mac advice

MarkMyWordsXx · #1 01-22-2007, 10:29 PM

so im a music major, and since i use logic almost every day in class i want to get a mac with logic to work at home. but i also plan to pick up and m box mini and record with it. so what im asking

i dunno what i need as far as specs for the mac. what sized hard drive, how much memory..etc.

reccomend a model?

scottice · #2 01-22-2007, 10:32 PM

Do you need a laptop or a tower?

MarkMyWordsXx · #3 01-22-2007, 10:46 PM

laptop

scottice · #4 01-22-2007, 10:56 PM

Get a MacBook Pro. Buy the most expensive one yoiu can afford. You can always add external hard drives if you need more storage.

I've been buying Macs for a long time now and I always but the best I can. Usually the video card is better, the hard drive is larger and they come equipped with more RAM.

If you can hold off for a few months you could get the new operating system (Leopard)... and possibly a better machine for the same money.

Make sure to get a student discount, it should save you hundreds.

As far as the requirements of the recording software, I cannot help you there. Someone with experience in that will have to chime in.

MarkMyWordsXx · #5 01-22-2007, 11:09 PM

so many options though..

my friend was telling me how it doesnt matter cuz macs dont have any options, and there all the same so just get one and then i need this interface and this external hard drive and all this stuff that i know for a fact is not true. im gunna ask my professor about it but any one have any ideas please throw em out there

scottice · #6 01-22-2007, 11:29 PM

Your friend is a little uninformed.

Go to the apple store on apple.com and it has a side by side comparison.
If you have more questions go to the store and get a copy of MacWorld magazine.

a Review online:
http://theappleblog.com/2006/01/12/m...o-mini-review/

ninnlangel · #7 01-22-2007, 11:51 PM

What is your budget ?

What are your needs ?

As a Logic Pro 7.2 and Finale 2007 user (music major here too), I would say any current model will be fine, and you'd be better off with a slower CPU and 2Gb of Ram - if you can't afford a the fastest CPU and 2Gb Ram. RAM is very important.

Will you be using it with an aditional monitor ? Is monitor size important for you ?

I use a MacBook, first gen, 1,83Ghz Core Duo, but with 2Gb RAM. I've recorded a few demos, played around with sampler instruments, arranged for big band and never came close to overloading that machine.

Hope this helps !!!

NL

MarkMyWordsXx · #8 01-22-2007, 11:58 PM

the funny thing about it my friend just started a production company..but whatever works for him

the thing about it is ram is the expensive part, whats an extra 200 for a faster processor when your spending 3gs.

the budget thing is interesting because im taking out a loan to pay for it. i fuiger i have 3 years to come up with the money so im not worried about it. i can come up with 4gs in 3 years easy.

MarkMyWordsXx · #9 01-22-2007, 11:58 PM

btw how much can i expect to save for a student discount

scottice · #10 01-23-2007, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMyWordsXx

btw how much can i expect to save for a student discount

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Im...utingpage.html

http://store.apple.com/1-800-780-500...3-1&esvid=1841

ninnlangel · #11 01-23-2007, 12:08 AM

Student discount - hardly more than 5 - 7 % off, unless your school has some sort of special group purchase.

Don't get the ram from apple. It's super easy to change it yourself. I would say get the cheapest MacBook, and buy yourself a pair of 1Gb RAM modules. That's a cheap computer, which will competely satisfy your needs. Then, if you really want to take a big loan, buy yourself an external hard drive to store all this music you'll be recording, an external monitor, to display plugins while your macbook shows the mixer, buy a better microphone, interface, etc. The computer will be outdated in two years anyway, and this one will suffice to your needs, so put the money where it matters, that is the sound equipment which doesn't change as fast and will make a big difference. At current speeds, for this kind of application, a difference of 0.5GHz is just not worth the money, whereas the RAM is crucial.

scottice · #12 01-23-2007, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninnlangel

Student discount - hardly more than 5 - 7 % off, unless your school has some sort of special group purchase.

Don't get the ram from apple. It's super easy to change it yourself. I would say get the cheapest MacBook, and buy yourself a pair of 1Gb RAM modules. That's a cheap computer, which will competely satisfy your needs. Then, if you really want to take a big loan, buy yourself an external hard drive to store all this music you'll be recording, an external monitor, to display plugins while your macbook shows the mixer, buy a better microphone, interface, etc. The computer will be outdated in two years anyway, and this one will suffice to your needs, so put the money where it matters, that is the sound equipment which doesn't change as fast and will make a big difference. At current speeds, for this kind of application, a difference of 0.5GHz is just not worth the money, whereas the RAM is crucial.

Good words! I totally agree. (5-7% discount ain't to shabby)

ninnlangel · #13 01-23-2007, 12:18 AM

I actually just checked the prices on RAM. Apple's prices are a little high, but not as bad as they used to be. If you're lazy and don't want to go through the trouble, just order it with 2Gb from them...

Also, the only reason I see for getting better than the basic MacBook is if you need a DVD burner. In that case, go for middle of the line.

And if you really want a MacBook Pro, again, go bottom of the line, max out the RAM.

MarkMyWordsXx · #14 01-23-2007, 12:18 AM

interesting thanks guys, il continue my research

**WillPlay4Food** · #15 01-24-2007, 10:22 AM

Don't forget you can get a student discount on Logic too. Logic Express is $149 (vs. $299) and Logic Pro is $499 (vs. $999). The discount on MacBook Pros are $200 across the line (10% for base model, 8% for hi-end 15", 7% for 17" model). If your school has a plan with Apple you may be able to get the hardware and software even cheaper.

these_go211 · #16 01-24-2007, 03:17 PM

the discount on the macbook (non-pro version) is $100. i just bought one last month. if you can afford the macbook pro then go for it. but i'm in agreement with those that say just buy the regular macbook and max the ram out. ram is very cheap, even by apple. hard drive size on this is irrelevant as you should buy an external firewire drive to record on anyway. it's not good practice to record to your system drive. good luck and have fun!