Mac vs. PC

tbone0813 · #1 09-01-2006, 03:04 PM

I'm pretty fed up with my PC's performance when recording & playing back audio. I am using a Firebox, and I am continually getting pops, qlicks, and drop outs when recording & playing back audio. I have been looking at the Mac mini, but am concerned about the slower processor. I know in general the Mac's processors are smaller than a PC's, but how are their perfomance?

DougP · #2 09-01-2006, 04:02 PM

have you tried tweaking the OS at all to get better performance?

this could get you started if you havent already checked it out:
http://www.musicxp.net/tuning_tips.php

just a thought before you start spending gobs of money.

SteveC · #3 09-01-2006, 04:18 PM

Dump that slow and virus prone computer. I have had a Mac since 1986 and had ONE crash, no virus' and almost no pop-ups.

I do my web site with ease, pics,movies music is all so easy.

Richard Lindsey · #4 09-01-2006, 04:26 PM

I would say it's more a matter of setup and perhaps drivers. Do all the XP tweaks you can, and make sure you have the latest drivers for your Fire-thingie. It's generally recommended to keep your Windows setup as lean as possible, and unless this is your only computer, don't hook it up to the Internet.

Macs are cool and all, but don't buy fully into the "never crash" hype. Some don't, some do. My buddy's G4, for example, has given him far more headaches and down time than my XP box has ever given me.

Nothing wrong with Macs, but don't delude yourself into thinking you can't use PCs for audio. Thousands of people do, and get by just fine.

agreatheight · #5 09-01-2006, 04:29 PM

I am VERY familiar with both Macs and PCs having worked on both for work and play for nearly 15 years. The straight up low down is, yes, Macs are better in many regards but you certainly pay for it.

GOOD: • Less crashing (not no crashing though) • less viruses and less spyware (not no viruses or no spyware though) • a sleek OS interface • well designed, aesthetically pleasing cases and monitors

BAD: Less software selection • barely any games • troublesome to user customize • occasional cross platforming issues

That is all!

EDIT: I use a PC for my audio recording needs.

Poop-Loops · #6 09-01-2006, 04:36 PM

Wha? You just said "I hate my Dodge. I want to get a Ford instead. Will it perform better?"

It depends. If your computer is a piece of crap, then it will always run like crap.

What are your computer's specs?

svtb15 · #7 09-01-2006, 04:40 PM

Sounds to me like your audio driver may be corrupt.. try uninstalling and reinstalling audio drivers..
Mac / PC... i have both.. A PC running Sonar to record that only goes online to get updates,,,an everyday PC P4 w/XP pro for internet and everything else,and a Mac Laptop, I love the way my OSX looks.

My friends pro studio has just as many problems with their MAC G5 and G4s as they do with their PCs... They are strictly music machines too.. And Yes in the real world use, Macs do Crash..

Yeah MACs look real pretty.... and is much faster since they started to use INTEL CPUs....
And don’t forget Macs OS is based on Unix from what I understand..
But I am a tweaker and the PC allows me to tweak everything to perfection. I use Sonar on a PC to record and my MAC is a laptop...
The PC should be tweaked for music though, and not used as your internet everyday use computer.. use a separate machine for MUSIC ONLY.. Both MAC and PC have their problems and strengths… To me is Ford vs Chevy or Gibson vs Fender… it’s a matter of taste.

tbone0813 · #8 09-01-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Wha? You just said "I hate my Dodge. I want to get a Ford instead. Will it perform better?"

It depends. If your computer is a piece of crap, then it will always run like crap.

What are your computer's specs?

P4 3.0
1 gig RAM
XP
34 VRAM
250 gig HD = (80 gig C drive & 170 gig M (media) drive)

All drivers & software are on the C drive. All storage is on the M drive. I had it where everything was on the M drive, and was having the same problems so I uninstalled my Firebox drivers & my Cubase LE program & reinstalled them on my C drive. Same problem.

I just finished up tweaking XP for audio use. We'll see how that goes.

playibanez · #9 09-01-2006, 04:58 PM

i always used macs. and i always take the time to promote them

im a big mac fan.

im running a g4 powermac this comp is fast and i had no problems with it. but it is an old comp and does crash on occasion nothing really bad.

my reasons for running mac
-i dont like windows operating system
-ease of use
-speed
-you *hardly* need to worry about viruses
-*hardly* any BIG crashes

i dont use my computer for anything big like photo/video editing or recording. i do people however that do use macs for graphic desgining and they swear by them.

in my mind macs are superior to pcs in editing and that world. dont get me wrong. i know there are pc's out there that people build up that can blow a mac out of the water.

Poop-Loops · #10 09-01-2006, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbone0813

P4 3.0
1 gig RAM
XP
34 VRAM
250 gig HD = (80 gig C drive & 170 gig M (media) drive)

All drivers & software are on the C drive. All storage is on the M drive. I had it where everything was on the M drive, and was having the same problems so I uninstalled my Firebox drivers & my Cubase LE program & reinstalled them on my C drive. Same problem.

I just finished up tweaking XP for audio use. We'll see how that goes.

So you don't actually have a sound card?

tbone0813 · #11 09-01-2006, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

So you don't actually have a sound card?

No I like recording audio I can't hear. It's more interesting that way.

That's what the Firebox's pupose is among other things.

Poop-Loops · #12 09-01-2006, 05:19 PM

Ok, I'm confused. Where exactly do you plug in your microphone (or whatever you use to record) into the computer?

I googled Firebox but still don't know what it is.

EDIT: Is it this: http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html

I don't know how that works exactly. All I know is I've had crackling and popping happen when my sound drivers weren't updated or when I was using onboard sound. It sucks up the CPU's resources more that way.

