- Jun 25, 2006
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- Owner, Pike Amplification & 3Leaf Audio
It depends on the program you're using to edit audio. Don't even think about running a hardware-intensive program like ProTools without a Macbook Pro.
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Mac Book vs. Mac Book Pro
- Thread starter 59jazz
- Start date
I've got to disagree to some extent. PTLE would probably work well with the standard MacBook (with upped RAM). I don't think it'd be very practical to work large projects on it though, especially with higher plug-in counts. I think the comment about sticking with external drives is probably right on, and because of this I'm wondering how well the MacBook would work with the MBox (USB) plus a firewire drive. With the 002, 002r and the 003 you could chain the drive and hardware to the computer, but when I had my 002r I remember reading that it's not an ideal setup. Perhaps that's changed since then.
I guess I should augment my former post: the MBPro would be ideal for a ProTools setup, keeping in mind that it's not supported at all right now on Leopard.
FYI I ran Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and Reason with a M-Audio Firewire Solo for two years with no problems on a MacBook Pro 1.5ghz, with 2gb of Ram with no problems, so I think either machine will do what you want.
Looks like I'll be running Presonus gear, my guitarist has an endorsement.
Sweet! It's been a while so I don't know the current state of things: are they making software as well?
Thanks for all the help gentlemen! I just ordered the updated Mac Book Pro.....glad I held off for awhile. Free printer too!
If you plan on recording lots of memory is key, you want at least 2GB of RAM. Also go for the faster hard drive too Apple usually makes a 7200 RPM drive an option.
My basic advise on buy laptops is spend the money up front and get as much as you can afford. Upgrading laptops isn't easy like desktops and sometimes can't be upgraded later at all. So to get the longest life out of a laptop spend now get the most you can.
My basic advise on buy laptops is spend the money up front and get as much as you can afford. Upgrading laptops isn't easy like desktops and sometimes can't be upgraded later at all. So to get the longest life out of a laptop spend now get the most you can.
In my humble opinion you could save a couple hundred dollars by buying a comparable PC. I know that the PC isn't currently as hip or trendy as a white laptop, but they are tried and true and work exactly the same way.
2 cents
2 cents
True for desktop, not true for lappy's. For the quality of hardware you get with a Macbook pro, you'd spend at least as much for a Window based laptop IF (a very big "if") you can even find one (doubtful).
For instance, Window based laptop mostly uses Ricoh chipset for cardbus solution instead of Texas instrument, and the Ricoh chipset is junk for audio related task(well, it's crap for anything). Then, when you do find a laptop TI equipped (Sony Vaio line come to mind), more often than not they'll only have 4 pin firewire plugs, or/and crappy onboard video or other limitation of one sort or another.
The Mac laptop line is the best value for audio work right now; and it's a PC guy that hate the Apple company, and everything it stands for, saying it.
+1...I've been a PC guy since
well it's been a long time. Last Nov. I attended a musicians seminar in seattle....ALL the bassists, studio engineers I met, were Mac Pro users, along with my music director; I was out numbered; funny thing too....I was staying in a hotel a couple of doors down from the Microsoft campus.There are many reasons as to why I switched to Mac, I was ready for something different. In addition, my wife's place of employment, is using Apple equipment......free to low $ tech support if I need it.
I had an G4 iBook and recently upgraded to a 15" Pro, and I think it's great. Get as much computer as you can afford. It never hurts.
I think this is true except for memory. Unless the newer MacPros are different, it's very easy to upgrade the memory on your own, and it'll most likely cost you less. Other than that, up the power of everything else when ordering and you'll be set.
-1. My ADK laptop begs to differ. And ADK gets their laptops built at the same place they make macbooks. Mine cost $1653 for 15.4" widescreen, 2 ghz core2duo, 2 gigs ram, 100 gig 7200 rpm hd, dvd-rw, TI firewire, expresscard slot, nvidia 8400 video (not amazing but more than adequate for audio and video editing). Had it about 6 months now and it works great with everything I've thrown at it. Just added an eSATA expresscard for my 500 gig external drive.
I love the macbook pro but the bottom end one is $1999 to start, which comes with a 5400 rpm drive. Add $100 to get 7200 (200 gig) and you're up to $2099. So 6 months after I got mine, I'd have to pay $446 more to get a macbook pro with virtually the same specs except it's .4 ghz faster and has a 100 gig larger hard drive. SWEET.
Yes ADK is the exception. But if you read Scott posting here and there, you'll see he's agonized for months trying to find PC laptop that would work well for audio. You'll also see ADK started selling Mac laptop, and they wouldn't if they didn't work right straight out-the-box. ADK is also the only place to buy...ADK laptop, while you can get Apple laptop over the counter almost anywhere in the world. But I digress, yes, there are exceptions.
+1
also a note: I have a 17" MBP, I love it, but one bad thing is whenever I use the built in mic or input to record I get tons of hiss. If you are doing serious recording, then get an audio interface. Although, it could be garage band too... i haven't used anything else...
I got a Macbook with 2GB of Ram with Logic Express preinstalled. I use an old Tascam US-428 as the interface and I have a portable studio/compositional tool that all fits inside a laptop bag with some mics and cables. I haven't had any latency issues at all.
The guitarist in my band is a Mac nut who does audio and video editing for a living and said that a Pro would more or less be a waste of money if I wasn't doing any video stuff.
I love my Macbook though.
The guitarist in my band is a Mac nut who does audio and video editing for a living and said that a Pro would more or less be a waste of money if I wasn't doing any video stuff.
I love my Macbook though.
Oh yea, finding a PC laptop (unless you know about ADK) is not easy for recording. I bought a Dell before I got the ADK and ended up sending it back. I wrestled with the idea of getting a Mac vs. the ADK and couldn't justify the price on a Mac (I even get an employee discount at apple). Yes it's true you can buy Mac at apple stores and best buy and whatnot, but do you really buy computers at brick and mortar stores? If I was to buy a mac I would still buy it through the online apple store most likely (I can't think of any reason not to). I know a lot of people like buying in person (I think it's about 60% store vs. 40% online for computer sales), but the much greater flexibility of buying online + no tax = i <3 internet.
Oh wait, that's right you have to pay tax buying a mac online too BECAUSE of those apple stores they have in every state. That's another hit against mac. As much as I try to love the things, apple keeps giving me reasons not to buy one. I think that's their marketing strategy?
7200 RPM drives are not a good idea in a laptop, they generate a lot of heat which will kill your laptop after a while, and there isn't too much of an increase in performance from 5400 RPM to 7200 RPM. Even less of an increase of performance from 7200 RPM to 10k RPM 3.5" drives, FWIW.
Had to check this data. Seems I can get the 2.2 GHz MBP locally for $1799.00, and that's Canadian dollars, including 2GBs of ram and a 8600GT video card.
Source: Link Removed
And, for myself, I'd keep the internal 5400rpm drive, but would get a separate eSATA drive for recording instead. More flexible IMO.
Not saying it's a better system or value than the ADK, but it's still only about 150 buck more than your system, with a faster processor, graphic adapter, six pin firewire 400 with bus power and firewire 800.
