW.

You are not buying a computer, you are buying time.

I think both are great, but I personally lean towards Macs. I have a nice Macbook Pro which is a joy to use. I notice that when I go to post production and recording studios both are used, but Macs are more common.

I have a friend who is militantly anti-Mac, but his boss is making him switch. It's hilarious to watch. It has more to do with irrational anti-hipster bias then anything else.

You are not buying a computer, you are buying time.

Nice.

When something goes wrong with a PC, they are a PITA.

When something goes wrong with a Mac... well that almost never happens.

When something goes wrong with a PC, they are a PITA.

When something goes wrong with a Mac... well that almost never happens.

When something goes wrong with ANY computer it is a PITA

When something goes wrong with a PC, they are a PITA.

When something goes wrong with a Mac... well that almost never happens.


YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


theres that patented Mac snobbery that drove me from Apple so many years ago

IMHO:

MAC / PC hardware is similar, so failure is too.

PC if BTO is about the same price as a MAC.

Win 7 and MAC OS are very different, but if your usage is recording it only matters during installation of your DAW stuff. After that you just need to know how to get it up and running enough to get to your DAW software (for a while).

Cheapest route is build your own hardware, ultra low cost Linux and Audacity for free. Many hundreds cheaper until you start demanding more functionality then you are back at commercial products.

My suggestion, Pick your DAW and then go with hardware and OS that best supports it.

YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

theres that patented Mac snobbery that drove me from Apple so many years ago

There's snobbery on both ends. Let's try to leave the hipster apple opinions and hipster anti apple opinions out of this.

There's snobbery on both ends. Let's try to leave the hipster apple opinions and hipster anti apple opinions out of this.

if folks did that... these troll posts would never get going.

Ok well I'll just end the debate then. PC sucks. Mac is perfect. Settled. I'm getting a Mac. Thanks.

trolling sucks. that is for sure.