If the Firebox can act like a sound card, then there's no problem. As in, you don't plug anything else sound related into the computer, only into the Firebox. Then there's something wrong with the Firebox itself or drivers. That kind of system has no reason to suck like you are describing.

DougP · #13 09-01-2006, 05:27 PM

yeah, audio on a pc works fine but you've really gotta tweak it. i went from running Sonar 4 on a dual core PC to logic pro on a g5 quad so i am pretty familiar with both camps as well.

the one thing that i found out is that if you want maximum performance out of the PC, you gotta make it an audio only machine. but you can still make it run quite a lot of tracks with the tweaking, especially with the specs you have.

the cubase forums might have some info on setting up their software. again: if you havent tried checking there.

DougP · #14 09-01-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Ok, I'm confused. Where exactly do you plug in your microphone (or whatever you use to record) into the computer?

I googled Firebox but still don't know what it is.

EDIT: Is it this: http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html

I don't know how that works exactly. All I know is I've had crackling and popping happen when my sound drivers weren't updated or when I was using onboard sound. It sucks up the CPU's resources more that way.

yeah, thats the firebox. it's an outboard audio interface. you can plug mics, line-ins, speakers, line-outs, etc into it and then the firebox connects to the computer via firewire.

Swimming Bird · #15 09-01-2006, 05:30 PM

PCs are upgradable whereas Macs are not. Everything else that may have changed in recent years -- Macs getting slightly better at multitasking and faster processing by catching on to what PCs have used for years -- but you still can't open up a Mac and add memory or a second (or third) hard drive.

Also, for the price Macs are still less a value than a similarly equipped PC -- I just got a Dell XPS model and did a lot of research, so this is still pretty relevant.

I'd say get a new PC or just upgrade yours as well as get better recording software. Try Cakewalk's Sonar 5, it's my favorite right now.

Poop-Loops · #16 09-01-2006, 05:47 PM

Well... yes and no.

I wanted to upgrade my computer's processor. Turns out I needed a new motherboard that would support it. That's fine and I already knew about that.

Turns out, my old video card won't work on the new motherboard. They stopped making the slots for them (AGP).

Oops, my old Power supply can't handle all the new stuff. Need to upgrade that, too.

So something that should have costed like $150 ended up costing me $500. It wasn't a surprise when I bought it, since I found out earlier and planned out when to buy it. But just saying, it's not exactly "upgrade a bit at a time." Like it used to be. Computer hardware is getting very varied nowadays...

**Josh Ryan** · #17 09-01-2006, 05:48 PM

I used to record audio on my old p3 500 with half a gig of ram, no problem, since Cakewalk 9.

Go ahead and be offended, but it's a matter of user setup.

jbibb · #18 09-01-2006, 05:57 PM

Should I dare jump into this conversation!? I'd say most of the time, the preference is already made before you purchase. For some, You're a windows freak or a Mac Freak. Here are my thoughts, running both...

If you're into "tweeking", and being in control of your drivers and the fine tuning of your maching, then you have a wider range of manual options with a windows based operating system. You also have to spend more time in utilities and virus protection. You have to stay on top of the system.

Macs are more specialized and proprietary. You won't be back in the utilities section often and you won't be worrying about viruses. This is big on my PC...Norton's is running all the time and I'm downloading updates daily.

I bought a mac G-4 laptop a year ago...it's limitation to software is only beyond music. If you're gaming, then PC's are your choice.

Macs seem to be made for graphics and music...it's hardware and software are intuitive and simple. It is also beautifully designed...meaning both aesthetically and by utility. Folks spend time designing the interface, programs are written specifically for the mac with tight control. Hardware works and software works.

It comes with gargage band which is a basic music program that is wonderful and very usable for all sorts of base recording and production. I have Logic Le, Cubase and at times I'll fire up garage band just to do simple tasks.

The operating system is, again, simple and well layed out. I much prefer it to XP...I use both every day.

My proof to preference is that I am inspired to do more with a mac machine and software...plain and simple. With both at hand...I use the Mac, every time.

I would say you know before you purchase whether or not you are a windows based person or a Mac person. If I bought a windows based unit, I would not be as happy or productive as if I bought the Mac.

Marcus · #19 09-01-2006, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

Dump that slow and virus prone computer. I have had a Mac since 1986 and had ONE crash, no virus' and almost no pop-ups.

I do my web site with ease, pics,movies music is all so easy.

lol, fanboy >_>

From my experience with both platforms, I will say that I find recording audio quite simple on the Mac... however, it pretty much ends there in regards to preference. The Mac... is far too locked-down. Practically everything in the thing is proprietary, so once it begins to take a dive, be ready to shell out another thousand dollars or so to remedy (read: buy a new Mac) the problem. Another issue is that while my PowerBook has never "crashed" it has froze on numerous occasions, which IMO is FAR worse. Each time it does, I have to yank the battery out, which really makes me feel quite an uneasy.

In any regard... the new Duo-Core Mac desktops appear to be a great choice for you, as it allows dual-booting of both Windows, and (obviously) the Mac OS. Use what you like for recording... use what you like for everything else.

thehurlatron · #20 09-01-2006, 06:26 PM

I'm a mac guy. For recording I'm using a new macbook (intel chip) with 2 gb ram, and a MOTU ultralite firewire interface with logic software.

All that aside, what settings are you recording at with your firebox? What size buffer do you have set? What rate are you recording at? Both of these things will have an affect on your recording if you don't have enough ram and a fast enough processor. As tech has progressed with the recording software and firewire/USB2.0 boxes, they have placed much more strain on the CPU and amount of ram is also critical. there are some plug-ins that will not work properly without at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, gb of ram!!