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MusicianGAF, is Mac > PC for recording still a thing?

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D

Dylan

Member
It used to be that you'd be crazy to use anything other than Apple for audio recording, but I'm out of the loop these days (no pun intended).

I'm currently in the market for a new laptop, and I figured I'd try to get a sense of what people are using to record.

My previous laptop was a (~2012) Acer aspire, which I used to record through an Alesis Multimix 8 (USB 2.0) with Appleton. I'm not married to the software so I don't mind changing that, but it will probably be a longtime before I ever buy another interface, so I'd like to stick with my Multimix 8 for the time being. I'm mostly recording guitar with vocals and some electric violin. For Drum & Bass I've been using software solutions for convenience.

Any advice? Any preferences? Feel free to use this opportunity to shamelessly self-promote your own recordings as well!
 
H

hie

Member
No. It's up to software preference. Unless you must use Logic, PC has been on par for many years. Mac got the rep way back because it ran Pro Tools natively, basically.

If your interface is low latency and stable, there's no reason for you to change hardware. I've been a Nuendo/Cubase/ProTools user for the majority of my career. Many options these days, but I stick to those.
 
RadAndrew502

RadAndrew502

Member
Not really. Almost all hardware especially budget-midrange is supported by Windows these days. In the high end there are a few Mac only manufacturers still, but there are plenty of comparable alternatives.

I think Logic is the only major DAW that's Mac specific, but there are plenty of excellent alternatives.

I run a Win 10 Rig w/Cubase Pro and love it.
 
D

Dylan

Member
Thanks for the info. I started with Cubase as well but I switched to Appleton because I was just learning and it seemed way more user friendly.

Would either of you recommend graduating to Cubase? Are there distinct advantages?

Also, post your stuff!
 
H

hie

Member
I find Cubase very intuitive. Fantastic work flow for me, but then again I've used it since 3.0. I absolutely recommend it.
 
C

ClivePwned

Member
I use both. Preference is for Mac and Logic so I make the investment in a decent mac every 5 years.
I use PC at work. Its fine most of the time. It's just not as good for me and my needs at home. If my work was to switch, at least for audio, I would be a very happy camper, though how well Unreal 4 would run on it is another story. Let's be real, it also runs like shit on my work PC.

Cubase is pretty good. I used it for years before moving to Logic. Reaper is also excellent and a damn bargain.
 
RadAndrew502

RadAndrew502

Member
Truth. In the old days I pirated Cubase and got to know it quite well.

When the time came where I could afford to buy legit, I ended up just buying Cubase 8 pro because I was already familiar with it and never used anything else.

I did some research to see the pros and benefits between different DAWS. I play a lot of metal and like to use a lot of the new incredible drum sampler programs(Superior Drummer, etc). Cubase has drum maps which basically change the basic MIDI editor into a drum beat editor. I love that feature.
 
G

glow

Banned
If you are just recording, not performing, and don't care about Logic, Windows/PC is just fine.
 
D

Dylan

Member
glow said:
If you are just recording, not performing, and don't care about Logic, Windows/PC is just fine.
Click to expand...

Recording for now, planning to perform later on.

What about a Mac would be better for performing? My current setup is pretty simple, with just a distortion pedal and a loop pedal into an amp. My laptop would only be there to deliver the drum loops.
 
30yearsofhurt

30yearsofhurt

Member
+1 for Live
+1 for Reason
+1 for Cubase

-1 for newer MBP

The old MBP were mandatory for musicians on the go but in a drive to be fashionable over functional apple have screwed over the music community. I stopped using my MBP and went back to using my desktop Win10 machine because of a broken magsafe power cord and I haven't thought about going back simply because it has more CPU power.
Also the cost of upgrading the HDD in the newer MBP is ridiculous. Try installing Komplete Ultimate and see how much that hdd upgrade is going to cost you.
 
RadAndrew502

RadAndrew502

Member
Dylan said:
Sounds great!

I have those same cans by the way. I hate wearing them with glasses.
Click to expand...

Thanks man.

Strangely enough if I open them up all the way, they're literally the only headphones I have that are actually comfortable with my glasses. Haha.
 
Soapbox Killer

Soapbox Killer

Grand Nagus
I have become the GarageBand Master. Basically out of need. Couldn't afford a studio so I bought a G4 Mac, audio controller, $250 mic and some head phones. I would rap at the drop of a hat and got rather nice in the process.


To the point: This was like 12 years ago and that thinking is old hat. You can record, mix and master on anything now and it can sound how you want it.


I prefer lo-fi hip-hop so mastering is not that big of a deal.

ALaz502 said:
https://youtu.be/wqBCpg_PVXs

This is my first project I did after buying Cubase Pro legit. Windows 10. Yadda Yadda.

Modern metal cover of the Game of Thrones theme.
Click to expand...

This was rather dope!
 
N

NotSelf

Member
I build my PC specifically for making music I have 3 years of use with it. If I had to do things differently I would have made it a silent pc.

I use Reason.
 
D

Dylan

Member
NotSelf said:
I build my PC specifically for making music I have 3 years of use with it. If I had to do things differently I would have made it a silent pc.

I use Reason.
Click to expand...
Would you be willing to post your specs?

Is an SSD a must for recording, or is RAM much more important?
 
N

NotSelf

Member
Intel Core i5-3570K
GA-Z77X-UD5H
Cooler Master V850
Corsair Vengeance 16GB
Crucial m4 256GB ssd - For windows 10 and reason
Seagate 2TB FireCuda 3.5-Inch - I use this drive for all the work I make it's a Solid State Hybrid Drive.

Ram is important if your working with audio I think you could get good performance from 8GB which I was using for a while I upgrade my ram this year.
 
D

DoubleYou

Member
I study music production and most people I work with are still on macs but ever since Apple started pouring out OS updates the untouchable status mac had has shifted a lot in the audio field.

That said, I work with Logic Pro so yes a mac is essential for me. Sierra has been good to me too.
 
W

Water

Member
Dylan said:
Would you be willing to post your specs?

Is an SSD a must for recording, or is RAM much more important?
Click to expand...
I'm not an audio guy, but I regard SSDs a must for anything these days, the computer feels entirely different to use. As a bonus they're completely silent whereas a mechanical HDD spinning up is the most noticeable sound coming out of my desktop PC.
1TB SSD = 200 euros even here in EU if you keep an eye on Amazon offers.
 
C

cilonen

Member
I've put a lot of time in to Logic so I'm reluctant to give that up but if you're just starting out I'd say go with whatever the best power for your price bracket you can get.

There's no inherent advantage with either OS and Windows is a great choice now. Apple have been steadily isolating all he creative professional markets they used to dominate in order to win the mobile space so there's no "Apple is king for .... " anymore.
 
M

MadSexual

Member
Logic is an amazing tool that's every bit as good as Pro Tools, Cubase, Sonar, and the rest but the inverse is also true!

I think the main difference these days is not the software, but that the hardware solutions like DI processors and control panels are always fully compatible with Windows, whereas there were a lot of Mac only supported peripherals or horrid Win drivers back then.
 
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