Apple Mac for music production?

Question

I'm looking to get a second hand one...

What are some key features and capabilities i need to look out for to deliver good quality production?

Thanks

Answer 1

If you are very serious about music production, you may want to get ProTools. For that you need a PowerMac to install the ProTools PCI board. For example, a PowerMac G4 Quicksilver or Firewire 800. Don't get the Mirror Drive Door model ('MDD') as it is difficult to confirm it has been updated for the loud fan issue. They range from 733MHz to 2x1.42GHz processor speed. The more the merrier, $600-$900. You may need lots of drive space but that can be external, preferably Firewire since even USB 2.0 moves data slower than Firewire 400 for reasons that are inherent in the Firewire architecture. Add keyboard, mouse, monitor. Any decent monitor, you aren't doing Photoshop.

If you don't want to sink the money into ProTools, you can get by quite well with the Garage Band program that is included with the later versions of iLife, 80 bucks. You will need OS 10.4 for later versions of iLife. Then you could use, say an iBook G4 Late 2004 (1.2 or 1.33 GHz) which can be had for $500-800 depending on bells and whistles. Again, you will probably need the external Firewire hard drive since music can take up a lot of space.

Answer 2

Having a mac laptop is by no means essential for music production. However, it could be essential if you choose to use programs that are exclusive to mac e.g. Logic.

For example I use Ableton Live (both Mac and Windows compatible) but I chose to get a mac laptop because I'm moving around a lot and knew I'd be working in different places. In my opinion if you want a laptop go mac. They robust, compact, powerful and with regards to hardware are built very very well. However, if you're not moving around and have a studio i'd invest in a desktop PC as you can get 'more bang for your buck'. If you're hell bent on running OSX then you can always have a hackintosh (running OSX on your PC)

Good luck

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